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Polar Pathfinder FCDR

Configuration Item ID: 01B-24a

The Polar Pathfinder Fundamental Climate Data Record (FCDR) is made up of the following variables and components:

  • Calibrated and navigated reflectances and brightness temperatures from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) channel data
  • Viewing and illumination geometry, which includes sensor scan angle, solar zenith angle, and sun-sensor relative azimuth angle
  • Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) data acquisition data
  • A surface type mask

The data are composites of up to 23 orbits on a 5km Equal-Area Scalable Earth (EASE)-grid generated twice daily over both poles (Arctic and Antarctic) from 1982–present. The daily composites are centered on local solar times of 14:00 (high sun, but could be nighttime for some polar areas in winter) and 04:00 for the Arctic or 02:00 for the Antarctic. The dataset covers the north polar region (Arctic) from 48.4 degrees northward, and the south polar region (Antarctic) from -53.2 degrees southward.

To help the project receive continued support, updates, and improvement, tell us how you use Polar Pathfinder FCDR data by completing our optional User Registration Form. 

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Principal Investigator

Xuanji Wang, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Citation

Cite dataset when used as a source. See dataset's landing page for citation details at doi: 10.25921/X2X1-JR34.

Data Access