NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 8

SSMI(S) Brightness Temperatures - RSS

Single orbit of SSMIS Brightness Temperature

This dataset from Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) consists of satellite swath-level brightness temperatures from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS). SSMIS measures the natural microwave emission coming from the Earth’s surface in the spectral band from 19 to 85 GHz. There are roughly 15 orbits per day per satillite with a swath width of approximately 1400 km resulting in nearly global daily coverage. SSMIS onboard the DMSP F18 satellite is the first instrument that has been calibrated to the RSS Version 8 standard. The data record covers the time period from March 2010 through the present with a one month latency. Additional DMSP satellites for RSS Version 8 will follow as they are calibrated. This Version 8 is an update to Version 7 of the same product, also archived at NOAA/NCEI. Version 8 has improved calibration for land and ice scenes. The data file format is netCDF-4 with added metadata that follow the Climate and Forecast (CF) Conventions and Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD).

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Frank J. Wentz, Carl A. Mears, and NOAA CDR Program (2019): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 8. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5Q23XK7 [access date].

Dataset Identifiers

doi:10.7289/V5Q23XK7
NCEI DSI 3623_05
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01567

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

C01567

XML


Download Data	NCEI Direct Download (Dataset Files) (download) Direct download for the dataset. NCEI THREDDS (download) THREDDS Data Server (TDS) for the dataset. AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket.
Order Data	NCEI Archive Information Request System (AIRS) (order) Search the data archive and submit an order for the dataset via the interface.
Distribution Formats	NetCDF (Version: 4)
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce +1 (828) 271-4800 rss_ssmi_contacts@noaa.gov


Time Period	2010-03-08 to 2025-07-31 (time interval: 1-day)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	N: 90.0 S: -90.0 E: 180.0 W: -180.0
Spatial Coverage Map


General Documentation	NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. NCEI CDR Information Page CDR overview and documentation. Registry of Open Data on AWS Information on AWS data access. Azure Landing Page (Region: us-east) Information on Microsoft Azure data access.
Processing Documents	CDR Source Code Package CDR Source Code (download) This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment. Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) CDR Algorithm Description Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for the CDR. CDR Data Flow Diagram CDR Dataflow Diagram Data processing flowchart for the CDR. CDR Technical Note CDR Technical Note Technical Note Describing the Differences between Version 8 Calibration and Version 7 Calibration of the SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - RSS CDR.
Associated Resources	NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 7 SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - RSS Version 7 Related dataset landing page. NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 6 NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 6 Landing page for dataset.


Publication Dates	publication: 2019-10-01
Edition	Version 8.0
Data Presentation Form	Digital image
Dataset Progress Status	Status not available
Data Update Frequency	Monthly
Purpose	This dataset provides advanced scientific researchers a high quality Climate Data Record (CDR) of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) Brightness Temperatures. The Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) SSMI and SSMIS brightness temperatures deliver measurements of the radiance at the top of the atmosphere at a number of microwave frequencies. A number of factors determine the radiance in the atmosphere and land or ocean surface, making it difficult to directly evaluate the brightness temperature data. Instead, the brightness temperatures represent a fundamental climate data record (FCDR) that can be used by retrieval algorithms to determine a number of geophysical parameters such a surface wind speed, total column water vapor, rain rate, and sea ice extent.
Use Limitations	For a complete description of use limitations for this CDR, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.


Dataset Citation	Cite as: Frank J. Wentz, Carl A. Mears, and NOAA CDR Program (2019): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 8. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5Q23XK7 [access date].
Cited Authors	Wentz, Frank J. RSS > Remote Sensing Systems Mears, Carl A. RSS > Remote Sensing Systems NOAA CDR Program NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Principal Investigators	Wentz, Frank J. RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
Collaborators	Mears, Carl A. RSS > Remote Sensing Systems NOAA CDR Program NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information


Theme keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Microwave > Antenna Temperature Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Data Center keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords DMSP 5D-2/F18 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F18
Instrument keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords SSMIS > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
Place keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords NOAA CLIMATE DATA RECORD (CDR) PROGRAM SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - RSS


Use Constraints	Cite as: Frank J. Wentz, Carl A. Mears, and NOAA CDR Program (2019): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 8. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5Q23XK7 [access date]. Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints	Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Use Constraints

Cite as: Frank J. Wentz, Carl A. Mears, and NOAA CDR Program (2019): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, RSS Version 8. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5Q23XK7 [access date].

Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.

Access Constraints

Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Fees

In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement	The data were produced by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor	RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
Processing Steps	For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
Processing Documents	CDR Source Code Package CDR Source Code (download) This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment. Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) CDR Algorithm Description Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for the CDR. CDR Data Flow Diagram CDR Dataflow Diagram Data processing flowchart for the CDR. CDR Technical Note CDR Technical Note Technical Note Describing the Differences between Version 8 Calibration and Version 7 Calibration of the SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - RSS CDR.
Source Datasets	DMSP Temperature Data Record (TDR) of Antenna Temperatures from the SSM/I and SSMIS Sensors NOAA Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS) Online Data Search and Order Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) data family search page. Search and submit an order for the dataset via a text-based interface. Description of Source: DMSP Temperature Data Record (TDR) of Antenna Temperatures from the SSM/I and SSMIS Sensors Temporal extent used: 2010-03-08 to Present Spatial extent used: N:90.0 S:-90.0 E:180.0 W:-180.0

Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps	2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.

Last Modified: 2025-12-11T17:37:42

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