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Description

This dataset contains the version 3.2 CYGNSS level 2 science data record which provides the time-tagged and geolocated average wind speed (m/s) and mean square slope (MSS) with 25x25 kilometer resolution from the Delay Doppler Mapping Instrument aboard the CYGNSS satellite constellation. This version supersedes Version 3.1: https://doi.org/10.5067/CYGNS-L2X31. The reported sample locations are determined by the specular points corresponding to the Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs). A subset of DDM data used in the direct processing of the average wind speed and MSS is co-located inside of the Level 2 data files. Only one netCDF data file is produced each day (each file containing data from up to 8 unique CYGNSS spacecraft) with a latency of approximately 6 days (or better) from the last recorded measurement time. <br><br>

The L2 Geophysical Model Function (GMF) that maps L1 observables to ocean surface wind speed and the Significant Wave Height (SWH) second order correction to the wind speed retrievals were rederived to be consistent with the v3.2 L1 calibration. The method used for deriving the GMF and SWH correction is the same as for v3.1. An additional swell wave correction has been added to better account for the long wave dependence at low wind speeds. The FDS and YSLF retrieval algorithms are otherwise the same as v3.1. The v3.2 L2 YSLF wind speed is now designated as an intermediate product and should not be used ‘as is’. Additional quality control filters have been added to the Level 3 gridded product derived from the L2 YSLF wind speed to detect and remove outlier L2 samples, and use of the L3 product is recommended.<br><br>
The CYGNSS is a NASA Earth System Science Pathfinder Mission that is intended to collect the first frequent space‐based measurements of surface wind speeds in the inner core of tropical cyclones. Made up of a constellation of eight micro-satellites, the observatories provide nearly gap-free Earth coverage using an orbital inclination of approximately 35° from the equator, with a mean (i.e., average) revisit time of seven hours and a median revisit time of three hours. This inclination allows CYGNSS to measure ocean surface winds between approximately 38° N and 38° S latitude. This range includes the critical latitude band for tropical cyclone formation and movement.

Product Summary

Platforms
CYGNSS
Instruments
DDMI
Spatial Extent

N: 40 S: -40 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
25 Kilometers x 25 Kilometers
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2018-08-01
Data Partner
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/PODAAC) ,
Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System Mission, NASA Earth Science System Pathfinder, University of Michigan (NASA/ESSP/UMICH/CYGNSS)
Concept ID
C2832196001-POCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
2687
Processing Level
2
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Wind Direction ,
Wind Speed

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

CYGNSS. (2024). CYGNSS Level 2 Science Data Record Version 3.2 [Data set]. NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/CYGNS-L2X32 Date Accessed: 2025-12-13

Documents

Variables

Variables are a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something. For example, temperature and pressure are variables of the atmosphere. Parameters and variables can be used interchangeably. Variable level attributes provide individual information for each variable.

