The Jason-3 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 satellites are the latest in a series of ocean altimeter missions to collect data on ocean circulation, sea level rise, and wave height observations. The data collected is used to inform climate monitoring, operational oceanography and seasonal forecasting. Jason-3 ensures the continued flow of high quality altimetry data after Jason-2 is decommissioned. NCEI is the designated archive and public interface for OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 data, providing access and visualization methods for the general public, expert members of the Ocean Surface Topography Science Team (OSTST), and members of the OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 Science Working Teams.
Jason-3
January 17, 2016–Present
Level-2 X-GDR
Citation
Lillibridge, John; US DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2019). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present (NCEI Accession 0122595). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Unpublished Dataset. https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0122595. Accessed [date].
OSTM/Jason-2
June 20, 2008–Present
Level-2 X-GDR
Citation
Lillibridge, John; US DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2019). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present (NCEI Accession 0122595). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Unpublished Dataset. https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0122595. Accessed [date].
Geophysical Data Record (GDR) Guide
Jason-3 and OSTM/Jason-2 data are consolidated into Geophysical Data Records (GDR) that are divided into the following quality control tiers:
Operational (OGDR)
- Produced within 1-2 hours of the satellite overflight
- Lowest quality data, missing more data than other GDR types
- Useful for time-critical applications
Interim (IGDR)
- Produced within 1-2 days of overflight
- Higher orbital quality
Final (GDR)
- Produced with a 60-day time lag
- Best quality
Related Products and Datasets
- NASA and NOAA Altimetric and Ocean Surface Topography Data Information
- RADS (Radar Altimeter Database System) *
- CTOH: high-frequency along-track data and coastal products
- PISTACH: experimental coastal products for Jason-2
- CNES Data Center: A sister site with the official Jason-2 xGDRs, auxiliary and ancillary data as well as similar records for TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Envisat, and Cryosat. Hosted by AVISO.
Archive Details
Services
All critical archive functions for OSTM/Jason-2 data were established and rigorously tested through comprehensive NOAA and Four Partner Operational Readiness Reviews. An ISO description for each OSTM/Jason-2 data family is available in CLASS, and ISO 19115 descriptions for Jason-3 were developed in 2015. Quality Assurance for OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 at ingest into the archive is maintained with NRTAVS, a system developed by JPL under contract with NOAA that extends near real time quality monitoring coverage to OSTM/Jason-2. NCEI has also established a Jason Rich Inventory (JRI) system which is being enhanced and operationalized for Jason-3. Standards-based services such as direct ftp, http and OPeNDAP for the X-GDR data are currently supported directly by NCEI, although these functions are expected to transition to CLASS in the future.
Metadata Accessions
- Level-2 X-Geophysical Data Records (O/I/GDR)
- Ancillary Files
- Auxiliary Files
- Near Real-Time Altimetry Validation System (NRTAVS) QA Reports
- Orbital Information
- Packet Telemetry
NOAA's Comprehensive Large-Array Stewardship System (CLASS) provides deep storage for mission data and information, including ancillary, auxiliary, NRTAVS, orbital information, and raw telemetry.
Note: Access to ancillary data and raw telemetry is restricted
About Quality Monitoring Statistics
The Jason-3 and OSTM/Jason-2 data quality monitoring system uses the Rich Inventory developed by the NCEI Enterprise Data Systems Group to provide a searchable database for tracking and discovering data quality, metadata, and dataset attributes. A near real time data quality check comprised of 8 statistics calculated on 23 parameters is performed as each Level-2 data file is ingested into NCEI's archives.
Geophysical Data Record (GDR) and Interim Geophysical Data Record (IGDR) Data Quality Monitoring
Granule Statistics
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height: GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
0.25x0.25 lon/lat Degree Parameters
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
3.0x1.0 lon/lat Degree Parameters
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
Granule Statistics
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
0.25x0.25 lon/lat Degree Parameters
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGD
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGD
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGD
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
3.0x1.0 lon/lat Degree Parameters
- Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
- Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
- Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
- Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
- Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR
