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.
Atmospheric Rivers Datasets
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAFARI 2000 Airborne Sunphotometer Aerosol Optical Depth and Water Vapor Data | 1 | CONVAIR CV-580 | AIRBORNE TRACKING SUNPHOTOMETER | 2000-08-14 to 2000-09-16 |
N: -14 S: -26 E: 36 W: 11 |
ASCII | |
| SAFARI 2000 AOT and Column Water Vapor, Kalahari Transect, Wet Season 2000 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | SUN PHOTOMETERS | 2000-03-03 to 2000-03-18 |
N: -18.65 S: -24.17 E: 25.5 W: 21.72 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 Atmospheric Aerosol Measurements, Hand-held Hazemeters, Zambia | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | SUN PHOTOMETERS | 2000-06-01 to 2000-09-30 |
N: -7.69 S: -18.7 E: 34.45 W: 21.55 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 C-130 Aerosol and Meteorological Data, Dry Season 2000 | 1 | C-130 | GC-MS, MR, AERI, MMR, PMS 2D-P PROBE, PMS 2D-C PROBE, DEWPOINT HYDROMETERS, HYGROMETERS, CLOUD LIQUID WATER PROBE, CNC, FLUOROMETERS, INFRARED RADIOMETERS, FSSP, CVI, PHOTOMETERS, SPECTROMETERS, MASS SPECTROMETERS | 2000-09-05 to 2000-09-16 |
N: 5 S: -35 E: 60 W: 5 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 ETA Atmospheric Model Data, Wet and Dry Seasons 2000 | 1 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 2000-02-01 to 2000-09-30 |
N: -9 S: -53 E: 53 W: -13 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 JRA Aerocommander Trace Gas, Aerosol, and CCN Data, Dry Season 2000 | 1 | AC-680E | IR CO2 ANALYZER, HUMIDITY SENSORS, THERMOCOUPLES, PRESSURE SENSORS, CNC, UV OZONE DETECTORS, CHEMILUMINESCENCE, FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY | 2000-08-15 to 2000-09-07 |
N: -17.8293 S: -30.1916 E: 33.1635 W: 22.156 |
ASCII | |
| SAFARI 2000 JRB Aerocommander Trace Gas and Aerosol Data, Dry Season 2000 | 1 | AC-680E | IR CO2 ANALYZER, HUMIDITY SENSORS, THERMOCOUPLES, PRESSURE SENSORS, CNC, UV OZONE DETECTORS, CHEMILUMINESCENCE, FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY | 2000-08-15 to 2000-09-07 |
N: -17.8293 S: -30.1916 E: 33.1635 W: 22.156 |
ASCII | |
| SAFARI 2000 Kalahari Transect CO2, Water Vapor, and Heat Flux, Wet Season 2000 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION, FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | TDR, THERMOCOUPLES, SOIL HEAT FLUX TRANSDUCER, INFRARED THERMOMETERS, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, SONIC ANEMOMETER, IR CO2 ANALYZER, NET RADIOMETERS, HUMIDITY SENSORS | 2000-03-01 to 2000-03-19 |
N: -15.438 S: -24.164 E: 23.594 W: 21.713 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 MAPSS MOD05_L2 Water Vapor Summary Data for Southern Africa | 1 | Terra, Aqua | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to 2002-03-04 |
N: -7.976 S: -28.248 E: 32.905 W: -14.415 |
Shapefile | |
| SAFARI 2000 Meteorological and Flux Tower Measurements in Maun, Botswana, 2000 | 1 | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS, FIELD INVESTIGATION | PYRANOMETERS, IRGA, PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS, TEMPERATURE PROBES, RTD, ANEMOMETERS, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, RAIN GAUGES, HUMIDITY SENSORS, SOIL MOISTURE PROBE, THERMOMETERS | 2000-02-01 to 2000-09-30 |
N: -19.9 S: -19.9 E: 23.55 W: 23.55 |
Shapefile |
SHOWING 10 OF 1007
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
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