Background
NASA enhanced the processing and storage capabilities within the Satellite ClOud and Radiation Property retrieval System (SatCORPS), developed algorithms to ingest observations from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), and created global composites of cloud properties from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), VIIRS, and 5 geostationary platforms (GEO; Meteosat-9 to -12, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-16 to -19, and Himawari-9). Data is produced over the globe at 3-km spatial and hourly temporal resolution.
Status: In Development
Hourly, 3-km global cloud composites (GCC) datasets have been produced since mid-2023 and can be accessed from the SatCORPS website. A version 2 system is expected to be completed by mid-2026 that enhances the previous system with artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) methods to reduce artifacts and improve the accuracy and consistency of the data products at all times of day. Coordination with the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) and NASA Earthdata Geographic Information System (EGIS) are underway to enable the ingest of operational GCC data products for public dissemination via Earthdata Search.
Solution Characteristics
| Platforms* and Instruments | Aqua, Terra: MODIS |
|---|---|
| Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), NOAA-20/21: VIIRS | |
| Meteosat-9/10/11/12: Spinning Enhanced Visible Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) | |
| GOES-16/17/18/19: Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) | |
| Himawari-9: Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) | |
| Output Variables | Brightness temperatures, cloud bottom height, cloud effective particle size, cloud top pressure, long-wave broadband flux, ice water path, and more (refer to the Available Test Datasets for the full list of parameters) |
| Processing Level | 3 |
| Temporal Frequency | Hourly |
| Spatial Coverage | Global |
| Spatial Resolution | 3 km |
| Data Format | NetCDF4, GIF |
*Note: Only five geostationary platforms (between the Meteosat, GOES, and Himawari series) are used in an instantaneous composite.
Societal Impact
The Global Cloud Composites from SatCORPS, a Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG) solution, provides global high spatiotemporal resolution satellite observations that are needed to improve the representation of clouds and their effects in Earth System Models for infrastructure planning.
Solution Resources
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