MADIS Satellite Radiance Variables

MADIS Satellite Radiance Variables
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Code       Name                                    Units      Max     Notes      Database
                                                           QC Level*            FSL  AWIPS*
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Radiance Products                                                       1        
-----------------

TB[nn]    brightness temperature                   K            0       2        X
SKINT     skin temperature                         K            0                X      
LSM       land/sea mask                            code         0       3        X      
DAYNITE   day/Night qualifier                      code         0       5        X     
FOVNUM    field of view number                                  0                X     
GRIDSE    grid point solar elevation               m            0                X     
GRIDP     grid point pressure                      Pa           0                X      
SATID     satellite identifier                     code         0       4        X      
TERRTYP   terrain type                             code         0       6        X     
ZENITH    satellite zenith angle                   deg          0                X     

Notes

1. The availability and meaning of each product type are a function of the satellite data provider. Currently, MADIS provides radiances (also called brightness temperatures) from the NOAA Polar Orbital Environmental Satellites (POES). The brightness temperatures are from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit A (AMSU-A) and the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounders (HIRS/3 and HIRS/4). There are many references available on the web. For detailed information see the NOAA KLM User's Guide at:

   http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/klm/index.htm

2. The variable names for the brightness temperatures include the desired channel number (TB01 through TB35), specified with a leading zero, if necessary (e.g., TB01). The different channels represent different frequency bands in which data are aqcuired. Channels 1-20 are the HIRS channels. See the following URL for the characteristics and specifications of the HIRS channels:

   http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/klm/html/c3/sec3-2.htm Channels 21-35 are the AMSU-A channels 1-15. See this URL for the AMSU-A characteristics and specifications:

   http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/klm/html/c3/sec3-3.htm

3. Land/sea mask codes:

         Value      Meaning
         -----      -------
           0        Land
           1        Sea
           2        Coast
   

4. Satellite that provided the data codes:

         Value      Meaning
         -----      -------
          206        NOAA-15
          207        NOAA-16 
          209        NOAA-18
   

5. Day/Night Qualifier codes:

         Value      Meaning
         -----      -------
           0        Day
           1        Night
   

6. Terrain Type codes:

         Value      Meaning
         -----      -------
           0        Sea ice
           1        Snow on land
   

7. Cloud Amount codes:

         Value      Meaning
         -----      -------
           0        okta -- 0 (Clear)
           1        okta or less, but not zero -- 1/10 or less, but not zero
           2        oktas -- 2/10 - 3/10
           3        oktas -- 4/10
           4        oktas -- 5/10
           5        oktas -- 6/10
           6        oktas -- 7/10 - 8/10
           7        oktas or more, but not 8 oktas -- 9/10 or more, but not 10/10
           8        oktas -- 10/10 (Overcast)
           9        Sky obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena
          10        Sky partially obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena
          11        Scattered
          12        Broken
          13        Few
          14        Reserved
          15        Cloud cover is Indiscernible for reasons other than fog or other 
                    meteorological phenomena, or observation is not made