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.
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 TE-21 Daily Surface Meteorological Data | METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS | TEMPERATURE SENSORS, WIND MONITOR, HUMIDITY SENSORS, RAIN GAUGES, PYRANOMETERS, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1994-01-01 to 1994-12-31 | N: 55.93 S: 53.63 E: -97.87 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-01 SSA-OA Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | PYRANOMETERS, Pyrgeometer, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, RAIN GAUGES, SOIL HEAT FLUX TRANSDUCER, SONIC ANEMOMETER, TDR, THERMOCOUPLES, DEWPOINT HYDROMETERS, NET RADIOMETERS, IRGA, SOIL MOISTURE PROBE, BAROMETERS | 1996-02-02 to 1996-12-31 | N: 53.63 S: 53.63 E: -106.2 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-01 SSA-OA Understory Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, ANEMOMETERS, HUMIDITY SENSORS, THERMOMETERS, THERMOCOUPLES, SOIL MOISTURE PROBE, INFRARED THERMOMETERS, BAROMETERS, SONIC ANEMOMETER, IRGA, SOIL HEAT FLUX TRANSDUCER, NET RADIOMETERS | 1993-10-12 to 1994-12-31 | N: 53.63 S: 53.63 E: -106.2 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-02 SSA-OA Tethersonde Meteorological and Ozone Data | BALLOONS | ANEROID PRESSURE SENSOR, THERMISTORS, ANEMOMETERS, OZONESONDES | 1993-10-17 to 1994-09-19 | N: 53.63 S: 53.63 E: -106.2 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-02 SSA-OA Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Precipitation Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | RAIN GAUGES, SONIC ANEMOMETER, THERMOCOUPLES, BAROMETERS, PYRANOMETERS, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, OZONE SENSOR, NET RADIOMETERS, IRGA, DEWPOINT HYDROMETERS | 1994-01-01 to 1994-10-27 | N: 53.63 S: 53.63 E: -106.2 W: -106.2 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-03 NSA-OBS Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data | FIELD INVESTIGATION, FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, NET RADIOMETERS, THERMOCOUPLES, RAIN GAUGES, EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES | 1994-03-16 to 1996-10-31 | N: 55.88 S: 55.88 E: -98.48 W: -98.48 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-04 SSA-YJP Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Canopy Condition Data, R1 | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | PSYCHROMETERS, NET RADIOMETERS, ANEMOMETERS, ANEROID PRESSURE SENSOR, EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES, IRGA, RAIN GAUGES, THERMOCOUPLES, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1993-09-02 to 1994-09-20 | N: 53.88 S: 53.88 E: -104.65 W: -104.65 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-05 Tower Flux & Meteorological Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | SOIL HEAT FLUX TRANSDUCER, WIND MONITOR, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, THERMOCOUPLES, HUMIDITY SENSORS, OZONE SENSOR, IR CO2 ANALYZER, NET RADIOMETERS, EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES | 1994-05-23 to 1994-09-16 | N: 53.92 S: 53.92 E: -104.69 W: -104.69 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-06 SSA-YA Surface Energy Flux and Meteorological Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | NET RADIOMETERS, PYRANOMETERS, RAIN GAUGES, SOIL HEAT FLUX TRANSDUCER, SONIC ANEMOMETER, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, THERMOCOUPLES, WIND MONITOR, HYGROMETERS, HUMIDITY SENSORS, BAROMETERS | 1994-07-19 to 1994-09-19 | N: 53.66 S: 53.66 E: -105.32 W: -105.32 | ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-07 SSA-OBS Tower Flux and Meteorological Data | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | IRGA, SONIC ANEMOMETER, THERMOCOUPLES, PYRANOMETERS, PSYCHROMETERS, TUNABLE DIODE LASER, EDDY CORRELATION DEVICES | 1994-05-24 to 1994-09-18 | N: 53.99 S: 53.99 E: -105.12 W: -105.12 | ASCII |
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