Section 5: Satellite Data Satellites from which ERICA data have been retained include GOES-6, GOES-7, NOAA-10 and NOAA-11 polar orbiters, DMSP F8 and F9 polar orbiters, and GEOSAT. Much of these data have not yet been examined closely, so the information for some of the products below is incomplete. Please contact that Data Manager for the current status of satellite data processing. An effort has been made to provide the satellite imagery in a variety of forms to suit the individual researcher. The Atlas (section 5.1) is a quick-look reference to imagery that may be viewed in greater detail as slides (see section 5.3), or as videotapes (5.4). Much effort has been spent at the Data Center comparing the SST data from the satellite sets with the ERICA Drifting Buoy SST data; the comparison results and data are included with the Master Marine Data Tape, which also contains the SST data and the buoy data (see section 6.1). Additional digital and hardcopy data are available from NESDIS. Contact the EDC or NESDIS for a NESDIS data product price list and a copy of the report: ÒERICA AVHRR Data Coverage.Ó 5.1 ERICA Satellite Atlas Form: book Size: 8.5"x11" Volume: 235 pages The ERICA Satellite Atlas, prepared at the EDC, contains three-hourly GOES imagery and all of the DMSP imagery for the ERICA IOPs. It is intended to serve as a quick-look resource for researchers. The complete set of ERICA imagery is available on slides, for borrowing or duplication(see section 5.3). 5.2 Original DMSP Satellite Imagery Form: dark plastic sheets Size: about 8"x14" Volume: 146 This set is comprised of 146 dark plastic sheets which are the original DMSP imagery. These sheets are difficult to work with, since they will burn if put on an overhead projector and are hard to study without one. Because of the difficulties associated with the plastic medium, reproductions of the imagery are often of inferior quality. For this reason, researchers may wish to borrow select originals. All of these images are included in the ERICA Satellite Atlas (see section 5.1) and slides are also available (see section 5.3). 5.3 Slides of GOES and DMSP Satellite Imagery Form: slides Size: 35 mm Volume: 1546 total All of the GOES and DMSP satellite images were photographed as slides. These slides allow the researcher to examine the satellite imagery in greater detail than the ERICA Satellite Atlas (see section 5.1). The GOES slides may be ordered by IOP, the DMSP slides come as a complete set. Copies of the slides are available for borrowing from the Data Center. The table below lists the number of slides for each IOP for GOES, and the number of DMSP slides. IOP # GOES images 1 116 2 229 3 181 4 212 5 156 5A 59 6P 56 6 86 7 99 8 199 DMSP (all IOPs) 146 5.4 Videotapes of GOES Satellite Imagery Form: videotapes Size: VHS Volume: 10 tapes NESDIS originally supplied us with 10 tapes (two tapes for IOP 4, one each for IOPs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6P, 6, 7, and 8); Robert Cohen of the EDC has produced a single tape which has the imagery for IOPs 1 through 4. The tapes were recorded from NESDIS' VDUC system. Three types of data were taped: infrared (IR), visible (VIS) and water vapor (WV). Various loops are included on the tapes, including special 5-minute imagery loops, special enhancement loops, and loops with meteorological data overlain (e.g. SST contours). Most ERICA loops have the loop period and the centerpoint latitude and longitude superimposed on the bottom left-hand corner of the imagery. Images centered over the ocean are overlain with a latitude and longitude grid. 5.5 GOES Imagery from AES 5.5.1 Digital GOES Imagery Form: digital Size: 2.4 Gbytes Volume: 17 tapes These tapes were created by AES. They contain both visible and infrared half- hourly imagery at 4 x 4 km resolution in 1024 x 1024 pixels. Due to real-time operator error the imagery for IOPs 1 through 3 do not extend eastward of 60 W (approximately). 5.5.2 Grey-Scale GOES IR Imagery Form: paper Size: 8.5Ó x 11Ó Volume: 85 pages These print-outs were generated at ARMP from the Digital GOES Imagery set described above (see section 5.5.1). The images are approximately 2.5Ó x 4Ó and appear 4 to a page; they cover the approximate area 36 to 53 North and 53 to 85 West. The images are three-hourly and are available for IOPs only. 5.6 GOES/VDUC Digital Data Form: digital Size: 502 Mbytes Volume: 7 tapes These tapes were provided by NESDIS and contain digital imagery and other VDUC products. NESDIS saved visible, IR, and WV image data, three-hourly satellite cloud-wind data, ASDAR (aircraft weather reports) data, rawinsonde data, surface hourly observation data, and sea-surface temperature data on these tapes. The data are in McIDAS save image format. Data files are organized by IOP. Starting with IOP 4, 4 km resolution visible and IR data were saved at five- minute intervals during the half-hour periods starting 0131, 0431, 0731, 1331, 1631, and 1931Z. Dr. Anderson has also provided the Data Center with five-minute 1 km visible imagery for the periods 12/14/88 1930 UTC - 2000 UTC, and 2/13/88 1630 UTC - 2000 UTC; he has also provided five-minute WV image data for 12/14/88 1930 UTC - 2000 UTC In contrast to the satellite winds in the SATWND data set (see section 5.9.2), the satellite winds on the VDUC tapes are unedited (i.e. no manual height corrections for thin cirrus) and the cloud targets were identified automatically. Note that the rawinsonde and surface observations are the real-time NMC data and higher quality data are now available (see sections 3.1, 6.3.1, 6.3.4, and 6.3.7). 5.7 Half-Hourly Digital GOES Imagery (IOP 4) Form: digital Size: Volume: These tapes were provided to the Data Center by Dr. Mel Shapiro of NOAA ERL, who obtained them from NESDIS. The data contain half-hourly visible images(1 km resolution) and IR and WV imagery (4 km resolution). These data are only available from the Data Center for January 3 through 5. Researchers interested in other IOPs may order the data directly from NESDIS, but the cost is high. 5.8 Sea Surface Temperature Data 5.8.1 14km and 50km Digital SST Analyses from AVHRR Form: digital Size: 30 Mbytes Volume: 1 tape These are the NESDIS sea surface temperature analyses produced three times a week at NMC. Also available are sample programs with read the data, programs which compile various statistics, and the results of those programs. The data are also available in a more compact form (produced at the EDC). Note that this product is available on the ERICA Marine Data Tape (see section 6.5.1). The 14 km analyses are available for the following dates: December 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 27, 31 January 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 25, 28, 31 February 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 The 50 km analyses are available on the following dates: December 3, 6, 10, 13, 17 January 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 February 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 Plotted analyses are also available (see section 5.8.2). 5.8.2 14 km and 50 km Plotted SST Analyses Form: paper Size: 8.5"x11" Volume: 28 pages These are charts of the NESDIS sea surface temperature analyses produced three times a week at NMC. A 14 km SST analysis is included with each IOP section in the FPS. These analyses are also available in digital form (see section 5.8.1). 5.8.3 Color Slides of SST Analyses and Difference Fields Form: slides Size: 35 mm Volume: 17 slides Produced at the Data Center on a Macintosh 2, with software from NCSA, these slides show a color plot of the SST for each of the IOPs, with the storm track and the outline of the U.S. overlaid. Also included are slides showing the color contour of the difference between two SST analyses, bracketing the IOPs. 5.9 Satellite Derived Data 5.9.1 GEOSAT Surface Winds Form: digital Size: Volume: 1 tape These data are from the GEOSAT satellite. They consist of wind speeds in swaths under the satellite's nadir. The winds have an accuracy to about 2 or 3 meters per second and only wind speed is provided (without direction). These data were extracted from the NMC History Tapes (see section 7.1). The data come in 26 byte long binary records. 5.9.2 SATWND, Satellite Winds Form: digital Size: 20 Mbytes Volume: 1 tape These are cloud drift winds derived from the GOES 6 and 7 satellite data at NMC. They were quality controlled by both NESDIS and NMC. Winds that differed markedly from aircraft data were deleted; height corrections for thin cirrus clouds have been made, and cloud targets were selected manually. These data were extracted from the NMC History Tapes (see section 7.1), and are 6-hourly, for IOPs only. The data that this set was derived from are included in the GOES/VDUC Digital Data set (see section 5.6). 5.9.3 TOVS Soundings Form: digital Size: Volume: 1 tape These soundings are from the NOAA 9 and 10 satellites. The data will be extracted from the ERICA NMC History Tapes (see section 7.1). These soundings were derived from the TOVS Soundings at 80 km Resolution (see section 5.9.4) at NMC operationally; These soundings have a resolution of 250 km (nominal). 5.9.4 TOVS Soundings at 80 km Resolution Form: digital Size: 66.5 Mbytes Volume: 1 tape These are the unthinned TOVS soundings from the NOAA 10 and 11 satellites. These unthinned soundings were provided to the Data Center by NESDIS, who performed significant calibration, Earth location, and quality control work on the data. The data covers an area 30 N to 60 N and 50 W to 95 W. These tapes also include DMSP Soundings (see section 5.9.5 below). 5.9.5 DMSP Soundings Form: digital Size: 54 Mbytes Volume: 1 tape These are the soundings from the DMSP F8 and F9 satellites. They are included on the NMC History Tapes (see section 7.1) and the TOVS Soundings at 80 km Resolution tapes (see section 5.9.4). DMSP soundings have a nominal resolution of 175 km. We have data for the region 30 N to 60 N and 50 W to 95 W.