5 Data Products

5.1 Science data flow

The Level 1A AMSR-E antenna temperatures generated by NASDA will be ingested by RSS-SIPS via the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC). Level 1A data set consists of 28 half-orbit files. The JPL PO.DAAC will serve as a routing center (Level 1A data will also be stored for 90 days) for the AMSR-E data as they are sent from Japan to the United States. The JPL PO.DAAC is being utilized as the routing center due to its previously defined role as the data processing center for AMSR (AMSR-E’s sister instrument) on the ADEOS-II satellite manifest.

RSS-SIPS will generate the Level 2A brightness temperatures from the NASDA Level 1A data set. The Level 2A data set will consist of half-orbit files produced on a continuous basis, as each half-orbit file is ingested. Upon generation of each half-orbit Level 2A product, the files will be sent to the AMSR-E SIPS facility at the GHCC for higher order processing (see Section 6.0).

The science data flow is illustrated in figure 5.1 below.

5.2 Requirements and Sources for Input Data and Algorithms

This section discusses the content and format of the AMSR-E EOS Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 standard products, metadata files, and browse files with a short overview of the AMSR-E Level 1A product.

5.2.1 AMSR-E Data

Each AMSR-E EOS Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 standard product has a defined Earth Science Data Type (ESDT) within the ECS system. An ESDT must be defined for every data collection managed by the ECS. The ESDT defines collection level metadata, granule level metadata, and the services that can be performed on granules in the collection. A granule is the smallest amount of data processed in a file and it is the data collected over half orbit (from pole to pole). Collection level metadata define the characteristics of the data collection to which a granule belongs. Granule level metadata define the characteristics that are unique to that granule. Services define what ECS can do with the granule. Standard services include Insert (inserting the granule into the Data Server) and Acquire (getting the granule back from the Data Server). The AMSR-E SCF is responsible for defining and updating the AMSR-E Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 ESDTs. The ECS is responsible for the implementation and configuration management of these ESDTs.

Each AMSR-E standard product is in the HDF-EOS format and contains granule level metadata of two types, structural and inventory. The structural metadata are written by HDF-EOS and describe the file structure. The inventory metadata are compliant with the ECS B.0 model and mandatory attributes are stored in the PVL format as an HDF-EOS global attribute. The inventory metadata are also supplied to the ECS system in an independent .met file.

The ESDT, metadata, science source code, scripts, and ancillary files for each AMSR-E EOS Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 standard product are discussed in detail in the following sections. Table 5.2 lists the AMSR-E Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 standard products by ESDT short name, ESDT long name, and affiliated science team members.

Figure 5.1. Science data flow from Aqua to the users

Table 5.2 AMSR-E ESDT short names, long names, and affiliated science team member

Short Name	Long Name	Science Team Member
AE_L2A	AMSR-E/Aqua L2A Global Swath Spatially-Resampled Brightness Temperatures	Frank Wentz Peter Ashcroft
AE_Ocean	AMSR-E/ Aqua L2B Global Swath Ocean Products derived from Wentz Algorithm	Frank Wentz
AE_Land	AMSR-E/ Aqua L2B Surface Soil Moisture	Eni Njoku
AE_Rain	AMSR-E/ Aqua L2B Global Swath Rain Rate/Type GPROF algorithm	Robert Adler Ralph Ferraro Chris Kummerow
AE_RnGd	AMSR-E/ Aqua Monthly L3 5x5 deg Rainfall Accumulations	Thomas Wilheit
AE_DyOcn	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 Global Ascending/Descending .25x.25 deg Ocean Grids	Frank Wentz
AE_WkOcn	AMSR-E/Aqua Weekly L3 Global Ascending/Descending .25x.25 deg Ocean Grids	Frank Wentz
AE_MoOcn	AMSR-E/Aqua Monthly L3 Global Ascending/Descending .25x.25 deg Ocean Grids	Frank Wentz
AE_DySno	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 Global Snow Water Equivalent EASE-Grids	Alfred T.C. Chang
AE_5DSno	AMSR-E/Aqua 5-Day L3 Global Snow Water Equivalent EASE-Grids	Alfred T.C. Chang
AE_MoSno	AMSR-E/Aqua Monthly L3 Global Snow Water Equivalent EASE-Grids	Alfred T.C. Chang
AE_SI6	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 6.25 km 89 GHz Brightness Temperature (Tb) Polar Grids	Donald Cavalieri Josefino Comiso
AE_SI12	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 12.5 km Tb, Sea Ice Conc., & Snow Depth Polar Grids	Donald Cavalieri Josefino Comiso
AE_SI25	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 25 km Tb, Sea Ice Temperature, & Sea Ice Conc. Polar Grids	Donald Cavalieri Josefino Comiso
AE_Land3	AMSR-E/Aqua Daily L3 Surface Soil Moisture, Global EASE-Grids	Eni Njoku

5.2.1.1 Level 1A Data

The AMSR-E Level 1A granule is defined as one-half of one orbit, the division being at the poles, so that a granule is descending (North Pole to South Pole). The granule contains chronological antenna temperature count data accompanied by related ancillary data. The AMSR-E scan time is 1.5 seconds and the Aqua orbit period is 100 minutes, resulting in approximately 2000 data scans per granule. The approximate size of the Level 1A granule is 42 MB.

The AMSR-E Level 1A granule is stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF). Each granule consists of core metadata, product metadata, and data. The core metadata are compliant with the ECS B.0 mandatory attributes and are stored as global attributes. The core metadata contain such things as the data set short name, the product generation executable name, associated version numbers, input file names, beginning and ending times of the granule, processing center, contact information, and quality assurance flags. The product metadata are also stored as HDF global attributes and include satellite orbit parameters, instrument scan geometry, thermistor conversion tables, and antenna pattern coefficients. The Level 1A data include time, latitude, longitude, antenna temperature counts, slopes and offsets for calculating T_As, various calibration temperature counts, land/ocean flags, and navigation information.

The AMSR-E Level 1A data are generated at NASDA Earth Observations Center (EOC) in Hatoyama, Japan. These data are automatically transferred to the JPL PO.DAAC. The data are then forwarded to RSS-SIPS for Level 2A processing. For details, see the Operations Agreement Between the PO.DAAC and the AMSR-E RSS-SIPS.

5.2.1.2 Level 2A Data

The AMSR-E Level 2A granule definition is one half orbit, the same as that for Level 1A. The Level 2A granule contains chronological resampled Brightness Temperatures (TBs). The Level 2A resampled TBs and associated data are stored using the HDF-EOS swath interface. The data are divided into 3 swaths: a low resolution swath, a high resolution A-scan swath, and a high resolution B-scan swath. Each swath has the associated geolocation fields of time, latitude, and longitude. The contents of each scan are described in Appendix II, Table 1. A list of the inventory level metadata items is given in Table 5.3. Level 2A granules are made up of approximately 2000 scans (this variable number of scans will be called NS).

Additional parameters are written as global HDF-EOS swath attributes. These are items extracted from the AMSR-E Level 1A granule that may be of interest to the user, but are not necessarily needed by the ECS system to perform data archival, search, or retrieval. The items include start orbit number, stop orbit number, longitude of ascending node, ascending node date, ascending node time, orbit direction, number of scans, orbit semi major axis, orbit eccentricity, orbit argument of perigee, orbit inclination, orbit period, ellipsoid names, semi major axis of earth, flattening ratio of earth, and telemetry conversion tables.

The ancillary files used in processing Level 2A data are listed in Appendix II, Table 2.

Table 5.3 AMSR-E Level-2A Brightness Temperature inventory metadata

Name	Description
LocalGranuleID	Filename
ProductionDateTime	Date and time of granule production
AutomaticQualityFlag	Automated QA indicator of granule
AutomaticQualityFlagExplanation	Definition of the usage of automatic QA flag
OperationalQualityFlag	Processing diagnostics
OperationalQualityFlagExplanation	Definition of the usage of the operational QA flag
ScienceQualityFlag	Science data content
ScienceQualityFlagExplanation	Definition of the usage of the science QA flag
QAPercentMissingData	Percent missing data in the granule
QAPercentOutofBoundsData	Percent out-of-bounds data in the granule
OrbitModelName	Orbit model used to calculate satellite position vectors
StartOrbitNumber	Start orbit number of granule
StopOrbitNumber	Stop orbit number of granule
EquatorCrossingLongitude	The descending equator crossing longitude of the granule
EquatorCrossingTime	Time of the equator crossing: hh:;mm:ss.sssZ
EquatorCrossingDate	YYYY-MM-DD
Short Name	ECS ESDT short name associated with this granule
InputPointer	Input file name
Version ID	ESDT VersionID
GringPointLatitude	An array of latitudes and longitudes that define the polygon outlining the granule data swath
GringPointLongitudes
GringPoint SequenceNo	An array of digits defining the sequence of the latitudes and longitudes used to define the polygon
RangeBeginningDate	YYYY-MM-DD
RangeBeginningTime	Hh:mm:ss.sssZ
RangeEndingDate	YYYY-MM-DD
RangeEndingTime	Hh:mm:ss.sssZ
PGEVersion	Product Generation Executable Version
NominalPassIndex (AMSR-E PSA)	The nominal pass index number for the pass that best describes the spatial location of the granule, where the pass is either the ascending of descending portion of an orbit.
StartPolygonNumber (AMSR-E PSA)	The index number for the first polygon associated with the nominal pass number in the granule.
StopPolygonNumber (AMSR-E PSA)	The index number for the last polygon associated with the nominal pass number in the granule.
Ascending/Descending flag

5.2.1.3 Level 2B and Level 3

Level 2B Ocean Products

Each AMSR-E Level 2B ocean products granule includes Sea Surface Temperature (SST), wind speed over ocean, water vapor over ocean, and cloud liquid water over ocean measurements. Each AMSR-E Level 2B granule is stored in HDF-EOS using the swath interface. The AMSR-E level 2B ocean products granule contents are described in Appendix II, Table 3. The inventory level metadata for the AMSR-E Level 2B ocean products are listed in Table 5.3, above.