The Name in this table is the variable name. Fill value indicates missing or undefined data points in a variable. Valid range is the range of values the variable can store. Scale factor is used to increase or decrease the size of an object and can be used to correct for distortion. For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor
antenna The CYGNSS nadir antenna that received the reflected GPS signal associated with the DDMs utilized to derive wind_speed. 0 = none 1 = zenith (never used) 2 = nadir_starboard 3 = nadir_port 1 byte -99 N/A 1
averaged_l1 Depending on the L1 sampling rate (1Hz to 4Hz), up to 4 DDMs can occur within the same second. An initial L2 processing stage averages these L1 values into a single per-second value. In turn, up to 5 of those one second averaged values can contribute to an L2 sample, yielding the possibility that up to 20 DDMs contribute to an L2 sample. The variables with this dimension captures the L1 sub-second values contributing to a given sample. If less than 4 DDMs are used in the intra-second average, the unused positions of such variables are set to a fill value. 1 int N/A N/A 1
azimuth_angle The mean of the orbit frame azimuth angles of the specular points of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees. degree float -9999 N/A 1
bit_ratio_lo_hi_port Bin ratio of the of the port antenna defined as (plus_1_cnts + minus_1_cnts) / (plus_3_cnts + minus_3_cnts). 1 float -9999 N/A 1
bit_ratio_lo_hi_starboard Bin ratio of the of the starboard antenna defined as (plus_1_cnts + minus_1_cnts) / (plus_3_cnts + minus_3_cnts). 1 float -9999 N/A 1
bit_ratio_lo_hi_zenith Bin ratio of the of the zenith antenna defined as (plus_1_cnts + minus_1_cnts) / (plus_3_cnts + minus_3_cnts). 1 float -9999 N/A 1
commanded_sc_roll Commanded spacecraft attitude roll angle, in radians at sample_time. radian float -9999 N/A 1
ddm Wind retrievals are produced utilizing from one to five one second averaged DDMs. The values with this dimension are five element arrays which contain per-DDM values. The DDMs that were utilized for wind retrieval are indicated by the ddm_obs_utilized_flag array. If less than 5 DDMs are used in the average, the unused positions of such variables are set to a fill value. 1 int N/A N/A 1
ddm_averaged_l1_utilized_flag Each element is a flag set to one if the corresponding DDM was utilized to produce wind_speed. There can be up to 20 L1 DDMs used for a single L2 sample. Up to 4 samples that occur within the same second can be averaged together to form a one second averaged DDM and up to 5 one second averaged DDMs can contribute to an L2 sample. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
ddm_channel A five element array, one for each DDM used in the temporal average for the wind speed product. Contains the Level 1 netCDF reflectometry channel of the corresponding DDM. Can be utilized together with the ddm_sample_index, spacecraft_num and &#039;source&#039; look up the corresponding Level 1 DDM data and metadata. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
ddm_les A five element array, one for each DDM used in the temporal average for the wind speed product. Contains the corresponding DDM leading edge slope value, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
ddm_nbrcs A five element array, one for each DDM used in the temporal average for the wind speed product. Contains the corresponding DDM normalized bistatic radar cross section value, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
ddm_num_averaged_l1 A five element array, one for each DDM used in the temporal average for the wind speed product. Each value is the number of valid L1 samples averaged together to create a one Hz time averaged L1 sample. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
ddm_obs_utilized_flag A five element array, one for each DDM used in the temporal average for the wind speed product. Flag is set to one if the corresponding DDM was utilized to produce wind_speed. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
ddm_sample_index Contains the Level 1 netCDF sample index of the corresponding DDM. Can be utilized together with ddm_channel, spacecraft_num and &#039;source&#039; to look up the corresponding Level 1 DDM data and metadata. There can be up to 20 L1 DDMs used for a single L2 sample. Up to 4 samples that occur within the same second can be averaged together to form a one second averaged DDM and up to 5 one second averaged DDMs can contribute to an L2 sample. All non-utilized values will be set to a fill value. 1 int -9999 N/A 1
ddm_source The source of the Level 0 DDM raw counts and metadata utilized to derive wind_speed. 0 = E2ES (CYGNSS end-to-end simulator) 1 = GPS signal simulator 2 = CYGNSS spacecraft 3 = Source Unknown 1 byte -99 N/A 1
fds_les_wind_speed The average surface wind speed of the 25 x 25 km cell centered on lat and lon derived only from the LES observable using the fully developed seas geophysical model function, m/s. No SWH correction applied. Multiple DDMs are utilized to derive fds_les_wind_speed. The number of DDMs ranges from 1 to 5. m s-1 float -9999 N/A 1
fds_nbrcs_wind_speed The average surface wind speed of the 25 x 25 km cell centered on lat and lon derived only from the NBRCS observable using the fully developed seas geophysical model function, m/s. No SWH correction applied. Multiple DDMs are utilized to derive fds_nbrcs_wind_speed. The number of DDMs ranges from 1 to 5. m s-1 float -9999 N/A 1
fds_sample_flags Set of status flags, set to 1 if condition is true. Flag bit masks: 1 = fatal_composite_wind_speed_flag, logical OR of fatal FDS flags (fatal_neg_wind_speed OR fatal_neg_fds_nbrcs_wind_speed OR fatal_neg_fds_les_wind_speed OR fatal_high_wind_speed OR fatal_high_fds_nbrcs_wind_speed OR fatal_high_fds_les_wind_speed OR fatal_fds_invalid_swh OR fatal_fds_inc_angle OR fatal_fds_bin_ratio OR fatal_fds_invalid_debiasing) 2 = spare_2, always zero 4 = spare_3, always zero 8 = spare_4, always zero 16 = fatal_neg_wind_speed, wind_speed &lt;= 0 m/s 32 = fatal_neg_fds_nbrcs_wind_speed, fds_nbrcs_wind_speed &lt;= 0 m/s 64 = fatal_neg_fds_les_wind_speed, fds_les_wind_speed &lt;= 0 m/s 128 = fatal_high_wind_speed, fatal_high_fds_nbrcs_wind_speed or fatal_high_fds_les_wind_speed are one 256 = fatal_high_fds_nbrcs_wind_speed, fds_nbrcs_wind_speed &gt;= 99 m/s 512 = fatal_high_fds_les_wind_speed, fds_les_wind_speed &gt;= 99 m/s 1024 = non_fatal_ascending, satellite is on the ascending node of the orbit (subsatellite point latitude is increasing) 2048 = spare_5, always zero 4096 = spare_6, always zero 8192 = spare_7, always zero 16384 = spare_8, always zero 32768 = spare_9, always zero. 65536 = spare_10, always zero 131072 = fatal_fds_invalid_swh, unable to lookup significant wave height correction 262144 = fatal_fds_inc_angle, incidence angle &gt; 65 degrees. 524288 = fatal_fds_bin_ratio, bin ratio on the nadir or zenith antenna is associated with degraded performance. 1048576 = fatal_fds_invalid_debiasing, unable to perform debiasing 2097152 = non_fatal_fds_gain_setting, sample has a gain setting that does not match that data that was used when generating the debiasing values. N/A int -9999 N/A 1
fresnel_coeff The square of the left hand circularly polarized Fresnel electromagnetic voltage reflection coefficient at 1575 MHz for a smooth ocean surface at lat, lon. See UM document 148-0361 for a description of the calculation of the Fresnel coefficient, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
incidence_angle The mean of the incidence angles of the specular points of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees. degree float -9999 N/A 1
lat The mean of the specular point latitudes of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees North. degrees_north float -9999 N/A 1
les_mean The mean of the DDM LES values that were utilized to derive wind_speed, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
lon The mean of the specular point longitudes of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees East. degrees_east float -9999 N/A 1
mean_square_slope The average MSS of the 25 x 25 km cell centered on lat and lon, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
mean_square_slope_uncertainty The uncertainty of mean_square_slope, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
mss_sample_flags Set of status flags, set to 1 if condition is true. Flag bit masks: 1 = fatal_composite_mss, logical OR of (fatal_low_mss OR fatal_high_mss OR fatal_mss_inc_angle OR fatal_mss_bin_ratio) 2 = fatal_low_mss, mean_square_slope &lt; 0.0 4 = fatal_high_mss, mean_square_slope &gt; 0.1 8 = fatal_mss_inc_angle, incidence angle &gt; 65 degrees. 16 = fatal_mss_bin_ratio, bin ratio on the nadir or zenith antenna is associated with degraded performance. N/A int -9999 N/A 1
nbrcs_mean The mean of the DDM NBRCS values that were utilized to derive wind_speed, unitless. 1 float -9999 N/A 1
num_ddms_utilized The number of DDMs averaged together to produce wind_speed. The number of DDMs utilized depends on the incidence angle. Ranges from 0 to 5. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
port_gain_setting The Nadir-Port Gain Setting (dB, 0=Automatic) dB int -9999 N/A 1
