Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface (DSR)

ABI-L2-DSR

browse graphicExample of the Downward Shortwave Radiation (at the surface) product as generated by the GOES-R Downward Shortwave Radiation algorithm.
The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Downward Shortwave Radiation (DSR): Surface product contains an image with pixel values identifying the instantaneous total shortwave irradiance (flux) received at the Earth's surface integrated over the 0.2 to 4.0 um wavelength bandpass. It includes contributions from direct solar radiation attenuated by the atmosphere and from diffuse radiation associated with scattering within
the atmosphere. The product includes data quality information that provides an assessment of the downward shortwave radiation: surface data values for on-earth pixels. The units of measure for the downward shortwave radiation: surface value is watts per square meter. The Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface product image is produced on a global latitude/longitude grid at 0.5 degree resolution for Full Disk, 0.25 degree resolution for CONUS, and 0.05 degree resolution for Mesoscale coverage regions from GOES East and West. Product data is produced for geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 90 degrees and solar zenith angles to 90 degrees.
  • Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Program Office, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date].
  • doi:
  • ABI-L2-DSR
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C01524
  • gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01524
Download Data
Order Data
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 Principal Investigator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
ncei.sat.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2017-06-23 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
Processing Documents
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2017-06-23
Edition Provisional
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Continual
Purpose DSR has many applications both in the general and applied sciences. As one of the components of the surface energy budget, it is needed in climate studies. Used together with cloud and aerosol properties it provides estimates of cloud and aerosol effects (forcing). It is also used in surface energy budget models, land surface assimilation models such as those used at NOAA NCEP, NASA LDAS, and ocean assimilation models either as an input (providing observationally-based forcing term), or as an independent data source to evaluate model performance. DSR data are also employed in estimating heat flux components over the coastal ocean to drive ocean circulation models. In agriculture, DSR is used as input in crop modeling. In hydrology, it is used in watershed and run-off analysis, which is important for determining flood risks and dam monitoring. The solar energy industry also needs estimates of DSR for both real-time and short-term forecasts for building energy usage modeling and optimization. Since high irradiance values result in surface drying, DSR is also used in monitoring fire risk.
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 Program Office, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date].
Cited Authors
  • GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
  • GOES-R Program Office
Principal Investigators
  • GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
Resource Providers
  • GOES-R Program Office
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Shortwave Radiation
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Surface Radiation Budget (including Solar Irradiance)
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 Imagery
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-DSR
  • gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
  • GRABIPRD
  • gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 50 km - < 100 km or approximately .5 degree - < 1 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 Program Office, (2017): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for 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 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 Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface product is generated by the GOES-R ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface and Reflected Shortwave Radiation: TOA ground processing algorithm. Depending on the availability of inputs, the algorithm performs either a direct or indirect retrieval of broadband transmittance and reflectance over four scene types: clear sky over no snow/ice; clear sky over snow/ice; water cloud, and; ice cloud. The direct retrieval is primary method. Computed atmospheric transmittance and reflectance are used to derive the shortwave fluxes at the surface and TOA. The direct retrieval path uses ABI products to estimate fluxes from Level 2 processing parameter lookup tables whose values are based on a forward radiative transfer model. When inputs needed for the direct retrieval path are not available, the algorithm uses the indirect retrieval path, invoking a multistep inversion scheme. The indirect retrieval path includes the calculation of a clear-sky snow/ice-free compostite TOA albedo derived from the ABI reflectance observations over the previous 29 days. Both retrieval paths rely on primary inputs at 2 km resolution that are averaged over each scene type on the output global latitude/longitude grid. Grid cells within the product extent not represented by a direct mapping between the ABI fixed grid and the global latitude/longitude grid are assigned values based on the nearest neighbor. The coverage region included in the Full Disk and CONUS radiation products is the minimum bounding rectangle within the global latitude/longitude grid. In the case of the mesoscale coverage region, the radiation product data structure dimensions are fixed and based on its maximum latitude/longitude extent on the ABI Full Disk. Pixels in the product image with out of range values are assigned the minimum or maximum value in the valid range.
  • 2017-06-23T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface algorithm reached beta maturity.
  • The GOES-16 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface algorithm reached provisional maturity.
  • The GOES-16 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface algorithm reached full validation maturity.
  • 2018-08-27T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface algorithm reached beta maturity.
  • 2019-06-27T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface algorithm reached provisional maturity.
  • The GOES-17 ABI Downward Shortwave Radiation: Surface 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 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.
Last Modified: 2023-09-19
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov