NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Top Height (ACHA)
ABI-L2-ACHA; ABI-L2-ACHA2KM
Example of the Cloud Height product as generated by the GOES-R Cloud Height algorithm.
The Cloud Top Height product contains an image with pixel values identifying the geopotential height at the top of a cloud layer. The product is generated in combination with the Cloud Top Temperature and Cloud Top Pressure products by the same algorithm. The product includes data quality information that provides an assessment of the cloud top height data values for on-earth pixels. The units of measure for the cloud top height value is meters. The Cloud Top Pressure product image is produced on the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) fixed grid (at 10 km for Full Disk and CONUS coverage regions and at 4km for Mesoscale) under the following conditions: Cloudy; Geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 70 degrees for both daytime and nighttime conditions. The product's spatial resolution increased from 10 and 4 km to 2 km on 24 March 2023.
- Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group, and GOES-R Series Program Office (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Top Height (ACHA). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HX19ZQ. [access date].
Download Data |
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Order Data |
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Distribution Formats |
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Ordering Instructions |
Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. |
Distributor |
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov
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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
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Time Period |
2017-05-16 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
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Spatial Coverage Map |
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General Documentation |
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Processing Documents |
- GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
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GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group creates the algorithms that process the quality controlled satellite instrument data and produces resulting data products.
- NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality
- GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents
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Associated Resources |
- GOES-R Program Document Library
- GOES Operational Status - NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations
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Publication Dates |
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Edition |
Provisional |
Data Presentation Form |
Digital image
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Dataset Progress Status |
Ongoing - data is continually being updated |
Data Update Frequency |
Continual |
Purpose |
These cloud products are a prerequisite for generating other downstream products that include the Cloud Layer product, Cloud Optical/Microphysical products, and the Derived Motion Wind products. Forecasters will be able to use this information to determine areas of cloud growth and likelihood of precipitation. Other operational applications of this product include its use in Aviation Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), supplementing upper-level cloud information to the ground-based Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), and initialization of clouds in numerical weather prediction models. |
Use Limitations |
- For a complete list of limitations of this dataset, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).
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Dataset Citation |
- Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group, and GOES-R Series Program Office (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Top Height (ACHA). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HX19ZQ. [access date].
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Cited Authors |
- GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
- GOES-R Series Program
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Principal Investigators |
- GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
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Resource Providers |
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Publishers |
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
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Theme keywords |
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords- Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Top Height
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)- Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties
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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
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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
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Instrument keywords |
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords- ABI > Advanced Baseline Imager
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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
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Project keywords |
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords- GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
- ABI-L2-ACHA
- ABI-L2-ACHA2KM
- gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
- GRABIPRD
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Data Resolution keywords |
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords- 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
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Stratum keywords |
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords- Vertical Location > Troposphere
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Use Constraints |
- Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group, and GOES-R Series Program Office (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Top Height (ACHA). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HX19ZQ. [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.
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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.
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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.
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Lineage information for: dataset |
Lineage Statement |
The 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
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Processing Steps |
- The Cloud Top Temperature, Cloud Top Pressure, and Cloud Top Height products are generated by the GOES-R ABI Cloud Top Height ground processing algorithm. The Cloud Top Height algorithm is an important component of the GOES-R ground processing precedence chain as the output of the algorithm is used in the generation of other ABI Level 2+ products. The algorithm retrieves a state vector composed of cloud top temperature, channel 14 emissivity, and band 15/14 beta ratio. It is retrieved using an optimal estimation technique. Cloud top pressure and height are then derived from cloud top temperature. The channel 14 emissivity and band 15/14 beta ratio are output as intermediate products. Pixels in the product image with out of range values are assigned the minimum or maximum value in the valid range. Cloudy conditions are determined using cloudy and probably cloudy pixels indicated in the temporally coincident intermediate 4-level cloud mask generated by the Cloud Mask algorithm. The Cloud Top Height algorithm operates on 2 km resolution pixels, generating intermediate temperature, pressure, and height products at this resolution, but the delivered Cloud Top Height and Pressure products are aggregated to 4 km or 10 km as needed to satisfy end user product resolution requirements.
- 2017-05-16T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached beta maturity.
- 2018-02-28T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached provisional maturity.
- The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached full validation maturity.
- 2018-08-27T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached beta maturity.
- The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached provisional maturity.
- The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Top Height algorithm reached full validation maturity.
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Processing Documents |
- GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
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GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group creates the algorithms that process the quality controlled satellite instrument data and produces resulting data products.
- NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality
- GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents
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Source Datasets |
- NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 1b Radiances
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NCEI landing page for ABI-L1-RAD
Source dataset landing page with general information and access links for the dataset.
- Description of Source: NCEI landing page for ABI-L1b-Rad
- Temporal extent used: 2017-02-28 to Present
- Spatial extent used: N:81.3282 S:-81.3282 E:6.2995 W:-156.2995
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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.
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Last Modified: 2023-09-18
For questions about the information on this page, please email:
ncei.info@noaa.gov