MADIS Satellite Sounding Variables

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Code       Name                                    Units      Max     Notes      Database
                                                           QC Level*            FSL  AWIPS
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Sounding Products                                                       1        
-----------------

T         air temperature                          K            1                X     X
TV        virtual temperature                      K            1       2        X     X
WVMR      water vapor mixing ratio                 kg/kg        2       3        X     X 
TD        dewpoint temperature                     K            2       3        X     X
RH        relative humidity                        %            2       3        X     X
Q         specific humidity                        kg/kg        2       3        X     X
DPD       dewpoint depression                      K            2       3        X     X
AH        absolute humidity                        g/(m**3)     2       3        X     X
SKINT     skin temperature                         K            0                X     X 
LSM       land/sea mask                            code         0       4        X     X 
P         pressure                                 Pa           0                X     X 
PWV       precipitable water vapor                 kg/kg        0                X     X 
HT        pressure altitude                        Pa           0                X     X 
DAYNITE   day/Night qualifier                      code         0       6        X     X
FOVNUM    field of view number                                  0                X     X
NUMLEV    number of sounding levels                             0                X     X
SUPIND    superadiabatic indicator                 code         0       7        X     X
GRIDSE    grid point solar elevation               m            0                X     X
SATID     satellite identifier                     code         0       5        X     X 
TERRTYP   terrain type                             code         0       9        X     X
ZENITH    satellite zenith angle                   deg          0                X     X

Notes

  1. The availability of each product type, and the exact algorithms being used to create them, are a function of the satellite data provider. Currently, MADIS provides temperature and moisture soundings produced by NESDIS from the Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (ATOVS) instrument package flown on the NOAA-KLM series of polar-orbiting satellites. It is composed of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Units A and B (AMSU-A, AMSU-B) and is complemented by the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/3). 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. Air temperature is the temperature variable stored in the database. The user can optionally select virtual temperature, which will then be calculated by the MADIS API. The QC results from air temperature will apply. Also note that if virtual temperature cannot be calculated (missing or bad mixing ratio or pressure), and the air temperature passed all QC checks, the air temperature will be returned instead, and a QC data descriptor value of "T" will be assigned.

  3. Mixing ratio is the moisture variable stored in the FSL database. The user can optionally select dewpoint, specific humidity, dewpoint depression, or absolute humidity, and these values will be calculated by the MADIS API. In all cases, the QC results from the dewpoint temperature (calculated from mixing ratio) will be used (with the FSL database, there's currently no QC in the AWIPS database).

  4. Land/sea mask codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
        0        Land
        1        Sea
        2        Coast

  5. Satellite that provided the data codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
       206        NOAA-15
       207        NOAA-16 
       209        NOAA-18

  6. Day/Night Qualifier codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
        0        Day
        1        Night

  7. Superadiabatic Indicator codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
        0        Not superadiabatic
        1        Superadiabatic

  8. Satellite Processing Technique Used codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
        8        Cloudy path
       16        Partly cloudy path
       32        Clear path
       64        Automated statistical regression
      128        Processing technique not defined

  9. Terrain Type codes: 
          Value      Meaning
      -----      -------
        0        Sea ice
        1        Snow on land

  10. 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
* The QC information is only available with the FSL database.