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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Climate Data Records (CDR) of AMSU-A/B and MHS Hydrological Properties, Version 1

Hydrological Properties

browse graphicHydrological Properties Climate Data Record
The NOAA Hydrological Properties for Applications Thematic Climate Data Record (TCDR) consist of Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A), Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) and Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) data to help with the long term monitoring of the global water cycle. The data cover a time period from 1998 to 2010, at roughly a 48 km (AMSU-A) and a 16 km resolution (AMSU-B/MHS) resolution over the entire globe with 30 (AMSU-A) and 90 (AMSU-B/MHS) observations per scan. Visual inspections and verification of the various corrections were applied to the data to improve data accuracy. AMSU-A TCDR variables consist of Total Precipitable Water (TPW), Cloud Liquid Water (CLW), Sea-Ice concentration (SIC), Land surface temperature (LST), Land surface emissivity (23, 31, 50 GHz) (LSE). AMSU-B/MHS TCDR variables consist of Ice water path (IWP), rain rate (RR), snow cover (SC) and snow water equivalent (SWE). The data are ideal for helping with things like validating climate model simulations; identifying climate extremes; validating other observations and more.
  • Cite as: Ferraro, Ralph R.; H. Meng; and NOAA CDR Program (2016). NOAA Climate Data Records (CDR) of AMSU-A/B and MHS Hydrological Properties, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5V69GM6 [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00982
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Order Data
Distribution Formats
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
    • File Specification: The NetCDF data files comply with the Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Conventions and the NetCDF Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD).
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 NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 828-271-4800
hydro_bundle_contacts@noaa.gov
Time Period 1998-08-01 to 2010-12-31 (time interval: 6-hour)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
Dataset Information
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • Source Code Package for the CDR of AMSU-A/B/MHS TCDR for Hydrological Application
    • CDR Source Code (download)
      This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
  • Hydrological Properties TCDR
  • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2016-11
  • creation: 2016-10-10
Edition Version 1
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose This data set provides advanced scientific researchers a high quality Climate Data Record (CDR) are useful for long term monitoring of the global water cycle.
Use Limitations
  • Some variables are only available over ocean (TPW, CLW, SIC, SC and SWE) and others only over land (LST, LSE).
  • See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Ferraro, Ralph R.; H. Meng; and NOAA CDR Program (2016). NOAA Climate Data Records (CDR) of AMSU-A/B and MHS Hydrological Properties, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5V69GM6 [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Ferraro, Ralph
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Meng, Huan
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Yang, Wenze
    UMD/ESSIC > Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland
  • NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators
  • Ferraro, Ralph
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Meng, Huan
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborators
  • Yang, Wenze
    UMD/ESSIC > Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • 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 > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
  • Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
  • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Water Vapour
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • UMD/ESSIC > Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • NOAA POES > NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites
  • METOP
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
  • AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B
  • MHS > Microwave Humidity Sounder
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOAA CLIMATE DATA RECORD (CDR) PROGRAM
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 minute - < 1 hour
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 minute - < 1 hour
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ferraro, Ralph R.; H. Meng; and NOAA CDR Program (2016). NOAA Climate Data Records (CDR) of AMSU-A/B and MHS Hydrological Properties, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5V69GM6 [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
Lineage Statement This Climate Data Record (CDR) were produced by NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Original source data is level 1b from NOAA and EUMETSAT from NESDIS OSPO and CLASS.
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps
  • For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram.
Processing Environment UNIX, C languague
Processing Documents
    • Source Code Package for the CDR of AMSU-A/B/MHS TCDR for Hydrological Application
      • CDR Source Code (download)
        This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
    • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Source 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.
Last Modified: 2023-08-10
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov