Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Snow Cover

ABI-L2-FSC

Example of the Snow Cover product (right figure) as generated by the GOES-R Snow Cover algorithm

The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Snow Cover product contains an image with pixel values identifying the fraction of their areas covered by snow. The product includes data quality information that provides an assessment of the snow cover data values for on-earth pixels. The units of measure for the snow cover value is percent. The Snow Cover product image is produced on the ABI fixed grid at 2 km resolution for Full Disk, CONUS and Mesoscale coverage regions from GOES East and West. Product data is produced under the following conditions: Existence of land; Clear sky; Geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 90 degrees and solar zenith angles of 90 degrees.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Snow Cover. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers of Environmental Information. [access date].

Dataset Identifiers

doi:
ABI-L2-FSC
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01522
gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.ncdc:C01522

Full Text · XML

Download Data	GOES-16 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-16 datasets. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-FSC. GOES-18 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-18 datasets. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-FSC. GOES-16 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-16. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-FSC. GOES-18 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-18. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-FSC.
Order Data	NCEI Archive Information Request System (order) Search the data archive and submit an order for the dataset via the interface. NOAA CLASS Data Search and Order (order) Search the data archive and submit an order for the dataset via the interface.
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	2017-12-12 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
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation	NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. NCEI GOES-R Terrestrial Weather (ABI/GLM) Description of the products and related resources. Product Definition and Users' Guide (PUG) Vol.1 Main The Product Definition and User's Guide (PUG) document provides product descriptions and formats for all data and products produced and made available to users by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R) Core Ground Segment (GS). Product Definition and Users' Guide (PUG) Vol.5 Level 2+ Products The Product Definition and User's Guide (PUG) document provides product descriptions and formats for all data and products produced and made available to users by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R) Core Ground Segment (GS). Registry of Open Data on AWS Information on AWS data access. Google Cloud Landing Page (Region: US-multiple) Information on Google Cloud data access for GOES datasets.
Processing Documents	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group 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 NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality Peer/Stakeholder Product Validation Reviews by satellite and product. GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents Descriptions of how the algorithms work, their underlying designs, and initial comparison with prior algorithms and results.
Associated Resources	GOES-R Program Document Library GOES-R Program Document Library Webpage with product algorithm, users guides, and education and outreach materials. GOES Operational Status - NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations GOES Operational Status - NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations GOES spacecraft status page.

Publication Dates	publication: 2017-12-12
Edition	Provisional
Data Presentation Form	Digital image
Dataset Progress Status	Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency	Continual
Purpose	The ABI Fractional Snow Cover product will support a number of operational applications that include: assimilation into NOAA's NOHRC snow model, as well as hydrologic forecasts and warnings, including river and flood forecasts, water management, snowpack monitoring and analysis, and climate studies.
Use Limitations	For a complete description of use limitations for this dataset, refer to the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

Dataset Citation	Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Snow Cover. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers of Environmental Information. [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 > Climate Indicators > Cryospheric Indicators > Snow Cover Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) Terrestrial - Snow Cover
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 > Western Hemisphere Geographic Region > Tropics 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-FSC gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD GRABIPRD gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
Data Resolution keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords 1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree
Stratum keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Vertical Location > Land Surface

Use Constraints

Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Series Program, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Snow Cover. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers of Environmental Information. [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	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).
Processing Steps	The Snow Cover product is generated by the GOES-R ABI Snow Cover ground processing algorithm. The algorithm relies on atmospherically-corrected surface reflectances derived as part of the determination of the surface albedo and does not use ABI Level 1b data inputs directly. The product is generated using spectral mixture analysis with a look-up table containing spectral reflectances of individual surfaces calculated from a radiative transfer model, and also a physical retrieval utilizing a spectral library lookup table to account for the dependency of reflectance on snow grain size, and local and solar zenith angles. The algorithm maintains an endmember memory file that contains two values per pixel indicating the endmember identifiers of the last modeled endmembers. Types of endmembers are land surface materials such as snow, vegetation, and rock, and are characterized using unique reflectance spectra based on modeled and field measurements. The endmemory memory file is re-initialized daily. The GOES-16 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached beta maturity. 2020-08-13T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached provisional maturity. 2021-01-01T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached full validation maturity. The GOES-17 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached beta maturity. 2020-08-13T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached provisional maturity. The GOES-17 ABI Snow Cover algorithm reached full validation maturity.
Processing Documents	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group 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 NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality Peer/Stakeholder Product Validation Reviews by satellite and product. GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents Descriptions of how the algorithms work, their underlying designs, and initial comparison with prior algorithms and results.
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 the 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.

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: 2023-09-19
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Snow Cover

ABI-L2-FSC

Follow us

Contact us