GIST GOES-7 Infrared Imagery
     
     1.0  General Description
     
          The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-7)
     Infrared (IR) imagery is one of several image datasets provided in the
     GEWEX Continental-scale International Project (GCIP) Integrated Systems
     Test (GIST). The GOES-7 IR imagery covers the central United States at
     4 km resolution.  The GOES-7 IR imagery  contains daily imagery for the
     GIST time period (01 April 1994 through 31 August 1994). 
     
     2.0  Detailed Data Description
     
          The GOES-7 IR imagery were collected daily for the period 01
     April 1994 through 31 August 1994. From this dataset a representative
     daily image was selected at 1201 UTC whenever possible, to coincide with
     the National Meteorological Center Eta Model Weather Map imagery
     (1200 UTC). The IR imagery was archived in McIDAS-X format and the
     selected daily images were translated to Graphical Interchange Format
     (GIF). These images were mapped and color enhanced using the standard
     GOES-7 IR MB curve to approximate cloud top temperatures.  A "color
     bar" legend has been included on each image.
     
          These GIF images can be viewed using any standard GIF display
     software package. However, any additional detailed information from the
     original files (i.e., brightness temperatures, navigation, etc.) are not
     available from the GIF image, but can be obtained from the actual data
     available from the UCAR Office of Field Project Support (UCAR/OFPS). 
     
     2.1  Detailed Format Description
     
          General information on GIF files, structure and format are provided
     in the References.
     
     2.2  Data Remarks
     
          All daily images are for 1201 UTC or closest available time.
     Imagery was unavailable for the following dates: 940724 through 940726,
     940730, 940731, 940811 through 940818. 
     
     3.0  Quality Control Processing
     
          No additional quality control or re-navigation was performed on the
     imagery by the UCAR/OFPS. OFPS did overlay the map and enhance the
     imagery before conversion to GIF files.
     
     4.0  References
     
     Kay: Graphics File Formats, 2/E.  ISBN: 0-07-034025-0, McGraw Hill.
     
     Luse, M: Bitmapped Graphics Programming in C++. ISBN: 0-201-
          63209-8, Addison-Wesley.