GOES-R Terrestrial Weather (ABI/GLM)

FAQ

How do I access real time data from GOES-16?

Publicly available access methods:

• Global Telecommunications System (GTS)
• NOAA satellite direct broadcast services and websites
• The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), for data from space weather instruments have been declared provisional

Some GOES-R Series data is also available through cloud service providers that partner with NOAA through the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) Program to enable quick access to larger volumes of satellite data.

How do I set up a subscription to get near real-time GOES-16 data?

CLASS provides access to near real-time data (30 minutes to two hours after observation time) through an FTP subscription service. To subscribe, register with CLASS. After registering, use the “subscriptions” link on the left side of the user profile page to set up your subscriber preferences.

More Information

Can I access pre-operational GOES-16 test data?

No, it is restricted and will not show up in any search or access portals. To request access, email the CLASS Help Desk. Include your CLASS account identification and a brief summary of your work. The CLASS Support Team will notify you if your request is approved.

How do I access larger quantities of GOES-16 data?

CLASS maximum order limits have increased since the beginning of GOES-16 operations. All users can access up to 10,000 files per order for ABI and GLM products. The NCEI AIRS web access system is limited to 1,000 files per order. Some larger datasets are also available on cloud services through the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) Program. Data for space weather instruments (EXIS, MAG, SEISS, and SUVI) is available on the GOES-R Space Weather Page.

Is there a way to place a bulk order outside of using the web ordering system?

Yes. Manual bulk orders are available on a case by case basis, but we need to know the scope of your project and minimum data requirements. These types of inquiries can be submitted to the CLASS Help Desk. For large orders, consider using one of the cloud providers under the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) Program.

However, we encourage ABI and GLM users to place orders through the web ordering system at either CLASS or NCEI AIRS. The system may take days or weeks to process large orders. Also, take time to transfer your data after the order is fulfilled, because the files will expire after 96 hours. 

Why do some file names have the pattern “s20000011200000_e20000011200000? Are these files valid?

These files are valid for your date and time, but may indicate that you don’t have a complete scan. The time used on your search is the time of the creation of the files - usually within minutes of the actual observation time missing on the file. The problem that created these file patterns was resolved in 2017, but there are still affected files within the GOES-R archive.

Can I place a bulk order without using the web ordering system?

We encourage ABI and GLM users to place orders through the web ordering system at either CLASS or NCEI AIRS. There is no official limit to the number of orders you can place in a day, the system may take days or weeks to process large orders. Also, make time to transfer your data after the order is fulfilled, because the files will expire after 96 hours. 

Manual bulk orders are available on a case by case basis. We will need to know the scope of your project and minimum data requirements for successful completion of your project. These types of inquiries can be submitted to the CLASS Help Desk.

Data from space weather instruments (EXIS, MAG, SEISS, and SUVI) can be downloaded, aggregated, and/or tarred data from spinning disk once these instruments have been declared provisional.

How can I open/display GOES-R data?

Any GOES-R data can be opened with any netCDF application, including the NOAA Weather and Climate Toolkit.

How do I handle unsigned integers larger than 8 bits?

This is an issue that affects multiple instruments on GOES-R Series and a pilot fix is being developed. The classic model for NetCDF does not support unsigned integers larger than 8 bits. Many of the variables in GOES-R Series data files are unsigned integers that are either 16-bits or 32-bits. So, until a fix is achieved, we recommend using the following process to convert: Retrieve the variable data (using low level routines). If there is an attribute “_Unsigned” then cast the variable data to unsigned. This step must be completed before applying scale_factor and add_offset values to convert from scaled integer to science units. For example, when reading the NetCDF files, one has to manually read in the event lat/lon as an unsigned integer (using low level routines), and then manually take care of the scale and offset.

Why do there appear to be data dropouts on my images prior to September 2017?

The GOES ground system was experiencing intermittent spikes in the data volume as it was being processed before delivery to CLASS. These spikes resulted in random data dropouts. Direct readout users were exempt from this condition, as the data path is different.

Why do some Meso scan files only contain a single point?

These blank files usually occur near the spring and fall equinoxes when the angle of the sun allows it to enter the ABI viewing range. This area is called the Solar Avoidance Zone, where the ABI observation swaths are purposely truncated and all data values within this zone are given fill values. Occasionally, an entire Meso scan falls completely within the Solar Avoidance Zone. This makes the geolocation and other file metadata to be erroneous due to the lack of any valid observational data in the file.

How do I calculate Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) and Local Zenith Angle (LZA)?

The methodologies, provided by the GOES-R Program Office, are located in the following documentation: 

• SZA 
• LZA

Selection advised for ABI L2+ Product Data searches only

*Mode 6 replaced Mode 3 as the operational flex mode.

Selection advised

Selection Advised

Best to select all modes for all scans