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GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier)

Entry ID: gov.noaa.class.PRE_GVAR

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Summary

Abstract: ABSTRACT: The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series of satellites goal is to monitor the atmosphere for severe weather development such as tornadoes, flash floods, hail storms and hurricanes. The positioning of the GOES satellites at around 36,000 km (22,000 statute miles) above the equator at a fixed position above the earth allowed them to scan large geographic regions ...

Purpose: PURPOSE: To measure radiant and solar reflected energy for use in monitoring weather patterns. The VISSR and VAS were designed to provide rapid continuous viewing of local areas for regional Earth and atmospheric monitoring.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA > NOAA CLASS

Description: Download options for GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier) data.

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 85.0

S: -85.0

E: 170.0

W: -45.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: UWI-MAD/SSEC > Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dataset Title: GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier)

Dataset Release Date: 1974-05-

Dataset Release Place: Asheville, NC

Dataset Publisher: DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Online Resource: http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_fa...

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1974-05-01

Stop Date: 1996-01-11

Science Keywords

SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > INFRARED WAVELENGTHS > BRIGHTNESS TEMPERATURE

SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > INFRARED WAVELENGTHS > INFRARED IMAGERY

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Platform

GOES-1 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 1

GOES-2 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 2

Instrument

VAS > VISSR Atmospheric Sounder

VISSR > Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer

Project

ESIP > Earth Science Information Partners Program

Quality ATTRIBUTE ACCURACY REPORT: A quality assurance analysis is included in the processing. This entails an examination of the data for consistency and completeness. Data were also validated by visual examination of selected scenes.

LOGICAL CONSISTENCY REPORT: An error detection method employed in the data transmission involves a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC).The sounding data from the ... VAS were used to compare the temperature profiles with other sources such as radiosondes and special network experiments

COMPLETENESS REPORT: The last of four optical encoder lamps on GOES-6 failed on January 21, 1989. There are some gaps in the data for times when the bulbs did not function properly, resulting in the use of the GOES-6 for collection of VISSR data only during those times. Most data are considered experimental.Data is missing between Sep 28, 1974 and Dec 31, 1977 in the CLASS database.

LINEAGE/PROCESS STEP:
PROCESS DESCRIPTION: The real-time transmission of GOES VISSR and/or VAS data were received at the NESDIS Command and Data Acquisition Facility (CDA) station directly from the satellites, and processed by the Synchronous Data Buffer (SDB). The SDB reformats the data, determines the start of each line, performs a calibration of the IR data, brightness-enhances the visible data, adds grid and orbit/attitude information and retransmits the data back to a transponder on the GOES satellite for broadcast to various user stations. In reformatting the data, the SDB does an equal time to equal angle resampling to compensate for variations in the satellite spin rate. Therefore, the result is a constant number of data values per scan line corresponding to the nominal 100 rpm spin rate. The broadcast data rate is chosen such that the retransmission just occupies the time interval between real-time data bursts; i.e., the retransmission is accomplished while the instrument mirror on the satellite is viewing space between scans of the Earth (333 degrees of each spin is space view). The reduced bandwidth broadcast datastream is called the "stretched data". The format for the stretched data has changed 3 times during the archive period, and these formats are referred to as Mode A, AA, or AAA.The VAS data stream was routed to a VAS Image Processor (VIP) within the CDA station. The VIP reformatted, conducted quality checks, calibrated, and added navigational parameters to the data and then retransmitted it to the GOES satellites at 1.75 Mpbs, which in turn broadcasted the SVAS data to receiving stations at the University of Wisconsin. Data from the VAS Multi-Spectral Imaging mode and the Dwell Sounding mode were not "stretched". The spatial and temporal information is provided by the VISSR Image Registration and Gridding System (VIRGS) computing facility at NOAA and inserted into the stretched VAS format by the VIP.

LINEAGE/PROCESS STEP:
PROCESS DESCRIPTION: NOAA's key downlink site for archive purposes was the University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) in Madison, Wisconsin. SSEC has been recording and storing GOES data since 1978. Throughout the entire history of PRE_GVAR data archive, the data were recorded on Sony U-Matic cassettes. Around 2001, NCDC funded the "GOES Data Rescue Project". SSEC began transferring the data from the aging U-matic cassettes onto IBM 3590. During the rescue project, which lasted over 2 years, some of the data was transferred to NCDC's Hierarchical Data Storage System via FTP. The remainder of the rescued data was shipped on tapes. The transfer of the entire GOES database to NCDC was completed in late 2005.

LINEAGE/PROCESS STEP:
PROCESS DESCRIPTION: During the rescue process, the CLASS (Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System) GOES Campaign was well underway. CLASS, formerly known as Satellite Active Archive and funded by NESDIS, had already amassed all of the NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Level 1b data for period of record, for online distribution and was ready to ingest the entire GOES archive from present backward. The transfer of historical GOES data into CLASS was completed by end 2006. During this time some errors were noticed with the filenames received from SSEC including incorrect dates/satellite in filename. Also, there are numerous duplicate files with varying content for the same scan times. The duplicate files are the direct result of the rescue project when multiple attempts were made to successfully transfer data from old to new media. In a recent database inventory check between SSEC, NCDC and CLASS file matching inconsistencies were noted. At this time (December 2007), any rectification of these inconsistencies is postponed until work is completed to restore each scan to one file. Estimated completion time is end of 2009.
PROCESS DATE: 199601
PROCESS DATE: 2005
PROCESS DATE: Not complete

Access Constraints ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: None

DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY: Disclaimer - While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Use Constraints None

Ancillary Keywords

Western Hemisphere

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Data Center URL: http://www.class.noaa.gov/
Dataset ID: ______PRE_GVAR ____

Data Center Personnel
Name: NOAA'S CLASS HELP DESK Email: info at class.noaa.gov Contact Address: 151 Patton Avenue City: Asheville Province or State: NC Postal Code: 28801-5001 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Format: Raw Native modes A, AA, or AAA formats available.

Fees: Please See Summary

Distribution Format: AREA - McIDAS

Fees: Please See Summary

Personnel

AXEL GRAUMANN

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: (828) 271-4850 ext. 3183

Fax: (828) 271-4328

Email: NCDC.satorder at noaa.gov

Email: Axel.Graumann at noaa.gov

Contact Address:

151 Patton Avenue, Room 120

City: Asheville

Province or State: North Carolina

Postal Code: 28801-5001

ANNA MILAN

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: (303) 497-5099

Fax: (303) 497-6513

Email: Anna.Milan at noaa.gov

Contact Address:

325 Broadway, Mail Code E/GC4

City: Boulder

Province or State: CO

Postal Code: 80305-3328

Country: USA

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2009-08-14

Last DIF Revision Date: 2011-11-02

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