ESDS Program

NASA Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention

Summary

NASA's Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention was defined by the Operation IceBridge team to provide a convention for ASCII file formats that can accommodate a wide range of data product requirements without being overly restrictive.

Status

The NASA Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention was approved for use in NASA Earth science data systems in 2016.

Specification Document

NASA Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention
User Resources Tools to read IceBridge data files, including those in the Aerogeophysics ASCII format

NASA Earth Science Community Recommendations for Use

Data products from NASA's IceBridge mission vary greatly in volume and complexity, and many of the L1B and L2 data products from IceBridge were initially provided in ASCII files that did not follow a common format. The Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention was adapted from the ICARTT standard to address this issue. It is a simplification of ICARTT, with modifications to accommodate the needs and requirements of aerogeophysical missions. That is, this format incorporates elements of the ICARTT format that apply to aerogeophysical missions and drops the elements that are specific to atmospheric science instruments and mission characteristics. It is compliant with the ASCII File Format Guidelines for Earth Science Data approved for use in NASA’s Earth science data systems, meeting all requirements and most recommendations in that document.
The Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention is primarily intended for low-volume time-series data with parameters being measured sequentially (and/or simultaneously) in time. It is also suitable for L1B and L2 two-dimensional (i.e., along-track) derived geophysical products that have been interpolated onto a common geographic location and/or time base. The use of this format convention is not limited to any level of data products.

A checklist showing a summary of the requirements and recommendations found in the ASCII File Format Guidelines for Earth science data and the results of vetting the NASA Aerogeophysics ASCII File Format Convention can be found in NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Standards Coordination Office (ESCO) ASCII File Format List.

 

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