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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) I-M and N-P Series Imager Data

National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Imager Data

browse graphicFull disk view of visible imagery from the GOES-East satellite.
The NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series provides continuous measurements of the atmosphere and surface over the Western Hemisphere. The GOES satellites circle the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit, which means they orbit the equatorial plane of the Earth at a speed matching the Earth's rotation. This orbit allows them to hover continuously over one position on the surface of the Earth. The geosynchronous plane is about 35,800 km (22,300 miles) above the Earth, high enough to allow the satellites a full-disc view of the Earth. The GOES-East satellite is positioned over the equator at 75 degrees West longitude, and the GOES-West satellite is positioned at 135 degrees West longitude. The GOES Imager is a five-channel (one visible, four infrared) imaging radiometer designed to sense radiant and solar reflected energy from sampled areas of the earth. GOES data are used by researchers for understanding interactions between land, ocean, atmosphere, and climate. GOES Variable (GVAR) format is the data transmission format used to broadcast environmental data measured by the independent GOES Imager and Sounder instruments, beginning with GOES-8 launched in 1994. Data distribution formats available to users are raw, AREA, NetCDF, GIF, and JPEG.
  • Cite as: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations, (1994): NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) I-M and N-P Series Imager Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.25921/Z9JQ-K976. [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00681
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Distribution Formats
  • GVAR
  • AREA
  • GIF
  • JPEG
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Axel Graumann
Customer Engagement Branch
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
1-828-271-4800
ncei.sat.info@noaa.gov
Coverage Description gov.noaa.ncdc:GVAR_IMG.BoundingExtent
Time Period 1994-08-31 to 2020-03-02
Spatial Reference System EPSG:4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: -5
South: -85
North: 85
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
  • NCEI Dataset Landing Page
    Landing page for the dataset.
  • GOES N-P DataBook
    A summary and technical overview of the GOES N-P system, its satellites, subsystems, sensor suite, and associated ground communication and data handling subsystems.
  • GOES I-M DataBook
    A summary and technical overview of the GOES I-M system, its satellites, subsystems, sensor suite, and associated ground communication and data handling subsystems.
Processing Documents
        Associated Resources
        • NOAA Technical Report NESDIS-82 - An Introduction to the GOES I-M Imager and Sounder Instruments and the GVAR Retransmission Format
          • NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 82
            The purpose of this document is to acquaint users with the characteristics of the processed instrument data that are available from the new series of GOES satellites.
        Publication Dates
        • publication: 1994-08-31
        • creation: 1994
        • revision: 2020
        Data Presentation Form Digital image
        Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
        Data Update Frequency Continual
        Purpose The GOES satellite series archive provides a long-term, continuous observation record of the atmospheric and surface conditions over the Western Hemisphere.
        Dataset Citation
        • Cite as: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations, (1994): NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) I-M and N-P Series Imager Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.25921/Z9JQ-K976. [access date].
        Cited Authors
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        Originators
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        Publishers
        • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
        • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperatures
        • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Imagery
        • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Radiance
        • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Imagery
        • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Reflectance
        • Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Radiative Properties > Reflectance
        NGDA Portfolio Themes
        • NGDA
        • National Geospatial Data Asset
        • Climate And Weather Theme
        Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
        • GOES-08 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 08
        • GOES-09 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 09
        • GOES-10 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 10
        • GOES-11 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 11
        • GOES-12 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12
        • GOES-13 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 13
        • GOES-14 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 14
        • GOES-15 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 15
        Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
        • GOES I-M Imager
        • GOES N-P Imager
        Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
        • Geographic Region > Equatorial
        • Geographic Region > Mid-Latitude
        • Geographic Region > Northern Hemisphere
        • Geographic Region > Southern Hemisphere
        • Geographic Region > Tropics
        • Geographic Region > Western Hemisphere
        • Continent > North America > United States Of America
        • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean
        • Ocean > Pacific Ocean
        NOAA GOES Scan Sectors
        • Conus Scan Sector
        • Full Disk Scan Sector
        • Northern Hemisphere Scan Sector
        • Northern Hemisphere Extended Scan Sector
        • Southern Hemisphere Scan Sector
        • Southern Hemisphere Small Sector
        • Super Rapid Scan Operations (maryland) Scan Sector
        • Pacus Scan Sector
        • Sub-conus Scan Sector
        • Super Rapid Scan Operations Scan Sector
        Project keywords
        • gov.noaa.class:GVAR_IMG
        Use Constraints
        • Cite as: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations, (1994): NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) I-M and N-P Series Imager Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.25921/Z9JQ-K976. [access date].
        • 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.
        Access Constraints
        • 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.
        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
        Processor
        • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
        Processing Steps
        • The GOES Support System includes the Command and Data Acquisition (CDA) Station at Wallops Island, VA, and the Satellite Operations and Control Center (SOCC) at Suitland, MD. At the CDA station, raw instrument data and telemetry are read out from the satellite. Data are processed, calibrated, earth-located and converted to GOES Variable data format (GVAR) and rebroadcast to the satellite along with spacecraft command schedules. The GVAR data are then broadcast to direct readout users.
        • GVAR data ingested by NOAA is processed further in that Block 11 is stripped away and created as two separate datasets, GOES Satellite Data - Sounder and GOES Satellite Data - Block 11. The remaining GVAR data contains only Imager data in blocks 0-10.
        • 2003-01-01T00:00:00 - The earlest GVAR data from GOES-8 and GOES-9 had been recorded on Sony U-Matic Cassettes up until October 1997. Beginning in October 1997, SSEC switched to IBM 3590 tapes, capable of storing approximately 20 Gb of data. The data on U-Matic cassettes were pulled and copied onto IBM 3590 tapes under a "data rescue" agreement with NCDC. The data rescue project of the entire GOES archive was completed sometime in early 2003. Per directed ESDIM funding for FY 2001, NCD.
        Processing Documents
              Source Datasets
              • GOES Data - Raw Level 0
                • Description of Source: Raw satellite data from which GOES Sounder datasets are derived. Prior to July 12, 2004 the source of the GOES data came from Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin.
                • Temporal extent used: 1994 to Present
              • GVAR Data
                • Description of Source: Level 1 imager and sounder data from GOES satellites from which products are generated. It is 1a before it is retransmitted to the direct readout users. NOAA archives the reprocessed GOES data, which has been calibrated.
                • Temporal extent used: 1994 to Present
              • GOES Satellite Data - Imager
                • Description of Source: Level 1b dataset derived from GOES Imager sensor.
                • Temporal extent used: 1994-08-31 to Present
              Lineage information for: dataset
              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
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Sounder
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Sounder
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Sounder
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Sounder
              • GOES I-M Imager
              • GOES I-M Sounder
              Platform
              • GOES-11 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 11
              • GOES-8 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 8
              • GOES-9 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 9
              • GOES-10 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 10
              • GOES-12 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12
              Operation
              • GOES > NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
              Last Modified: 2023-09-11
              For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov