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Atmospheric Rivers Data Access and Tools
From discovery to visualization, data tools such as Earthdata Search, Worldview, and Application for Extracting and Exploring Analysis Ready Samples (AppEEARS) guide users in making the most of atmospheric rivers data.
Atmospheric Rivers Datasets
| Dataset | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Location Keywords | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEMAP 2: U.S. Monthly Climate Change Scenarios, Version 2 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1994-01-01 to 2100-12-31 | netCDF-3 | |
| VEMAP 2: U.S. Monthly Climate, 1895-1993, Version 2 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1895-01-01 to 1993-12-31 | netCDF-3 | |
| VIIRS/SNPP Level-2 Water Vapor Products 6-min Swath 750m | Suomi-NPP | VIIRS | 2012-05-01 to 2018-09-11 | GLOBAL | NetCDF-4 |
| VIIRS/SNPP Water Vapor Level-3 daily 0.5 x 0.5 degree grid | Suomi-NPP | VIIRS | 2012-05-01 to 2018-09-11 | GLOBAL | NetCDF4 |
| VIIRS/SNPP Water Vapor Level-3 monthly 0.5 x 0.5 degree grid | Suomi-NPP | VIIRS | 2012-05-01 to 2018-09-01 | GLOBAL | NetCDF-4 |
| Water Isotope System for Precipitation and Entrainment Research (WISPER) IMPACTS | NASA P-3 | WISPER | 2020-01-18 to 2023-02-28 | PACIFIC OCEAN | ASCII |
| WLDAS Noah-MP 3.6 Land Surface Model L4 Daily 0.01 degree x 0.01 degree Version D1.0 (WLDAS_NOAHMP001_DA1) at GES DISC | Noah-MP-LSM | NOT APPLICABLE | 1979-01-02 | WESTERN UNITED STATES |
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Featured Atmospheric Rivers Observation Method: VIIRS
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments are aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) and NOAA-platforms. The orbits of the platforms make them ideally positioned to observe atmospheric rivers reaching the west coast of North America. The VIIRS instruments include five high-resolution image bands, sixteen moderate-resolution bands, and one unique panchromatic day/night band ultra-sensitive in low-light conditions. The VIIRS instruments build on the heritage of their successful predecessors, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWIFS).
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will help ensure continuity of Earth observations after the upcoming retirement of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).
With the eventual retirement of the Terra and Aqua platforms, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments will take the lead in daily Earth observations.
19 MIN READ
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