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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, CSU Version 1 (Version Superseded)

SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - CSU

browse graphicAn orbit of 37.0 GHz vertically-polarized (channel 16) brightness temperature from SSMIS on F17.
*Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.* This NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) from Colorado State University (CSU) contains brightness temperatures that have been improved and quality-controlled over the observation time period. The temperature data are from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS) series of passive microwave radiometers carried onboard the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. This dataset encompasses data from a total of nine satellites including the SSM/I sensors on board DMSP satellites F08, F10, F11, F13, F14, and F15 as well as the SSMIS sensors on board DMSP satellites F16, F17, and F18. The data record covers the time period from July 1987 through the present with a 7 to 10 day latency. The spatial and temporal resolutions of the FCDR files correspond to the original resolution of the source TDR observations. There are roughly 15 orbits per day with a swath width of approximately 1400 km resulting in nearly global daily coverage. The spatial resolution of the data is a function of the sensor/channel and varies from approximately ~50 km for the lowest frequency channels to ~15km for the high-frequency channels. The processing of the CDR from the BASE Temperature Data Record (TDR) (also produced by CSU) includes a rigorous quality control of the original TDR data, updated geolocation information, corrections for known issues/problems, and adjustments for residual intercalibration differences between sensors. The output parameters include the observed brightness temperatures for each of the seven SSM/I channels and 24 SSMIS channels at the original sensor channel resolution along with latitude and longitude for each pixel, time, quality flags, and view angle information. The file format is netCDF-4 with added metadata that follow the Climate and Forecast (CF) Conventions and Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD).
  • Cite as: Kummerow, Christian D., Wesley K. Berg, Mathew R. P. Sapiano, and NOAA CDR Program (2013): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, CSU Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. doi:10.7289/V5CC0XMJ [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00827
Full Text · XML
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • 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
csu_ssmis_contacts@noaa.gov
Coverage Description
Time Period 1987-07-09 to 2011-08-25
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
Dataset Information
  • SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - CSU Landing Page
    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 fundamental climate data record (FCDR) SSMI(S) brightness temperature (Tb) dataset comprises window-channel Tb from a series of 10 microwave radiometers flown on board the DMSP series of satellites. Six SSM/I instruments first flown on DMSP F08 in July 1987 provide intercalibrated data along with data from four currently operational SSMIS instruments. This FCDR dataset provides input into a number of Thematic CDR (TCDR) products including precipitation, sea surface wind speed, sea ice extent, snow cover, cloud liquid water, and total precipitable water content.
General Documentation
Processing Documents
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2013-08-22
Edition Version 1
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Superseded - replaced by new
Data Update Frequency Not planned
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 fundamental climate data record (FCDR) SSMI(S) brightness temperature (Tb) dataset comprises window-channel Tb from a series of 10 microwave radiometers flown on board the DMSP series of satellites. Six SSM/I instruments first flown on DMSP F08 in July 1987 provide intercalibrated data along with data from four currently operational SSMIS instruments. This FCDR dataset provides input into a number of Thematic CDR (TCDR) products including precipitation, sea surface wind speed, sea ice extent, snow cover, cloud liquid water, and total precipitable water content.
Use Limitations
  • *Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.*
  • The quality of the output CDR data is dependent on the quality of the input TDR (antenna temperature) data. As such, the near real-time data is labeled as an Interim operational CDR, or an ICDR instead of a final CDR, indicating that it has not yet been fully vetted for climate applications. The ICDR data will transition to final CDR status after the data have undergone further analysis and processing. The expected time lag of the FCDR transition is 6 months to a year. The state of a data file is indicated within each file name.
  • For a complete description of use limitations see the respective Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Kummerow, Christian D., Wesley K. Berg, Mathew R. P. Sapiano, and NOAA CDR Program (2013): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, CSU Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. doi:10.7289/V5CC0XMJ [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Kummerow, Christian D.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
  • Berg, Wesley K.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
  • Sapiano, Mathew R. P.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
  • NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators
  • Kummerow, Christian D.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
Collaborators
  • Berg, Wesley K.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
  • Sapiano, Mathew R. P.
    COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • 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/F8 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F8
  • DMSP 5D-2/F10 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F10
  • DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11
  • DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13
  • DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14
  • DMSP 5D-3/F15 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15
  • DMSP 5D-3/F16 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F16
  • DMSP 5D-3/F17 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F17
  • DMSP 5D-3/F18 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F18
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Spectrometers/Radiometers > Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers > SSM/I > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
  • Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Spectrometers/Radiometers > Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers > SSMIS > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords Keyword Thesaurus Title
  • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) Program
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • SSMI(S) Brightness Temperature - CSU
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Kummerow, Christian D., Wesley K. Berg, Mathew R. P. Sapiano, and NOAA CDR Program (2013): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of SSM/I and SSMIS Microwave Brightness Temperatures, CSU Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. doi:10.7289/V5CC0XMJ [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 Colorado State University and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor
  • COLOSTATE/ATMOS > Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University
Processing Steps
  • The stewardship code used to process the data is a well-documented software package that reads the BASE files containing the original antenna temperatures (Ta) and the calibration coefficient files as input, does quality control, applies corrections, computes updated pixel geolocation, applies intercalibration adjustments, and outputs the final brightness temperature FCDR file in netCDF-4 for use by the broader community. The following list includes a number of modules in the stewardship code: Quality control (sets/flags bad data to missing and flags potential problems); Cross-track bias correction (adjusts for unphysical end-of-scan dropoffs); Warm/cold load contamination correction (adjusts for intrusions into warm/cold loads); SSMIS antenna emission correction (correction for emissive antenna, only SSMIS currently); Geolocation (computes pixel geolocation based on attitude adjustments and TLE-based spacecraft ephemeris); Antenna temperature to brightness temperature (accounts for antenna pattern including sidelobes and cross-pol); and Intercalibration (adjusts for sensor differences for both warm and cold brightness temperatures). For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram.
Processing Documents
Source Datasets
  • BASE Temperature Data Record (TDR) from the SSM/I and SSMIS Sensors, CSU Version 1
    • BASE Temperature Data Record (TDR) from the SSM/I and SSMIS Sensors, CSU Version 1
      Descriptive information and access links for the dataset.
    • Description of Source: The primary input data files used for the FCDR processing are referred to as BASE files. These files contain all of the information from the original source TDR files with the following changes/additions. The BASE files have been reorbitized into single orbit granules with duplicate scans removed and spacecraft position and velocity based on the TLE data added (for later use to calculate geolocation). The BASE files are written in netCDF-4 format with metadata added. With the exception of duplicate scans, none of data from the original TDR files is modified or removed.
    • Temporal extent used: 1987-07-09 to 2011-08-25
    • 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: 2023-09-19
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