N: 61 S: -61 E: 180 W: -180
Description
This dataset contains the multi-sourced microwave radiometer wind speed, rain and cloud liquid water data collocated to RapidScat Level 2B wind vector cell (WVC) locations. The corresponding NASA mission is officially referred to as ISS-RapidScat. This dataset is produced by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) with direct funding from the JPL RapidScat project. All of the collocated radiometer data is produced by RSS. The co-located radiometer sources include: 1) DMSP SSM/I (F15) and SSMIS (F16/F17), 2) Coriolis WindSat, 3) GCOM-W1 AMSR2 and 4) GPM Core GMI; more details on these radiometer sources and sensors can be extracted by scrolling down to the "Platform/Sensor" section below this description. RapidScat is a Ku-band dual beam circular rotating scatterometer retaining much of the same hardware and functionality of QuikSCAT, with exception of the antenna sub-system and digital interface to the International Space Station (ISS) Columbus module, which is where RapidScat is mounted. Unlike QuikSCAT, ISS-RapidScat is not in sun-synchronous orbit, and flies at roughly half the altitude with a low inclination angle that restricts data coverage to the tropics and mid-latitude regions; the extent of latitudinal coverage stretches from approximately 61 degrees North to 61 degrees South. Furthermore, there is no consistent local time of day retrieval. This dataset is provided in a netCDF-4 file format that follows the netCDF "classic" model and made available via FTP and OPeNDAP. For data access, please click on the "Data Access" tab above.
Product Summary
Citation
Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.
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READ-ME
ANOMALIES
DATA CITATION GUIDELINES
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Variables
Variables are a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something. For example, temperature and pressure are variables of the atmosphere. Parameters and variables can be used interchangeably. Variable level attributes provide individual information for each variable.
The Name in this table is the variable name. Fill value indicates missing or undefined data points in a variable. Valid range is the range of values the variable can store. Scale factor is used to increase or decrease the size of an object and can be used to correct for distortion. For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.
| Name Sort descending | Description | Units | Data Type | Fill Value | Valid Range | Scale Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lat | RapidScat latitude | degree_north | float | -999 | -90 to 90 | 1 |
| lon | RapidScat longitude | degree_east | float | -999 | 0 to 360 | 1 |
| rad_cloud | Radiometer total cloud liquid water content | mm | float | -999 | -0.05 to 2.45 | 1 |
| rad_rain | Radiometer rain rate | mm hr-1 | float | -999 | 0 to 25 | 1 |
| rad_speed | Radiometer wind speed | m s-1 | float | -999 | 0 to 50 | 1 |
| sat_id | Radiometer satellite id | N/A | byte | 0 | 1 to 127 | 1 |
| time | RapidScat date and time | seconds since 1999-1-1 0:0:0 | double | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| time_diff | RapidScat - Radiometer observation time difference | minutes | short | -999 | -180 to 180 | 1 |