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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

AVHRR Pathfinder version 5.0 global 4km sea surface temperature (SST) day-night monthly and yearly averages for 1985-2009 (NCEI Accession 0077816)

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This data set contains a set of monthly and yearly global day-night sea surface temperature averages, derived from the AVHRR Pathfinder Version 5 sea surface temperature cloudscreened data set in GeoTIFF format. The AVHRR Pathfinder SST data sets provide the longest, most accurate, and highest resolution consistently-reprocessed SST climate data record from the AVHRR sensor series. These data files were produced to facilitate the utilization of high resolution Pathfinder v5.0 sea surface temperature data within geographic information system (GIS) software.

These day-night combined monthly and yearly means were produced from cloud-screened day-night monthly full resolution files of Pathfinder SST data from 1985-2009. The original .HDF files are archived at the National Oceanographic Data Center under separate accession numbers. The GeoTIFF SST averages were assigned projection GCS_WGS_1984. In addition, browse images in PNG format with an associated KML file for each year are included with these data as well as detailed metadata.
  • Cite as: Phillips, Sheri A.; US National Oceanographic Data Center (2011). AVHRR Pathfinder version 5.0 global 4km sea surface temperature (SST) day-night monthly and yearly averages for 1985-2009 (NCEI Accession 0077816). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0077816. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0077816
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  • HTTPS (download)
    Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
  • FTP (download)
    These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats
  • GeoTIFF (Version: 1.0)
  • PNG (Version: 1.2)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1985-01-01 to 2009-12-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -90
North: 90
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2011-09-29
  • revision: 2022-01-11
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
A land mask is not included with these data. The NODC does not routinely provide land masks in its products. A suggested shoreline is the Global Self-consistent Hierarchical High-resolution Shoreline Database (GSHHS) available at http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/shorelines/gshhs.html and http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pwessel/gshhs/index.html (Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline Database, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 8741-8743, 1996.)

During the averaging process, NODATA pixels were not included; data pixels with no corresponding data pixels were maintained as their original number to maximize the amount of available data. The complete product development process is available at http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/SatelliteData/pathfinder4km/PFV5_GIS_tutorial.html.

The NODC collection of value-added, cloud-screened products in HDF4 were developed from original AVHRR Pathfinder files archived at the NODC. These products contain daytime, nighttime, and day-night averaged data of quality flags 4-7, as well as standard deviation and pixel count information. They have been produced from the original Pathfinder Version 5.0 data by NODC for Daily, 5-day, 7-day, and monthly temporal averages at 4km and one degree spatial resolution, as well as five degree spatial resolution for monthly products. The monthly full resolution products were utilized to develop the final GIS files of this data set. While these cloudscreened files are derived from official Pathfinder Version 5.0 data, they are NOT part of the official NODC Version 5.0 collection. To access this collection use the Version5.0/ directory at the NODC's Pathfinder section of the website. For more information on their provenance, contents, or relationship to official Pathfinder Version 5.0 data, please contact NODC.
Purpose To facilitate the utilization of high resolution Pathfinder v5.0 sea surface temperature data within geographic information system (GIS) software.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • Documentation is provided as a courtesy and does not constitute endorsement of a particular corporation, software, or product.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Phillips, Sheri A.; US National Oceanographic Data Center (2011). AVHRR Pathfinder version 5.0 global 4km sea surface temperature (SST) day-night monthly and yearly averages for 1985-2009 (NCEI Accession 0077816). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0077816. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Phillips, Sheri A.; US National Oceanographic Data Center (2011). AVHRR Pathfinder version 5.0 global 4km sea surface temperature (SST) day-night monthly and yearly averages for 1985-2009 (NCEI Accession 0077816). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0077816. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2011-09-29T00:06:14Z - NCEI Accession 0077816 v1.1 was published.
  • 2011-09-29T00:06:14Z - NCEI Accession 0077816 was revised and v1.2 was published.
    Rationale: Additional metadata files were received or created for this dataset. These updates were copied into the about/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
  • 2011-09-29T00:06:14Z - NCEI Accession 0077816 was revised and v2.3 was published.
    Rationale: Updates were received for this dataset. These updates were copied into the data/0-data/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
  • 2022-01-11T21:26:03Z - NCEI Accession 0077816 was revised and v2.4 was published.
    Rationale: Additional metadata files were received or created for this dataset. These updates were copied into the about/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • AVHRR
Last Modified: 2024-03-28T12:44:58Z
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