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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Clear Sky Mask (ACM)

ABI-L2-ACM

browse graphicExample of the Clear Sky Mask product (white areas in image), as generated by the GOES-R Clear Sky Mask algorithm
The Clear Sky Mask product contains an image in the form of a binary cloud mask that identifies pixels within a coverage region as clear or cloudy. The production of the clear sky mask is an important step in the processing of many other Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2+ products that use the information generated in the production of the clear sky mask to determine the presence of a cloud. The product includes data quality information for the binary cloud mask data values for on-earth pixels. The binary cloud mask value is a dimensionless quantity. The Clear Sky Mask product image is provided at 2 km resolution on the ABI fixed grid for Full Disk, CONUS, and Mesoscale coverage regions from GOES East and West. Product data is produced for geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 90 degrees for both daytime and nighttime conditions.
  • Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Clear Sky Mask. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5SF2TGP. [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01503
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Distribution Formats
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
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 Customer Engagement Branch
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
ncei.sat.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2017-04-19 to Present (time interval: 10-minute)
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -156.2995
East: 6.2995
South: -81.3282
North: 81.3282
West: 141.7005
East: -55.7005
South: -81.3282
North: 81.3282
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2018-02-16
Edition Provisional
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Continual
Purpose The Clear Sky Mask product can be used by the NWP community to identify which ABI pixel information should be assimilated for use in numerical weather prediction models.
Use Limitations
  • For a complete description of use limitations for this baseline product, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Clear Sky Mask. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5SF2TGP. [access date].
Cited Authors
  • GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
  • GOES-R Series Program
Principal Investigators
  • GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
Resource Providers
  • GOES-R Series Program
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Fraction
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties
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/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, 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-16 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16
  • GOES-17 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 17
  • GOES-18 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 18
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • ABI > Advanced Baseline 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
  • Continent > North America > Central America
  • Continent > South America
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
  • ABI-L2-ACM
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C01503
  • gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
  • GRABIPRD
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree
  • 500 meters - < 1 km
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 minute - < 1 hour
  • 1 second - < 1 minute
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Troposphere
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Clear Sky Mask. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5SF2TGP. [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 These data were produced by the NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps
  • The Clear Sky Mask product is generated by the GOES-R ABI Cloud Mask ground processing algorithm. The Cloud Mask algorithm is an important component of the GOES-R Level 2+ Algorithm Precedence Network, as the output of the algorithm is used in the generation of the GOES-R Cloud, Aerosol, Sounding, Land, Ocean, Radiation, and Wind products. The Clear Sky Mask product algorithm identifies clear, probably clear, cloudy, and probably cloudy conditions based on spectral, spatial, and temporal tests. The algorithm compares ABI emissive band data with processed clear sky and cloudy sky model data derived from the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM).
  • 2017-04-19T15:00:00Z - The GOES-16 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached beta maturity.
  • 2018-02-16T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached provisional maturity.
  • The GOES-16 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached full validation maturity.
  • 2018-08-27T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached beta maturity.
  • 2019-05-06T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached provisional maturity.
  • The GOES-17 ABI Clear Sky Mask algorithm reached full validation maturity.
Processing Documents
Source Datasets
  • NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 1b Radiances
    • NCEI landing page for ABI-L1B-RAD
      Source dataset landing page with general information and access links for that dataset.
    • Description of Source: Level 1b radiances
    • Temporal extent used: 2017-02-28 to Present
    • Spatial extent used: N:81.3282 S:-81.3282 E:6.2995 W:-156.2995
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: 2023-09-18
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov