We are in the process of migrating all NASA Earth science data sites into Earthdata from now until end of 2026. Not all NASA Earth science data and resources will appear here until then. Thank you for your patience as we make this transition.
Read about the Web Unification Project
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.
Table of contents
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
Atmospheric Rivers Datasets
Dataset | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Location Keywords | Spatial Extent | Data Format |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOREAS AFM-13 Aircraft Flux Analyses | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1994-01-01 to 1996-12-31 | N: 60 S: 49 E: -89 W: -111 | CSV | |
BOREAS Derived Surface Meteorological Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS, METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS | THERMOCOUPLES, HUMIDITY SENSORS, WIND MONITOR, BAROMETERS, NET RADIOMETERS, PYRANOMETERS, RAIN GAUGES, ULTRASONIC DEPTH GAUGE, INFRARED THERMOMETERS, Pyrgeometer, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1994-01-01 to 1996-12-31 | N: 56.25 S: 53.42 E: -97.23 W: -106.32 | ASCII | |
BOREAS Follow-On FLX-01 NSA-OBS Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temp. Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS, FIELD INVESTIGATION | EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES, RAIN GAUGES, THERMOCOUPLES, NET RADIOMETERS, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1996-10-31 to 1999-01-01 | N: 55.8801 S: 55.8801 E: -98.4814 W: -98.4814 | CSV | |
BOREAS Follow-On HMet-01 Level-2 GOES-8 1996 Shortwave and Longwave Radiation | GOES-8 | GOES-8 Imager | 1996-02-12 to 1996-10-23 | N: 60 S: 50 E: -92 W: -111 | BSQ | |
BOREAS Follow-On HMet-03 Hourly Meteorological Data at Flux Towers, 1994-1996 | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | THERMOCOUPLES, ANEMOMETERS, BAROMETERS, HUMIDITY SENSORS, RAIN GAUGES, PYRANOMETERS | 1994-01-01 to 1996-12-01 | N: 56 S: 53 E: -98 W: -106 | CSV | |
BOREAS Follow-On HMet-04 1996-1998 NSA Meteorological Data | METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS | BAROMETERS, NET RADIOMETERS, PYRANOMETERS, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, RAIN GAUGES, TEMPERATURE PROBES, ULTRASONIC DEPTH GAUGE, WIND MONITOR, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, HUMIDITY SENSORS, INFRARED THERMOMETERS | 1994-01-01 to 1999-01-01 | N: 60 S: 48 E: -90 W: -111 | CSV | |
BOREAS HYD-02 Estimated Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) from Microwave Measurements | DHC-6 | INFRARED RADIOMETERS, MR, PYRANOMETERS, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, WIND MONITOR, HYGROMETERS | 1994-02-06 to 1994-02-13 | N: 56.25 S: 53.42 E: -97.24 W: -106.3 | CSV | |
BOREAS HYD-03 Subcanopy Meteorological Data | METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS | WIND MONITOR, Pyrgeometer, HUMIDITY SENSORS, TEMPERATURE PROBES, INFRARED THERMOMETERS | 1994-02-06 to 1996-03-08 | N: 53.99 S: 53.63 E: -104.69 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
BOREAS HYD-05 Bear Trap Creek and Namekus Lake Winter Surface Flux Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | PYRANOMETERS, NET RADIOMETERS, SONIC ANEMOMETER, THERMOCOUPLES, HUMIDITY SENSORS, EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES | 1994-02-01 to 1996-04-11 | N: 53.85 S: 53.83 E: -106.04 W: -106.17 | ASCII | |
BOREAS RSS-03 Atmospheric Conditions from a Helicopter-Mounted Sunphotometer | HELICOPTER | SUN PHOTOMETERS | 1994-05-31 to 1994-09-16 | N: 56 S: 53.59 E: -97.34 W: -106.2 | ASCII |
Pagination
SHOWING 10 OF 335
Frequently Asked Questions
Earthdata Forum
Our online forum provides a space for users to browse thousands of FAQs about research needs, data, and data applications. You can also submit new questions for our experts to answer.
Submit Questions to Earthdata Forumand View Expert Responses