preliminary_yslf_nbrcs_high_wind_speed NOT to be used before SWH correction applied at Level 2 and quality control filters applied at Level 3 processing. The surface wind speed centered on lat and lon derived from the NBRCS observable using the young seas/limited fetch geophysical model function, m/s. No SWH correction applied. No quality control filters applied. Multiple DDMs are utilized to derive yslf_nbrcs_high_wind_speed. The number of utilized DDMs ranges from 1 to 5. m s-1 float -9999 N/A 1
preliminary_yslf_wind_speed NOT to be used before quality control filters applied at Level 3 processing. The YSLF surface wind speed centered on lat and lon derived from the NBRCS observables using the young seas limited fetch geophysical model function. The YSLF SWH correction is applied. No quality control filters applied. m s-1 float -9999 N/A 1
preliminary_yslf_wind_speed_uncertainty Uncertainty does NOT include presence of outliers to be removed at Level 3 processing . Standard deviation of the additive wind speed error in yslf_wind_speed (dependent on the RCG and on the wind speed), in m/s. Uncertainty does not include presence of outliers to be removed at Level 3 processing. m s-1 float -9999 N/A 1
prn_code The PRN code of the GPS signal associated with the DDMs utilized to derive wind_speed. Ranges from 0 to 32. 0 = reflectometry channel idle. 1 to 32 represent a PRN code. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
range_corr_gain The mean of the RCGs of the DDMs that were utilized to produce wind_speed. Individual RCGs are equal to the receive antenna gain in the direction of the specular point multiplied by 1e27 divided by the square of the receiver to the specular point range and the square of the transmitter to specular point range. Units: 1e27 *dBi * m^-4 1e-27 dBi meter-4 float -9999 N/A 1
sample The netCDF coordinate variable associated with the sample dimension, which enumerates the zero-justified index range of the DDM time instants contained in the file. 1 int N/A N/A 1
sample_flags Set of flags indicating general conditions for the sample, set to 1 if condition is true. Flag bit masks: 1 = spare_1, always zero N/A short -9999 N/A 1
sample_time The mean of ddm_timestamp_utc of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed. Note that the DDM sampling period is not synchronized with the UTC change of second so sample_time can occur at any time relative to the UTC change of second. seconds since 2018-08-11 00:00:00.999261459 double N/A N/A 1
sc_alt The mean of the satellite altitudes above the WGS-84 ellipsoid of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, meters. meter int -9999 N/A 1
sc_lat The mean of the subsatellite point latitudes of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees North. degrees_north float -9999 N/A 1
sc_lon The mean of the subsatellite point longitudes of the DDMs that were utilized to derive wind_speed, degrees East. degrees_east float -9999 N/A 1
sc_roll The mean of the spacecraft roll angle relative to the orbit frame for all the DDMS utilized to derive wind_speed, radians radian float -9999 N/A 1
spacecraft_id The CCSDS spacecraft identifier: 0xF7 (247): CYGNSS 1 0xF9 (249): CYGNSS 2 0x2B ( 43): CYGNSS 3 0x2C ( 44): CYGNSS 4 0x2F ( 47): CYGNSS 5 0x36 ( 54): CYGNSS 6 0x37 ( 55): CYGNSS 7 0x49 ( 73): CYGNSS 8 0x00 ( 0): end to end simulator 0x0E ( 14): engineering model 0x0D ( 15): default 0xFF (255): unknown 1 short -9999 N/A 1
spacecraft_num The CYGNSS spacecraft number: Ranges from 1 through 8 and 99. 1 through 8 are on-orbit spacecraft. 99 is the CYGNSS end-to-end simulator. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
starboard_gain_setting The Nadir-Starboard Gain Setting (dB, 0=Automatic) dB int -9999 N/A 1
sum_neg_brcs_value_used_for_nbrcs_flags The number of DDMs utilized to produce wind_speed that used at least one negative BRCS bin value to calculate NBRCS. Ranges from 0 to 5. 1 byte -99 N/A 1
sv_num The GPS unique space vehicle number that transmitted prn_code 1 short -9999 N/A 1
swh Significant height of combined wind waves and swell from ERA5. See: https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/cdsapp#!/dataset/reanalysis-era5-single-levels?tab=overviewERA5 m float -9999 N/A 1
swh_corr_method Method of SWH correction. Values: 0 = unable_to_compute_swh_correction 1 = blended_combined_and_swell 2 = only_combined 1 byte -99 N/A 1
swh_swell_sum Significant height of total swell from ERA5 is not currently used in SWH correction. This variable will be set to all fill values when ERA5 is the SWH source. m float -9999 N/A 1
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