This dataset includes satellite-based observations of surface wind vectors, precipitable water vapor, and integrated cloud liquid water, as well as the microwave brightness temperatures used to derive them. The measurements are from the COWVR (Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer) sensor aboard the international space station (ISS) in non sun-synchronous orbit. Data files in HDF5 format roughly cover one orbit each (the ISS orbit period is ~90 minutes) and provide non-gridded data over the satellite orbit and swath. The files also include ancillary sea surface temperatures and flag data. The files contain minimal metadata and formats may be different than what an average user is familiar with – see the User Guide.

This deployment of the COWVR instrument was part of the Space Test Program - Houston 8 (STP-H8) technology demonstration mission. COWVR was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and flown by the United States Space Force, Space Systems Command, Development Corps for Innovation and Prototyping.