The ancillary files used in processing the standard ocean products are listed in Appendix II, Table 4.

Level 2B Surface Soil Moisture Product

Each AMSR-E Level 2B surface soil moisture granule consists of surface soil moisture measurements and a number of ancillary parameters including surface type, vegetation water content, surface temperature, and quality assurance flags. These data are re-mapped to a 25-km EASE grid. Each granule is stored in HDF-EOS using the point interface.

The Level 2B surface soil moisture granule includes two geolocation fields, “Latitude” and “Longitude”. “Time” is not included as a geolocation field because the time array is sequenced spatially, not chronologically, after gridding. The physical file format is described in Appendix II, Table 5. The inventory level metadata for the AMSR-E Level 2B surface soil moisture are listed in Table 5.3.

The ancillary files used in the processing the standard surface soil moisture product are listed in Appendix II, Table 6. Some of these files are updated periodically via ftp.

Level 2B Rainfall Products

Each AMSR-E Level 2B rainfall granule includes rain rate and rain type. Each granule is stored in HDF-EOS using the swath interface. The Level 2B rainfall products granule contents are described in Appendix II, Table 7. The inventory metadata for the Level 2B Rainfall products are listed in Table 5.3. A number of ancillary files are used in the processing the standard rainfall products. A description of these files is given in Appendix II, Table 8.

Level 3 Ocean Products

The AMSR-E Level 3 ocean products are daily, weekly and monthly ascending / descending .25 x .25 grids of the six Level 2B ocean products. The six products are sea surface temperature at 56 km and 38 km resolution, ocean wind speed at 38 km and 24 km resolution, water vapor over ocean at 24 km resolution and cloud liquid water at 12 km resolution. The AMSR-E Level 3 ocean granules are stored in HDF-EOS using the grid interface and the US Geological Survey General Coordinate Transformation Package (GCTP)-Geographic projection.

The Level 3 daily ocean products granule contents are described in Appendix II, Table 9. The Level 3 weekly and monthly products are identical in format to the daily product except they will not include “time”. The inventory level metadata for the AMSR-E Level 3 ocean products are listed in Table 5.3.

No ancillary files are used in the creation of the Level 3 Ocean Products.

Level 3 Snow Product

The AMSR-E Level 3 snow products are daily, 5-day, and monthly Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area grids. The snow products are snow water equivalent, snow depth, and quality assurance flags. The AMSR-E Level 3 snow granules are stored in HDF-EOS using the grid interface.

The Level 3 daily snow products granule contents are described in Appendix II, Table 10. The formats for the 5-day, and monthly products are identical to the daily product format. The inventory level metadata for the AMSR-E Level 3 snow products are listed in Table 5.3.

A number of ancillary files are used in the processing of the standard snow product. These files are listed in Appendix II, Table 11.

Level 3 Sea Ice Products

The AMSR-E Level 3 sea ice products are polar stereographic grids at three spatial resolutions: 6.25 km, 12.5 km, and 25 km. The 6.25 km products are 89.0 GHz TBs. The 12.5 km products are sea ice concentration, snow depth over ice, and TBs for the 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89.0 GHz channels. The 25.0 km products are sea ice concentration, sea ice temperature, and TBs for the 6.925, 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89.0 GHz channels. The AMSR-E Level 3 sea ice granules are stored in HDF-EOS using the grid interface.

The Level 3 6.25 km, 12.5 km, and 25.0 km sea ice products granule contents are described in Appendix II, Table 12, 13, and 14, respectively. The structural metadata include the projection parameters. The inventory metadata for the AMSR-E Level 3 sea ice products are listed in Table 5.3.

The ancillary files used in the sea ice standard products processing are listed in Appendix II, Table 15.

Level 3 Rainfall Products

The AMSR-E Level 3 rain products are processed on 2 separate grids of monthly rainfall accumulation: one over ocean and one over land. The grids are 5 degree by 5 degree, created using the HDF-EOS grid interface and the GCTP-Geographic projection. The data over land uses the Level 2B land rainfall products derived with the Goddard Profiling (GPROF) algorithm as input. The Texas A&M University (TAMU) processes ocean rainfall and uses the Level 2A TBs as input. As a check, the GPROF algorithm results are further processed to obtain a monthly average (Level 3) data set. The format of the AMSR-E Level 3 rain products is described in Appendix II, Table 16.

The structural metadata include the projection parameters. The inventory metadata for the AMSR-E Level 3 rainfall products are listed in Table 5.3.

The ancillary files used in processing of the Level 3 rainfall products are listed in Appendix II, Table 17.

Level 3 Surface Soil Moisture Product

Each AMSR-E Level 3 EASE-grid surface soil moisture granule consists of daily global 25-km EASE-grids of brightness temperatures, surface soil moisture, and other ancillary parameters including vegetation water content, surface temperature, and quality control flags. Each granule is stored in HDF-EOS using the grid interface and the GCTP-Behrmann Cylindrical Equal-Area projection (25 km EASE-grids, true at 30 degrees north or south).

The Level 3 surface soil moisture product contents are described in Appendix II, Table 18. The inventory level metadata for the AMSR-E Level 3 surface soil moisture are local granule ID, short name, version ID, input pointer(s), west bounding coordinate, north bounding coordinate, east bounding coordinate, south bounding coordinate, range beginning date, range beginning time, range ending date, range ending time, and PGE version.

No ancillary files are used in the processing of the surface soil moisture product.

5.2.2 Auxiliary Science Data

The initial browse products will be generated by the TLSCF with the aid of the science team members. Integration and test of the browse software, as well as the configuration management of the software, will be performed in the same manner as the science software. These products, in png format, along with meta data identifying the browse/data relationship will be sent to NSIDC for archiving. NSIDC will convert the browse products to HDF raster images of less than 1 MB to conform to EOS standards.

A number of ancillary files are used in the processing. A description of these files for all products can be found in Appendix II.

5.2.3 Processing Algorithms

There are four components of each AMSR-E science software Product Generation Executable (PGE): the input read routine, the science software routines, granule level metadata generation software, and the output routine. The science software and output routine for each AMSR-E EOS Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 standard product is produced by the AMSR-E EOS science team member affiliated with the product. The Level 1A read routine is part of the Level 2A science software delivered to the TLSCF by RSS. The Level 2A read routine and the granule level metadata generation routines are created and maintained by the TLSCF. The software is then integrated and tested by the TLSCF software team, with input from the science team members as needed. Upon completion of integration and test, the software, all required ancillary files, and software release documentation are delivered to the RSS-SIPS (Level 2A) or the GHCC-SIPS (Level 2B and Level 3). The GHCC-SIPS is responsible for configuration management of all source code, scripts, ancillary files, and release documentation.

5.2.4 Input Data for Algorithms

The AMSR-E Level 2B and Level 3 products are generated at the GHCC-SIPS. The AMSR-E Level 2A data are used as input for all Level 2B, Level 3 Rainfall, Level 3 Snow, and Level 3 Sea Ice products. The Level 3 ocean products and Level 3 land products use their respective Level 2B products as input. The AMSR-E Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 file naming conventions are given in 5.4. The conventions are compliant with ECS requirements.

Table 5.4. AMSR-E Level 2 and Level 3 file naming conventions

AMSR-E Short Name	File Naming Convention
AE_L2A	AMSR_E_L2A_BrightnessTemperatures_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_Ocean	AMSR_E_L2_Ocean_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_Land	AMSR_E_L2_Land_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_Rain	AMSR_E_L2_Rain_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_RnGd	AMSR_E_L3_RainGrid_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_DyOcn	AMSR_E_L3_DailyOcean_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_WkOcn	AMSR_E_L3_WeeklyOcean_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_MoOcn	AMSR_E_L3_MonthlyOcean_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_DySno	AMSR_E_L3_DailySnow_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_5Dsno	AMSR_E_L3_5DaySnow_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_MoSno	AMSR_E_L3_MonthlySnow_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_SI6	AMSR_E_L3_SeaIce6km_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_SI12	AMSR_E_L3_SeaIce12km_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_SI25	AMSR_E_L3_SeaIce25km_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf
AE_Land3	AMSR_E_L3_DailyLand_yyyymmddhhmm.hdf

The values are yyyy for year, mm for month, dd for day, hh for hour, and mm for minutes and are associated with the first scan of the granule.

5.2.5 Simulated data

Simulated Level 1A and Level 2A files have been produced as part of processing system development. These files are authentic in that they have the correct HDF structure for the Level 1A, and HDF-EOS structure for the Level 2A. Simulated observations over oceans are derived from global NCEP maps (one degree spatial resolution).

The Level 1A files are available to investigators for the purpose of algorithm development, and file transfer testing. The level of authenticity incorporated into the simulations was sufficient for anticipated uses, but particular elements can be further enhanced in response to particular user needs if necessary. These simulated files will not be used after instrument launch when actual data become available.

6 Processing at SIPS

The AMSR-E SIPS is built on a distributed architecture, with processing occurring at both Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) in Santa Rosa, California and at the Global Hydrology & Climate Center (GHCC) in Huntsville, Alabama. "Eight by five" and on-call operations support will be provided by a core team of personnel, specializing in system administration, archive management, software development, and system engineering. As interfacing documents are developed and baselined, the existing GHCC data management procedures will be modified and tailored for the SIPS operations.

6.1 Routine Operations

Under normal operating conditions, the RSS AMSR-E SIPS receives Level 1A data from NASDA via the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory PO.DAAC, processes it into a Level 2A product, and transmits it via FTP to the GHCC AMSR-E SIPS. (See Figure 6.1)

The AMSR-E SIPS team processes the Level 2A data first into Level 2B swath products and then into Level 3 daily, 5-day, weekly and monthly gridded products. The Level 2A, Level 2B, and Level 3 products, associated metadata, production history, QA files, ancillary files, and delivery algorithm packages (DAPs), are transferred to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) DAAC for archival and distribution to end users. Details of these routine operations are described in Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Operations Agreements (OAs) between the interfacing data centers, as listed in Figure 6.2.

Figure 6.1. AMSR-E Processing and data flow.

Figure 6.2. ICDs and OAs between SIPS and interfacing data centers

All processing flows within the GHCC SIPS are automated to run without operator intervention, under nominal conditions. A processing "Master Script" coordinates the software execution, message logging, and handoff of each step in the processing stream from daily ingest of the Level 2A data from the RSS SIPS through generation of all the standard products, metadata, and production histories; to staging data for science QA and distribution to the archive DAAC. This Master Script is written in distinct modules to display meaningful log messages and exit gracefully if problems in the data or the processing system are detected. A "Reprocessing" Master Script can be used to manually repeat any or all steps of the automated master script, in the event that errors are encountered anywhere in the processing flow. The reprocessing script will also be used to regenerate the full suite of data products required by new versions of the processing algorithms.

6.1.1 Reprocessing

6.1.1.1 Routine Reprocessing

Updates to a science algorithm after L+3 months will necessitate reprocessing of that data product and any downstream products. New versions of all affected products will be generated. Current data products are generated in the new version as soon as the updated algorithm is integrated into the operational processing environment. Previously processed data will be reprocessed beginning with earliest data and working forward.

6.1.1.2 Replacement of Erroneous Data

Infrequently, small amounts of data may need to be reprocessed due to improper processing, hardware failure, or human error. In this case, erroneous data in the processing stream or archive will be replaced with the corrected data files.

6.2 Contingency Plans

6.2.1 Equipment Failures

All GHCC operational servers are covered by a vendor maintenance contract, which has typically provided Return To Service (RTS) support within 2-3 hours for soft failures and 24 hours for hard failures. In the event of a hard failure where downtime is expected to exceed 24 hours, the SIPS will notify appropriate point-of-contact (POC), as listed in the operations agreements between data centers, describing the problem and the expected RTS time.

Electric power is supplied by a commercial power source and the operational server is connected to an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). The UPS supplying the primary GHCC operational hosts, including the AMSR-E SIPS server, and their peripherals will last approximately one hour. In the event a power outage is approaching the one-hour duration limit, UPS software will automatically shut down the primary hosts. Once power is resumed, the UPS will automatically restart the hosts.

6.2.2 Return to Service

After Return To Service, the SIPS will attempt to resume normal operations of near real time data ingest, processing, and distribution, while at the same time ingesting, processing, and distributing data that were missed, or not captured in near real time.

6.2.3 Inconsistent Data Flow

In the event that data are received out of time sequence, the SIPS policy will be to maintain the nominal real time processing and at the same time, process previously unprocessed data, starting with the oldest data and working forward in time until all unprocessed data are processed.

6.3 Availability

As described in Section 6.1, the Level 1A data orbit files will be routinely transferred from NASDA to JPL PO.DAAC and subsequently routed to RSS. The JPL PO.DAAC does not process the data and will routinely redistribute the Level 1A data to RSS. The JPL PO.DAAC will push the Level 1A data to RSS without invoking a specific hold period (using FastCopy). Upon ingestion by RSS the Level 1A data will be processed into Level 2A data and pulled by GHCC, again without any specific hold period (using FastCopy). As Level 2A data are ingested by GHCC from SIPS RSS, they will become available for the Level 2B and Level 3 processing software. Level 2A, Level 2B and Level 3 data will be placed on the FTP server for retrieval by the NSIDC DAAC. The AMSR-E standard data products will also be placed in a password protected directory for pickup by the AMSR-E Science Team. The Science Team has requested access to the products for science quality assessment. Only trusted IP addresses will have access to the AMSR-E data and products through the SIPS-GHCC firewall. All other private or public access to the data products must be obtained through the NSIDC DAAC.

6.4 Storage and Retention Requirements of Temporary Files

After the products are generated, they will be placed onto a short term holding area for Science team access. This holding area will be sized to keep 45 days of Level 2A, Level 2B and Level 3 daily products, and 6 months of weekly, 5-day products and Level 3 monthly products. Existing age of scripts will be modified to delete files older than the specified 45-days and 6-months.

6.5 Operational Quality Assessment

Operational Quality Assessment will be performed by the SIPS team as part of the ingest and production processing. The ingest processing software will include a post-transfer comparison between the RSS SIPS L2A source file and the file received at the GHCC SIPS, done automatically by the ftp software package FastCopy. Scripts used to write the L2A files to the storage device will use a read after write and compare routine to ensure that the archive process completed successfully. Insertion of in-line science QA described earlier in this document will be accomplished during production processing, after which the products will be transferred to the archive DAAC using the ECS-required Product Delivery Record Server (PDRS). The PDRS uses Product Delivery Record (PDR) notices to announce files available for transfer, and a corresponding Product Acceptance Notification (PAN) or Product Delivery Record Discrepancy (PDRD) notice to confirm successful or unsuccessful receipt of files.

6.6 Configuration Management of Algorithms

Configuration Management of science algorithms and automation scripts is the responsibility of the GHCC SIPS. After passing integration tests in the SCF SSI&T environment, working algorithms are migrated to the SIPS integration and test environment. The algorithms are then compiled, integrated with processing master scripts, executed, and verified to produce expected results according to SCF-provided test plans. After these steps are successfully completed, the executables are installed, by the system administrators, into the SIPS operational environment, the algorithm source code is entered into the UNIX-based Concurrent Versions System(CVS), and a Delivered Algorithm Package (DAP) is created and shipped to the archive DAAC, via the PDRS. Each new version of every algorithm will go through these steps: SSI&T, SIPS I&T, installation, source code CM, and DAP transferred to DAAC. This procedure provides multiple levels of quality assurance and safeguards: operational software is protected from unauthorized or unintended modification; any version of operational software (first, latest, next to last, etc.) may be checked out of the CVS library of algorithms; and simple traceability of change authorization.

6.6.1 Science Algorithms Updating Guidelines

At launch the algorithms will be version 00.

During the first 3 months after launch the data and the products will only be distributed to the AMSR Science team members. The algorithm developers will be able to change the science modules as often as they feel it is necessary. The process for implementing these changes is the same as the one used during the original implementation of the algorithms at the TLSCF. The algorithms used at L+3 months will be version 01. The algorithms will then be updated every 3 months in the first year after launch, and 6 months thereafter, if necessary.

In case of a critical change (one needed in order to process the data correctly) the algorithm will be updated as soon as possible.

7 Data INGEST, Archival AND Distribution – NSIDC DAAC

7.1 Ingest and Archival of Science Data

7.1.1 AMSR-E Level 0 Products

The NSIDC DAAC intends to use the ECS to ingest and to archive AMSR-E Level 0 production data sets (PDS) and GBAD data sets provided by the NASA EDOS. The Level 0 products the NSIDC DAAC receives from EDOS are listed in Table 7.1. The NSIDC DAAC is responsible for the maintenance of ESDTs and any other information required to incorporate AMSR-E Level 0 data into the NSIDC DAAC ECS archive. The NSIDC DAAC monitors the receipt and reports on the insertion of the AMSR-E Level 0 data into the archive.

The NSIDC DAAC will ingest Level 0 data into the ECS archive using interfaces defined in the Interface Control Document between the Earth Observing System (EOS) and the EOS Ground System (EGS) Elements. EDOS transfers the AMSR-E Science and GBAD PDS and related metadata files to the ECS ingest server at the DAAC. NSIDC will archive the Level 0 products in the format provided by EDOS. The file naming convention used by EDOS for the PDS and GBAD data will be retained in the NSIDC archive. Each file contains any data collected by the EDOS during a two-hour period. The DAAC expects to receive these data from EDOS every two hours.

Table 7.1. ESDT Short Names and Descriptions for data obtained from EDOS

ESDT Short Name	ESDT Description
PM1GBAD1	Ground-Based Attitude Determination Data for EOS Aqua in 1 second intervals
PM1GBAD4	Ground-Based Attitude Determination Data for EOS Aqua in 4 second intervals
PM1GBAD8	Ground-Based Attitude Determination Data for EOS Aqua in 8 second intervals
AE_PMSCI	AMSR-E Science and Engineering Data

After the data have been successfully transferred to the ECS, the metadata file that accompanies the data granule is parsed and the information describing the data granule is stored in a database residing on the Science Data Server. The data granule is archived on D3 tape media.

7.1.2 Level 1A product

The AMSR-E Level 1A product will be generated at the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) Earth Observation Center located in Japan. The Level 1A product contains sensor counts and coefficients needed to compute antenna temperatures and, subsequently, surface brightness temperatures. The Level 1A product will be produced using the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Hierarchical Data Format (HDF). The volume of each file is estimated to be 35 megabytes. The data files will be transferred about once every 50 minutes from the NASDA/EOC to the Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC) located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Once the data have been received by the PO.DAAC the data are then transmitted over the network to the NSIDC DAAC and to Remote Sensing Systems, Inc.

The JPL PO.DAAC will transfer the AMSR-E L1A data files to a non-ECS file server at the NSIDC DAAC. The data will be transmitted using FastCopy, a commercial file transfer software package. Upon receipt of each L1A file a script will be activated that extracts metadata fields from the L1A file. The metadata fields will be used to produce a granule-level metadata file. The ECS Ingest Server requires a PVL-formatted metadata file for each data granule inserted into the archive.

After the metadata file has been generated, a Product Delivery Record (PDR) is produced. The PDR contains information needed by the ECS Ingest Polling Server. The PDR interface is described in the ICD between the ECS and the SIPS (document reference). The ECS ingest server at the NSIDC DAAC polls the PDR directory on the non-ECS server at NSIDC in an attempt to discover whether additional L1A data have been made available for insertion into the ECS archive.

7.1.3 Level 2 and 3 Products

The AMSR-E Level 2 and Level 3 products will be generated at the AMSR-E SIPS located at Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa, CA, and Global Hydrology and Climate Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. These products will be produced using algorithms developed by the United States AMSR-E Science Team members. The products will be generated in HDF-EOS file format. A description of the AMSR-E Level 2 and Level 3 data collections and their respective volumes are listed in Table 7.2.

The GHCC SIPS delivers standard science data products via the co-located AMSR-E SIPS PDR Server. The PDR interface is described in the ICD between the ECS and the SIPS (ESDIS document no, 423-41-57-7 or ???). The ECS ingest server at the NSIDC DAAC polls the PDR directory at the AMSR-E SIPS in an attempt to discover whether additional Level 2 and Level 3 data have been made available for insertion into the ECS archive. Production History, and metadata files will accompany the data granule. The operations agreement between the AMSR-E SIPS and the NSIDC DAAC defines the number of granules identified in a single PDR (usually less than 30)

After the data have been successfully transferred to the ECS, the metadata file that accompanies the data granule is parsed and the information describing the data granule is stored into a database residing on the Science Data Server. The data granules and files containing the production history are archived on media residing in the near-line digital library.

7.2 Distribution

The NSIDC DAAC will establish and maintain distribution services for AMSR-E products using the EOSDIS Core System. It will also establish and maintain inventories, catalogs, and indices that facilitate the search and order of AMSR-E data sets. AMSR-E data providers will support this work by providing the necessary information (metadata) for its data sets.

Table 7.2. Level 2 and 3 data collections and their volumes.

Short Name	Data Level	Collection Description	Delivery Frequency	Data Volume uncompressed
AE_L2A	Level 2A	AMSR-E/Aqua global swath brightness temperatures are resampled at resolutions of 56 km, 38 km, 21 km, 12 km, and 5.4 km.	~28 half-orbits / day	2.5 GB/day
AE_Ocean	Level 2B	AMSR-E/Aqua global swath ocean wind speed at 38 and 21 km res., water vapor over ocean at 21 km res., cloud liquid water at 12 km res., and sea surface temperature at 56 and 38 km res. are generated using the Wentz Algorithm and Level 2A product.	~28 half-orbits /day	277.2 MB/day
AE_Land	Level 2B	AMSR-E/Aqua global swath surface soil moisture and ancillary parameters including surface type, vegetation water content, surface temp., and QC parms are generated from Level 2A AMSR-E Tb’s spatially resampled to a nominal 25-km equal area earth grid.	~28 half-orbits /day	15.0 MB/day
AE_Rain	Level 2B	AMSR-E/Aqua global swath rain rate and rain type products are generated using the Level 2A spatially resampled Tb’s and the Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF).	~28 half-orbits /day	501.0 MB/day
AE_RnGd	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua monthly rainfall accumulations are on two 5 x 5 degree grids, separate for land & ocean. The ocean product uses Level 2A brightness temperatures as input; the land product uses GPROF Level 2B rainfall as input.	1 / month	0.02 MB/month
AE_DyOcn	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua global ocean Level 3 daily products are on .25 x .25 degree ascending and descending grids. Products are generated using the Level 2B ocean products as input.	1 / day	14.5 MB/day
AE_WkOcn	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua global ocean Level 3 weekly products are on .25 x .25 degree ascending and descending grids. Products are generated using the Level 2B ocean products as input.	1 / week	12.4 MB/week
AE_MoOcn	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua global ocean Level 3 monthly products are on .25 x .25 degree ascending and descending grids. Products are generated using the Level 2B ocean products as input.	1 / month	12.4 MB/month
AE_DySno	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 daily products are of global snow water equivalent on EASE-Grids.	1 / day	2.1 MB/day
AE_5DSno	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 5-day product is a 5-day running mean of global snow water equivalent on EASE-Grids.	1 / day	2.1 MB/ 5-day
AE_MoSno	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 product is of monthly global snow water equivalent on EASE-Grids.	1 / month	2.1 MB/ month
AE_SI6	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 products at 6.25 km are of 89.0 GHz brightness temperatures on polar stereographic grids. Tb’s are daily averages, daily ascending averages, and daily descending averages.	1 / day	46.3 MB/day
AE_SI12	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 products at 12.5 km are of sea ice concentration, snow depth over ice, & 18 - 89.0 GHz Tb’s on polar stereo grids. The sea ice con and Tb’s are daily averages, daily asc. & desc. Averages; snow depth over sea ice is a 5-day average.	1 / day	53.0 MB/day
AE_SI25	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 products at 25 km are of sea ice concentration, sea ice temperature, 6.9 - 89.0 GHz Tb’s on polar stereographic grids. Sea ice con, sea ice temp, and Tb’s are daily averages, daily ascending averages, and daily descending averages.	1 / day	19.5 MB/day
AE_Land3	Level 3	AMSR-E/Aqua Level 3 global daily surface soil moisture with vegetation water content, surface temp., & Tb’s are generated on a nominal 25-km equal area earth grid by time-compositing the Level 2B parameters separately for ascending and descending passes.	1 / day	64.8 MB/day

7.2.1 Distribution to NASDA/EOC

The NSIDC DAAC will distribute Level 0 data sets to the NASDA/EOC (for production and/or reprocessing) to the extent consistent with the NSIDC DAAC ECS resource limitations. NSIDC will distribute all AMSR-E Level 0 Science and GBAD data to NASDA/EOC for the first ninety (90) days of the Aqua mission; afterwards, the DAAC will provide these products only as a backup to the bit rate buffered Level 0 data. The bit rate buffered data is the primary source for L1A production at the NASDA/EOC. Details pertaining to ordering procedures and transfer media for the Level 0 data exchange with NASDA/EOC can be found in the Operations Agreement Between NSIDC DAAC and the NASDA/EOC for the exchange of AMSR-E data.

7.2.2 Distribution to AMSR-E Science Team Members

The NSIDC DAAC will distribute data sets to the AMSR-E SCF as required to perform science quality assurance or for science investigations to the extent consistent with the NSIDC DAAC ECS resource limitations. AMSR-E Team members may order the data products from the NSIDC User Services Office and acquire the data via ftp or physical media (CD or DVD). Alternatively, team members may establish a subscription on the data and have the data automatically sent to a host computer via ftp.

7.2.3 Distribution to the General Science Community

As per the current NASA ESDIS Project policy for Aqua data, the NSIDC DAAC will distribute AMSR-E products on a non-discriminatory basis to all users at no charge. If policy changes eventually are implemented, prices will reflect the cost of media, postage, and materials only. The priority for distribution will be on a first-in first-out basis. Data orders will be accepted through the NASA EOSDIS Data Gateway, or by traditional means such as E-mail, telephone, facsimile or the NSIDC AMSR-E web site.

7.2.4 AMSR-E Science Software

Upon user request the NSIDC DAAC will distribute a Delivered Algorithm Package (DAP) of AMSR-E software needed to create an executable that produces one of the AMSR-E data sets on one of the approved system configurations (computing equipment, operating system, compiler, Toolkits, HDF, etc).

7.3 Ingest and Archival of Other Data

7.3.1 Validation data

The AMSR-E Validation data will be archived at NSIDC. In order to make these data available to the public NSIDC will create a web site where all data taken for AMSR-E validation will be listed with pointers to where the data reside and the contact person responsible for that set of data. Most of the time, the scientists involved in taking the data will have them at his/her facility at least a year after the campaign has been completed. During that period (a year after a validation campaign) the Validation web site will note the procedure for obtaining the data set in question.

7.3.2 Browse data

AMSR-E browse images will be generated at the TLSCF. They will be available to the general public on the AMSR-E web site, after the scientists are satisfied that the images are correct (about six months after launch). These images will then be ingested and archived at the NSIDC for distribution.

7.3.3 Research data products

Some of the AMSR-E Science team members will produce research products at their own SCF. For these products the public is invited to contact the individual scientist directly. These data will not be archived at NSIDC. Table 7.3 lists these research products.

Table 7.3. AMSR-E Research products

AMSR-E group	Product	Contact point
Sea Ice	Ice Type	J. Comiso
Snow	Snow depth	A. Chang
Soil Moisture	Surface type, vegetation water content and surface temperature	E. Njoku
Precipitation	Monthly rainfall from the accumulated L2 product	T. Wilheit

7.4 Data Configuration Management (at NSIDC)

Configuration management of the AMSR-E standard data products is the joint responsibility of the SIPS and the NSIDC DAAC. Standard AMSR-E data products are produced at GHCC-SIPS and transmitted to the EOSDIS Core System (ECS) at the NSIDC DAAC for archival. Each data collection archived in the ECS is described as an Earth Science Data Type (ESDT). An ESDT is uniquely defined by a set of attributes contained in an ESDT descriptor file. The NSIDC DAAC and the SIPS agree on the contents of the collection descriptor file prior to establishing a baseline or operational version of the ESDT.

The metadata that uniquely defines an ESDT contains an attribute that provides a version identifier of the ESDT collection. Normally, the version identifier of the baseline version of the data collection is set to one (1). The version identifier can be used to distinguish collections of the same ESDT that were produced using different algorithms, resulting in a collection of reprocessed granules. In time, the data provider or the DAAC may wish to make changes to the mandatory metadata attributes that define the ESDT; significant changes to the ESDT descriptor may result in the definition of a new version of the ESDT. Usually, the DAAC advertises only the most recent version of an ESDT collection. Prior versions are deleted from the archive, as governed by the NASA EOS Data and Information Policy.

The NSIDC DAAC will collaborate with the SIPS prior to making a change to the metadata elements that describes an ESDT. No changes to an ESDT are implemented within the ECS installed at the NSIDC DAAC until both the DAAC management and the SIPS agree to the proposed changes. Procedures for negotiating a change to the ESDT definition are described in the operations agreement between the NSIDC DAAC and SIPS. Changes to an ESDT that introduces a new version of the data collection will be published in the applicable Data Set Guide document.

The latest version of the AMSR-E standard data products are maintained in the ECS archive installed at the NSIDC DAAC for the duration of the AMSR-E mission. The NSIDC DAAC maintains the archive until the collections have been migrated to a Long-term Archive (LTA) facility.

8 Implementation Schedule

This document describes what happens to the AMSR-E data after the launch of Aqua. In that respect this is a “living” document, especially this section. Listed below are the major milestones for updating the science algorithms and subsequently reprocessing the data. At this point, these processes are envisioned to proceed in a well-organized fashion, as follows.

Milestones

Launch (L): early 2002

Continuous data from Japan: L + 9 months

Science Algorithms

At launch: version 0

Updates: every 3 months during the first year after launch

Every 6 months during the second year after launch

Yearly starting with the third year after launch

Processing at SIPS

Continuous processing: once continuous data are received

Re-processing: after every algorithm update

9 Acronyms

AMSR-E Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer – EOS

asc ascending

AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

CD-R Compact Disk-Re-writable

CM Configuration Management

CSU Colorado State University

CVS Concurrent Versions System

DAAC Distributed Active Archive Center

DAP Delivered Algorithm Package

desc descending

DVD Digital Video Disk

ECS EOSDIS Core System

EDOS EOS Data and Operations System

EGS EOS Ground System

EOC Earth Observation Center

EORC Earth Observations Resource Center

EOS Earth Observing System

EOSDIS EOS Data Information System

ESDIS Earth Science Data Information System (Project)

ESDT Earth Science Data Type

ESE Earth Science Enterprise

FTP File Transfer Protocol

GB/day Gigabyte/day

GBAD Ground Based Attitude Determination

GCTP General Coordinate Transformation Package

GHCC Global Hydrology and Climate Center

GHRC Global Hydrology Resource Center

GHz Giga Hertz

GPROF Goddard PROFiling algorithm

GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center

HDF Hierarchical Data Format

ICD Interface Control Document

ICESat Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite

IDL Interactive Display Language

IT Instrument Team

JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Km Kilometer

LTA Long Term Archive

MHz Mega Hertz

MODIS MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectraradiometer

MODAPS MODIS Data Processing System

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MTMGW

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASDA National Space Development Agency (of Japan)

NCSA National Center for Supercomputing Applications

NESDIS National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NHP number of pixels/scan for 89 GHz channels

NP number of pixels/scan

NS number of scans

NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center

OA Operations Agreement

ODL Object Data Language

PAN Product Acceptance Notification

PI Principal Investigator

PDRD Product Delivery Record Discrepancy

PDR Product Delivery Record

PDRS Product Delivery Record Server

PDS Production Data Sets

PGE Product Generation Executable

POC Point Of Contact

PO.DAAC Physical Oceanography DAAC

QA Quality Assurance

RSS Remote Sensing Systems

RTS Return To Service

SIPS Science Investigator-led Processing System

SCF Science Computing Facility

SMMR Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer

SSH

SSI&T Science Software Integration & Test

SSM/I Special Sensor Microwave/Imager

SSMIS Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder

SST Sea Surface Temperature

TAMU Texas A&M University

TBD To Be Determined

TBW To Be Written

Tb Brightness Temperature

TLSCF Team Lead Science Computing Facility

TMI TRMM Microwave Imager

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission

UAH University of Alabama in Huntsville

UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply

10 Appendix I

10.1 Joint AMSR Science Team Members

Dr. Robert Adler, Global Precipitation GSFC, adler@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov 301-614-6290

Dr. Kazumasa Aonashi, Global precipitation, Meteorological Research Institute, Japan, aonashi@mri-jma,go.jp +81-29-853-8635

Dr. Donald Cavalieri, Sea Ice, the Arctic, GSFC, don@cavalieri.gsfc.nasa.gov 301-614-5901

Dr. Alfred T.C. Chang, Snow Water Equivalent GSFC, achang@rainfall.gsfc.nasa.gov 301-614-5766

Dr. Josefino Comiso, Sea Ice, the Antarctic, GSFC, comiso@joey.gsfc.nasa.gov 301-614-5708

Mr. Ralph Ferraro*, Global Precipitation, Land NOAA/NESDIS, rferraro@nesdis.noaa.gov 301-763-8251 ext.147

Dr. Hayasaka hayasaka@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp

Dr. T. Koike, Land surface soil moisture & Snow Water Equivalent, University of Tokyo, Japan, tkoike@hydra.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Dr. Christian Kummerow*, Global Precipitation, Ocean, Colorado State University, kummerow@atmos.colostate.edu (970) 491-8449

Dr. Fumihiko Nishio, Sea Ice, Chiba University, Center for Environmental Research, Japan, fnishio@ceres.cr.chiba-u.ac.jp +81-43-290-3836

Dr. Eni Njoku, Land surface soil moisture, JPL, eni.g.njoku@jpl.jpl.nasa.gov 818-354-3693

Dr. Akira Shibata, NASDA Science Team Leader, Sea surface temperature and winds, Meteorological Research Institute, Japan, ashibata@mri-jma.go.jp

Dr. Roy Spencer, US Science Team Leader, MSFC, roy.spencer@msfc.nasa.gov 256-961-7960

Mr. Frank Wentz, Level 2A Resampled Brightness Temperatures &Ocean Parameters Suite (Wind Speed, SST, Water Vapor, Cloud Liquid Water) Remote Sensing System wentz@remss.com 707-545-2904 ext 16

Dr. Thomas Wilheit, Global Precipitation, Texas A&M University, wilheit@tamu.edu 409-845-0176

* Not officially chosen members

11 Appendix II

Table 1 AMSR-E Level 2A granule contents

Parameter

Data Type

Dimensions

Description

Low_Res_Swath

Swath Attributes

OrbitSemiMajorAxis

Character

OrbitEccentricity

Character

OrbitArgumentPerigee

Character

OrbitInclination

Character

OrbitPeriod

Character

EllipsoidName

Character

SemiMajorAxisofEarth

Character

FlatteningRatioofEarth

Character

Platinum#1CountRangeWx

Character

Platinum#1ConversionTableWa

Character

Platinum#1ConversionTableWb

Character

Platinum#1ConversionTableWc

Character

Platinum#1ConversionTableWd

Character

CoefficientAvv

Character

CoefficientAhv

Character

CoefficientAov

Character

CoefficientAhh

Character

CoefficientAvh

Character

CoefficientAoh

Character

Level1A_Channel_Sequence

Character

Resampled_Channel_Sequence

Character

StartOrbitNumber

Float

StopOrbitNumber

Float

EquatorCrossing

Character

EquatorCrossingDate

Character

EquatorCrossingTime

Character

OrbitDirection

Character

NumberofScans

Int32

SoftwareRevisionDate

Character

SoftwareBuildNumber

Int32

PGE_Version

INT32

RangeBeginningTime

Char8

RangeBeginningDate

Char8

RangeEndingTime

Char8

TangeEndingDate

Char8

InputPointer

Char8

Table 1 AMSR-E Level 2A granule contents (cont)

Geolocation fields

Time

FLOAT64

Scan start time in TAI93

Latitude

FLOAT32

NS x NHP

Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)

Longitude

FLOAT32

NS x NHP

Longitude( -180.0 to 180.0)

Low_Res Swath

Data Fields

Position_in_Orbit

FLOAT32

Fractional orbit position of current scan

Navigation_Data

FLOAT32

NS x 6

x,y,z,vx,vy,vz (km, km/sec)

Attitude_Data

FLOAT32

NS x 3

Roll, pitch, and yaw measured from nominal position

SPC_Temperature_Count

UINT16

NS x 20

(In NASDA documentation)

SPS_Temperature_Count

UINT16

NS x 32

(In NASDA Documentation)

RX_Offset_Gain_Count

UINT16

NS x 32

Data_Quality

FLOAT32

NS x 128

Level 1A data quality flags

Observation Supplement

UINT16

NS x 27

(In NASDA Documentation)

Land_Ocean_Flag

UINT8

NS x NO x 6

Level 1A land/ocean flags stored as percent of land in pixel

Earth_Incidence

INT8

NS x NP

Earth incidence angle

Earth_Azimuth

INT16

NS x NP

Earth azimuth angle

Sun_Elevation

INT16

NS x NP

Sun elevation angle

Sun_Azimuth

INT16

Sun azimuth angle

NASDA_LowRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients

FLOAT32

NS x 10 x 2

RSS_LowRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients

FLOAT32

NS x 10 x 2

Hot_Load_Count_6_to_37

UINT16

NS x 16 x 10

Hot load calibration counts for the low resolution channels

Cold_Sky_Mirror_Count_6_to_37

UINT16

NS x 16 x 10

Cold sky calibration counts for the low resolution channels

Scan_Quality_Flag

INT32

Overall scan quality flag

Level1A_Scan_Chan_Quality_Flag

INT16

NS x 10

Quality flags for each Level 1A scan and channel

Resampled_Scan_Chan_Quality_Flag

INT16

NS x 30

Quality flag for each resampled scan and channel

Sun_Glint_Angle

INT16

NS x NP

Table 1 AMSR-E Level 2A granule contents (cont)
Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
6.9V_Res.1_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
6.9H_Res.1_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
10.7V_Res.2_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
10.7H_Res.2_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
18.7V_Res.3_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
18.7H_Res.3_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
23.8V_Approx._Res.3_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
23.8H_Approx._Res.3_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
36.5V_Res.4_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
36.5H_Res.4_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NP
6.9V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 6.9V Channel TBs
6.9H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 6.9H Channel TBs
10.7V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 10.7V Channel TBs
10.7V_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 10.7V Channel TBs
10.7H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 10.7H Channel TBs
10.7H_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 10.7H Channel TBs
18.7V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 18.7V Channel TBs
18.7V_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 18.7V Channel TBs
18.7H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 18.7H Channel TBs
18.7H_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 18.7H Channel TBs
23.8V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 23.8V Channel TBs
23.8V_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 23.8V Channel TBs
23.8V_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 23.8V Channel TBs, not resampled
23.8H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 23.8H Channel TBs
23.8H_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 23.8H Channel TBs
23.8H_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 23.8H Channel TBs, not resampled
36.5V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 36.5V Channel TBs
36.5V_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 36.5V Channel TBs
36.5V_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 36.5V Channel TBs
36.5H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 36.5H Channel TBs
36.5H_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 36.5H Channel TBs
36.5H_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 36.5H Channel TBs
89.0V_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 89.0V Channel TBs
89.0V_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 89.0V Channel TBs
89.0V_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 89.0V Channel TBs
89.0V_Res.4_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 4 89.0V Channel TBs
89.0H_Res.1_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 1 89.0H Channel TBs
89.0H_Res.2_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 2 89.0H Channel TBs
89.0H_Res.3_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 3 89.0H Channel TBs
89.0H_Res.4_TB	INT16	NS x NP	Resolution 4 89.0H Channel TBs
Res1_Surf	UINT8	NS x NP	Resolution 1 Surface Types
Res2_Surf	UINT8	NS x NP	Resolution 2 Surface Types
Res3_Surf	UINT8	NS x NP	Resolution 3 Surface Types
Res4_Surf	UINT8	NS x NP	Resolution 4 Surface Types

Table 1 AMSR-E Level 2A granule contents (cont.)

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
High_Res_A Swath
Swath Attributes
OrbitSemiMajorAxis	Character
OrbitEccentricity	Character
OrbitArgumentPerigee	Character
OrbitIncination	Character
OrbitPeriod	Character
EllipsoidName	Character
DemiMajorAxisofEarth	Character
FlatteningRatioofEarth	Character
Platinum#1CountRangeWx	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWa	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWb	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWc	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWd	Character
CoefficientAvv	Character
CoefficientAhv	Character
CoefficientAov	Character
CoefficientAhh	Character
CoefficientAvh	Character
CoefficientAoh	Character
Level1A_Channel_Sequence	Character
Resampled_Channel_Sequence	Character
StartOrbitNumber	Float
StopOrbitNumber	Float
EquatorCrossing	Character
EquatorCrossingDate	Character
EquatorCrossingTime	Character
OrbitDirection	Character
NumberofScans	INT32
SoftwareRevisionDate	Character
SoftwareBuildNumber	INT32
Geolocation fields
Time	FLOAT64	NS	Scan start time in TAI93
Latitude	FLOAT32	NS x NHP	Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)
Longitude	FLOAT32	NS x NHP	Longitude( -180.0 to 180.0)
Data Fields
NASDA_HighRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients	FLOAT32	NS x 2 x 2	Antenna temperature coefficients for the high resolution channels
RSS_HighRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients	FLOAT32	NS x 2 x 2	Antenna temperature coefficients for the high resolution channels
AscanCold_Sky_Mirror_Count_89	UINT16	NS x 32 x 2	Cold sky calibration counts for the 89 GHz A scans
AscanHot_Load_Count_89	UINT16	NS x 32 x 2	Hot load calibration counts for the 89 GHz A scans
Scan_Quality_Flag	INT32	NS	Overall scan quality flag
Level1A_89Ascan_Chan_Quality_Flag	INT16	NS x 2	Quality flag for each Level 1A scan and channel
89.0V_Res.5A_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NHP	Brightness Temperatures for the 89 GHz vertical channel A scans
89.0H_Res.5A_TB_(Level1B)	INT16	NS x NHP	Brightness Temperatures for the 89 GHz horizontal channel A scans
Res5A_Surf	UINT8	NS x NHP	Surface tags for the 89 GHz A scans

Table 1 AMSR-E Level 2A granule contents (cont.)

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
High_Res_B Swath
Swath Attributes
OrbitSemiMajorAxis	Character
OrbitEccentricity	Character
OrbitArgumentPerigee	Character
OrbitIncination	Character
OrbitPeriod	Character
EllipsoidName	Character
DemiMajorAxisofEarth	Character
FlatteningRatioofEarth	Character
Platinum#1CountRangeWx	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWa	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWb	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWc	Character
Platinum#1ConversionTableWd	Character
CoefficientAvv	Character
CoefficientAhv	Character
CoefficientAov	Character
CoefficientAhh	Character
CoefficientAvh	Character
CoefficientAoh	Character
Level1A_Channel_Sequence	Character
Resampled_Channel_Sequence	Character
StartOrbitNumber	Float
StopOrbitNumber	Float
EquatorCrossing	Character
EquatorCrossingDate	Character
EquatorCrossingTime	Character
OrbitDirection	Character
NumberofScans	INT32
SoftwareRevisionDate	Character
SoftwareBuildNumber	INT32
Geolocation fields
Time	FLOAT64	NS	Scan start time in TAI93
Latitude	FLOAT32	NS x NHP	Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)
Longitude	FLOAT32	NS x NHP	Longitude (-180.0 to 180.0)
Data Fields
NASDA_HighRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients	FLOAT32	NS x 2 x 2	Antenna temperature coefficients for the high resolution channels
RSS_HighRes_Antenna_Temp_Coefficients	FLOAT32	NS x 2 x 2	Antenna temperature coefficients for the high resolution channels
BscanCold_Sky_Mirror_Count_89	UINT16	NS x 32 x 2	Cold sky calibration counts for the 89 GHz A scans
BscanHot_Load_Count_89	UINT16	NS x 32 x 2	Hot load calibration counts for the 89 GHz A scans
Scan_Quality_Flag	INT32	NS	Overall scan quality flag
Level1A_89Ascan_Chan_Quality_Flag	INT16	NS x 2	Quality flag for each Level 1A scan and channel
89.0V_Res.5B_TB_(Level1B)	UINT16	NS x NHP	Brightness Temperatures for the 89 GHz vertical channel A scans
89.0H_Res.5B_TB_(Level1B)	UINT16	NS x NHP	Brightness Temperatures for the 89 GHz horizontal channel A scans
Res5B_Surf	UINT8	NS x NHP	Surface tags for the 89 GHz A scans

Where NS Is the number of scans (nominally 2000), NP is the number of pixels per scan for low channels (nominally 243) and NHP is the number of pixels per scan for 89 GHz channels (2 * NP).

Table 2 Level 2A Ancillary files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Volume (MB)
WT files	weighting coefficients	Static	RSS	17
Land mask		Static	RSS

Table 3 AMSR-E Level 2B Ocean Products granule contents

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
Swath 1
Geolocation Fields
Time	FLOAT64	NS	Scan start time in TAI93
Latitude	FLOAT32	NS x NP	Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)
Longitude	FLOAT32	NS x NP	Longitude (-180.0 to 180.0)
Data Fields
Scan_summary_flag	INT32	NS	Overall quality flag
Ocean_summary_quality_flag	INT8	NS	TBD
Ocean_products_quality_flag	INT8	NS x NP x 4	TBD
Very_low_res_sst	INT16	NS x NP	SST at the resolution of the 6.9 GHz footprint (56 km)
Low_res_sst	INT16	NS x NP	SST at the resolution of the 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km)
Low_res_wind	INT16	NS x NP	Wind speed at the resolution of the 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km)
Med_res_wind	INT16	NS x NP	Wind speed at the resolution of the 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km)
Med_res_vapor	INT16	NS x NP	Water vapor at the resolution of the 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km)
High_res_cloud	INT16	NS x NP	Cloud water at the resolution of the 36.5 GHz footprint (12 km)

Table 4 Level 2B Ocean Products Ancillary files.

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Volume (MB)
Mergwin_vap_v2.txt	climate mask	Static	RSS	6.3
reynolds_clim.txt	sea surface temperature mask	Static	RSS	3.1
tables_amsr.lis	geophysical constants	Static	RSS	0.1
tb_coefs_amsr_lores.lis	Coefficients in series expansion for low resolution products	Static	RSS	1.6
tb_coefs_amsr_mdres.lis	Coefficients in series expansion for medium resolution products	Static	RSS	0.7
tb_coefs_amsr_vlres.list	Coefficients in series expansion for very low resolution products	Static	RSS	2.0

Table 5 Level 2B Surface Soil Moisture granule contents

Parameter	Data Type	Dimension	Description
Geolocation Fields
Time	FLOAT64	NLAND	Scan start time in TAI 93
Latitude	FLOAT32	NLAND	Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)
Longitude	FLOAT32	NLAND	Longitude (-180.0 to 180.0)
Data Fields
Row_Index	INT16	NLAND	EASE grid row index
Column_Index	INT16	NLAND	EASE grid column index
TB_QC_Flag	INT16	NLAND	TB quality control flag
Heterogeneity_Index	INT16	NLAND	Subpixel variability index
Surface_Type	INT16	NLAND	Surface type flag
Soil_Moisture	INT16	NLAND	Soil moisture at 6.9 GHz resolution
Veg_Water_Content	INT16	NLAND	Vegetation water content at 6.9 GHz resolution
Land_Surface_Temp	INT16	NLAND	Land surface temperature at 6.9 GHz resolution
Inversion_QC_Flag_1	INT16	NLAND	Inversion quality control flag
Inversion_QC_Flag_2	INT16	NLAND	Number of iterations (if applicable)
Inversion_QC_Flag_3	INT16	NLAND	c² of iterations (if applicable)

Where NLAND is the number of EASE-gridded land observations in the granule. Note that NLAND will vary, with an average of ~14000 observations per granule.

Table 6 AMSR-E Level 2B Surface Soil Moisture Ancillary Files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Update Frequency	Update Method	Volume (MB)
ldwat1.dat	Water cover database	Static	JPL/Njoku	N/A	N/A	0.8
texture1.dat	Soil texture database	Static	JPL/Njoku	N/A	N/A	1.6
snowimp1.dat	Snow/ice-sheet database	Static	JPL/Njoku	N/A	N/A	0.8
topo1.dat	Topography database	Static	JPL/Njoku	N/A	N/A	3.2
veg1.dat	Vegetation database	Static	JPL/Njoku	N/A	N/A	1.6
prgprms.dat	Program parameters	Static	JPL/Njoku			(140 bytes)
invprms.dat	Inversion parameters	Static	JPL/Njoku			(232 bytes)
modprms.dat	TB model parameters	Static	JPL/Njoku			(230 bytes)
clsprms.dat	Classification parameters	Static	JPL/Njoku			(200 bytes)

Table 7 AMSR-E Level 2B Rainfall granule contents

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
L2B Rainfall Products
Geolocation Fields
Time	FLOAT64	NHS	Scan start time in TAI93
Latitude	FLOAT32	NHS x NHP	Latitude (-90.0 to 90.0)
Longitude	FLOAT32	NHS x NHP	Longitude( -180.0 to 180.0)
Data Fields
Rain Rate	INT16	NHS x NHP	Rain rate, mm/hr
Rain Type	INT8	NHS x NHP	Rain type: Convective or Stratiform

Where NHS is the number of 89 GHz scans (nominally 4000) and NHP is the number of 89 GHz observations per scan (nominally 392).

Table 8 AMSR-E Level 2B Rainfall ancillary files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Volume (MB)
ALL-W300-v5.1.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	2.0
ALL-W300-v5.1a.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.5
ALL-W300-v5.1b.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.6
Clim-sst.dbase	Climatology and SST database	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.3
G2D-W300-v5.I.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.3
GCE-C300-v5.4.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	1.1
GCE-L300-v5.4.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.1
GCE-W288-v5.I.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.8
GCE-W292-v5.I.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.8
GCE-W296-v5.I.dbase	Ocean Profile database with SST	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	0.8
Sfctype93.dbase	surface type data base	Static	GSFC/CSU Kummerow	2.1
Wilheit.dbase	Freezing level database	Static	TAMU/Wilheit	0.1

Table 9. AMSR-E Level 3 Daily Ocean Products

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
Ascending_Ocean_Grids
Very_low_res_sst	INT8	720 x 1440	SST at the resolution of 6.9 GHz footprint (56 km).
Low_res_sst	INT8	720 x 1440	SST at the resolution of 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km).
Low_res_wind	INT8	720 x 1440	Wind speed over ocean at the resolution of 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km).
Med_res_wind	INT8	720 x 1440	Wind speed over ocean at the resolution of 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km).
Med_res_vapor	INT8	720 x 1440	Water vapor over ocean at the resolution of 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km).
High_res_cloud	INT8	720 x 1440	Cloud water over ocean at the resolution of 36.5 GHz footprint (12 km).
Descending_Ocean_Grids
Very_low_res_sst	INT8	720 x 1440	SST at the resolution of 6.9 GHz footprint (56 km).
Low_res_sst	INT8	720 x 1440	SST at the resolution of 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km).
Low_res_wind	INT8	720 x 1440	Wind speed over ocean at the resolution of 10.7 GHz footprint (38 km).
Med_res_wind	INT8	720 x 1440	Wind speed over ocean at the resolution of 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km).
Med_res_vapor	INT8	720 x 1440	Water vapor over ocean at the resolution of 18.9 GHz footprint (21 km).
High_res_cloud	INT8	720 x 1440	Cloud water over ocean at the resolution of 36.5 GHz footprint (12 km).

Table 10. AMSR-E Level 3 Daily Snow File Format

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
Northern Hemisphere
Data Fields
SWE_NorthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily snow water equivalent for the Northern Hemisphere
Depth_NorthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily snow depth for the Northern Hemisphere
Flags_NorthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily quality assurance flags for the Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Data Fields
SWE_SouthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily snow water equivalent for the Southern Hemisphere
Depth_SouthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily snow depth for the Southern Hemisphere
Flags_SouthernDaily	UINT8	721 x 721	Daily quality assurance flags for the Southern Hemisphere

Table 11. AMSR-E Level 3 SWE Ancillary Files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Update Frequency	Update Method	Volume (MB)
SWEDynamicInput	Computed snow status of each global map grid from the previous run	Dynamic	Half-orbit PGE	Each half- Orbit	PGE	2.0
SnowImpossible_EASE-Grid_Both	Classification of each global map grid as water, snow possible land, and snow impossible land	Static	GSFC/Chang	N/A		1.1
albedo_EASE-Grid_Both	albedo for each global map grid	Static	GSFC/Chang	N/A		4.2
snowclass_EASE-Grid_Both	land classification for each global map grid	Static	GSFC/Chang	N/A		1.1

Table 12 AMSR-E Level 3 6.25 km Sea Ice Products

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
NpPolarGrid06km
Data Fields
89.0V NP ASC	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V NP DSC	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V NP DAILY	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H NP ASC	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H NP DSC	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H NP DAILY	INT16	1216 x 1792	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
SpPolarGrid06km
Data Fields
89.0V SP ASC	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V SP DSC	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V SP DAILY	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H SP ASC	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H SP DSC	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H SP DAILY	INT16	1264 x 1328	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs

Table 13 AMSR-E Level 3 12.0 km Sea Ice Products

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
NpPolarGrid12km
Data Fields
18.7V NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
18.7V NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
18.7V NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
18.7H NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
18.7H NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
18.7H NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
23.8V NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
23.8V NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
23.8V NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz vertical daily average TBs
23.8H NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
23.8H NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
23.8H NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
36.5V NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
36.5V NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
36.5V NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz vertical daily average TBs
36.5H NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
36.5H NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
36.5H NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
89.0V NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H NP ASC	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H NP DSC	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H NP DAILY	INT16	608 X 896	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
ICE CONC NP ASC	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration daily ascending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC NP DSC	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration daily descending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC NP DAILY	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration daily average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE DIFF NP ASC	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) daily ascending average
ICE DIFF NP DSC	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) daily descending average
ICE DIFF NP DAILY	INT8	608 X 896	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) average
SNOW DEPTH NP 5 DAY	INT8	608 X 896	5-day snow depth
SpPolarGrid12km
Data Fields
18.7V SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
18.7V SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
18.7V SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
18.7H SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
18.7H SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
18.7H SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
23.8V SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
23.8V SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
23.8V SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz vertical daily average TBs
23.8H SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
23.8H SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
23.8H SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
36.5V SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
36.5V SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
36.5V SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz vertical daily average TBs
36.5H SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
36.5H SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
36.5H SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
89.0V SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H SP ASC	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H SP DSC	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H SP DAILY	INT16	632 X 664	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
ICE CONC SP ASC	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration daily ascending average using the Bootstrap algorithm
ICE CONC SP DSC	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration daily descending average using the Bootstrap algorithm
ICE CONC SP DAILY	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration daily average using the Bootstrap algorithm
ICE DIFF SP ASC	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (Bootstrap – NT2) daily ascending average
ICE DIFF SP DSC	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (Bootstrap – NT2) daily descending average
ICE DIFF SP DAILY	INT8	632 X 664	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (Bootstrap – NT2) average
SNOW DEPTH SP 5 DAY	INT8	632 X 664	5-day snow depth

Table 14 AMSR-E Level 3 25.0 km Sea Ice Products

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
NpPolarGrid25km
Data Fields
06.9V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
06.9V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
06.9V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average TBs
06.9H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
06.9H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
06.9H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
10.7V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
10.7V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
10.7V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
10.7H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
10.7H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
10.7H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
18.7V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
18.7V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
18.7V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
18.7H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
18.7H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
18.7H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
23.8V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
23.8V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
23.8V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average TBs
23.8H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
23.8H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
23.8H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
36.5V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
36.5V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
36.5V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average TBs
36.5H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
36.5H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
36.5H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
89.0V NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H NP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H NP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H NP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
ICE CONC NP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily ascending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC NP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily descending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE DIFF NP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference(NT2 - Bootstrap) daily ascending average
ICE DIFF NP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) daily descending average
ICE DIFF NP DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) average
SFC TEMP NP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily ascending average
SFC TEMP NP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily descending average
SFC TEMP NP DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily average
SpPolarGrid25km
Data Fields
06.9V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
06.9V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
06.9V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz vertical daily average TBs
06.9H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
06.9H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
06.9H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	6.9 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
10.7V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
10.7V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
10.7V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
10.7H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
10.7H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
10.7H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	10.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
18.7V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
18.7V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
18.7V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz vertical daily average TBs
18.7H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
18.7H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
18.7H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	18.7 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
23.8V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
23.8V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
23.8V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz vertical daily average TBs
23.8H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
23.8H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
23.8H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	23.8 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
36.5V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
36.5V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
36.5V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz vertical daily average TBs
36.5H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
36.5H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
36.5H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	36.5 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
89.0V SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average ascending TBs
89.0V SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average descending TBs
89.0V SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz vertical daily average TBs
89.0H SP ASC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average ascending TBs
89.0H SP DSC	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average descending TBs
89.0H SP DAILY	INT16	304 x 448	89.0 GHz horizontal daily average TBs
ICE CONC SP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily ascending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC SP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily descending average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE CONC DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration daily average using the NT2 algorithm
ICE DIFF SP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 - Bootstrap) daily ascending average
ICE DIFF SP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) daily descending average
ICE DIFF SP DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Concentration Difference (NT2 – Bootstrap) average
SFC TEMP SP ASC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily ascending average
SFC TEMP SP DSC	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily descending average
SFC TEMP SP DAILY	INT8	304 x 448	Sea Ice Temperature daily average

Table 15 AMSR-E Level 3 Sea Ice Ancillary Files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Volume (MB)
land_north_12.hdf	Land mask	Static	GSFC/ Cavalieri	1.1
land_north_25.hdf	Land mask	Static	GSFC/ Cavalieri	0.3
land_south_12.hdf	Land mask	Static	GSFC/Comiso	0.8
land_south_25.hdf	Land mask	Static	GSFC/Comiso	0.2
sp_jsector.msk1	South pole sector mask	Static	GSFC/Comiso	0.2
sp_jsector.msk2	South pole sector mask	Static	GSFC/Comiso	0.8

Table 16. AMSR-E Level 3 Monthly Rainfall Product.

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
RainfallAccumulations
Data Fields
tamu_rain	INT16	36 x72	TAMU monthly ocean rainfall accumulations derived from the Level 2A TBs
gsfc_ocean	INT16	36 x 72	Monthly ocean rainfall accumulations derived from the Level 2B ocean rainfall
noaa_land	INT16	36 x 72	Monthly land rainfall accumulations derived from the Level 2B land rainfall

Table 17 AMSR-E Level 3 Monthly Rainfall Ancillary Files

File Name	Description	Type	Source	Volume (MB)
Sfctype93.dbase	surface type data base	Static	GSFC / CSU Kummerow	2.1
Wilheit.dbase	Freezing level database	Static	TAM / Wilheit	0.1

Table 18. AMSR-E Level 3 Daily Land Product

Parameter	Data Type	Dimensions	Description
Ascending_Land_Grid
Data Fields
Time	FLOAT64	586 x 1383	Start scan time in TAI93
TB06.9V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 06.9 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB06.9H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 06.9 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB10.7V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 10.7 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB10.7H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 10.7 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB18.7V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 18.7 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB18.7H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 18.7 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz V at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB36.5H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz H at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB89.0V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 89.0 GHz V at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB89.0H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 89.0 GHz H at 36.5 GHz resolution
Soil_Moisture	INT16	586 x 1383	Soil moisture at 6.9 GHz resolution
Veg_Water_Content	INT16	586 x 1383	Vegetation water content at 6.9 GHz resolution
Land_Surface_Temp	INT16	586 x 1383	Land surface temperature at 6.9 GHz resolution
Inversion_QC_Flag	INT16	586 x 1383	Inversion quality control flag
Descending_Land_Grid
Data Fields
Time	FLOAT64	586 x 1383	Start scan time in TAI93
TB06.9V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 06.9 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB06.9H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 06.9 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB10.7V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 10.7 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB10.7H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 10.7 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB18.7V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 18.7 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB18.7H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 18.7 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz V at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz H at 6.9 GHz resolution
TB36.5V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz V at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB36.5H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 36.5 GHz H at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB89.0V	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 89.0 GHz V at 36.5 GHz resolution
TB89.0H	INT16	586 x 1383	TB 89.0 GHz H at 36.5 GHz resolution
Soil_Moisture	INT16	586 x 1383	Soil moisture at 6.9 GHz resolution
Veg_Water_Content	INT16	586 x 1383	Vegetation water content at 6.9 GHz resolution
Land_Surface_Temp	INT16	586 x 1383	Land surface temperature at 6.9 GHz resolution
Inversion_QC_Flag	INT16	586 x 1383	Inversion quality control flag

Center Frequencies (GHz)	6.925	10.65	18.7	23.8	36.5	89.0
Bandwidth (MHz)	350	100	200	400	1000	3000
Sensitivity (K)	0.3	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	1.1
Instantaneous FOV (Km x km)	75x43	48x27	27x16	31x18	14x8	6x4
Sampling Interval (Km x km)	10x10	10x10	10x10	10x10	10x10	5x5
Integration Time (msec)	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.6	1.3
Main Beam Efficiency (%)	95.3	95.0	96.3	96.4	95.3	96.0
Beamwidth (half-power, degrees)	2.2	1.4	0.8	0.9	0.4	0.18

PARAMETER	TARGET ACCURACY	SPATIAL RESOLUTION	INVESTIGATORS
Brightness Temperature (Tb)	0.2^o – 0.7^o C	5-56 km	NASDA (Level 1A); F. Wentz (RSS, Level 2A)
Oceanic surface wind speed	1.0m/s	38 and 21 km	F. Wentz (RSS)
Oceanic integrated water vapor	1.0 mm 0.1 g/cm²	21 km	F. Wentz (RSS)
Oceanic cloud liquid water	0.02 mm or 2 mg/cm²	12 km	F. Wentz (RSS)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)	0.5^o C	56 and 38 km	F. Wentz (RSS)
Surface soil moisture	0.06 g/cm³ (low vegetation)	56 km	E. Njoku (JPL)
Global Rainfall	Ocean: 1 mm/hr or 20%, whichever is greater Land: 2 mm/hr or 40%, whichever is greater	10 km	C. Kummerow (CSU) R. Ferraro (NOAA/NESDIS)
Rain Type (convection fraction)	N/A	10 km	C. Kummerow (CSU)

PARAMETER	TARGET ACCURACY	GRID SPACING*	INVESTIGATORS
89 GHz Tb (daily, daily asc., daily desc.)		6.25 km	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)
18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89 GHz Tb (daily, daily asc., daily desc.)		12.5 km	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)
6.925, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89 GHz Tb (daily, daily asc., daily desc.)		25 km	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)
Oceanic surface wind speed (daily, weekly, monthly)	0.9 m/s (daily)	0.25^o x 0.25^o grid	F. Wentz (RSS)
Oceanic integrated water vapor (daily, weekly, monthly)	0.2 g/cm²	0.25^o x 0.25^o grid	F. Wentz (RSS)
Oceanic cloud liquid water (daily, weekly, monthly)	3 mg/cm²	0.25^o x 0.25^o grid	F. Wentz (RSS)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) (daily, weekly, monthly)	0.5^o C	0.25^o x 0.25^o grid	F. Wentz (RSS)
Surface soil moisture (daily asc., daily desc.)	0.06 g/cm³ (low vegetation)	25 km	E. Njoku (JPL)
Global Rainfall (monthly)	Ocean: 10% Land: 20%	5^o x 5^o grid	T. Wilheit (TAMU)
Snow water equivalent (daily, 5-day, monthly)	10 mm or 20%	25 km (EASE grid)	A. Chang (GSFC)
Sea Ice Concentration (daily, daily asc., daily desc.)	< 5%	6.25, 12.5, 25 km (polar stereographic grid)	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)
Snow Depth over sea ice (5-day)	< 5 cm	12.5 km (polar stereographic grid)	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)
Sea Ice Temperature (daily, daily asc., daily desc.)	< 4^o C	25 km (polar stereographic grid)	D. Cavalieri (GSFC) J. Comiso (GSFC)

AMSR-E DATA MANAGEMENT PLANAUGUST 2001

Dimension

Ascending_Land_Grid

Descending_Land_Grid

AMSR-E DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN
AUGUST 2001