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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 | Platform | Instrument | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODIS/Aqua Temperature and Water Vapor Profiles 5-Min L2 Swath 5km | 6.1 | Aqua | MODIS | 2002-07-04 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF-EOS | |
| MODIS/Aqua Total Precip Water Vapor 1km and 5km 5-Min L2 Narrow Swath Subset along CloudSat V002 (MAC05S0) at GES DISC | 002 | Aqua | MODIS | 2006-06-02 to 2018-02-28 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
5 Kilometers x 5 Kilometers | |
| MODIS/Aqua Total Precip Water Vapor 1km and 5km 5-Min L2 Swath Subset along MLS V002 (MAM05S0) at GES DISC | 002 | Aqua | MODIS | 2004-08-08 to 2008-01-11 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
5 Kilometers x 5 Kilometers | |
| MODIS/Aqua Total Precip Water Vapor 1km and 5km 5-Min L2 Wide Swath Subset along CloudSat V002 (MAC05S1) at GES DISC | 002 | Aqua | MODIS | 2006-06-02 to 2018-02-28 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
5 Kilometers x 5 Kilometers | |
| MODIS/Aqua Total Precipitable Water Vapor 5-Min L2 Swath 1km and 5km | 6.1 | Aqua | MODIS | 2002-07-04 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF-EOS | |
| MODIS/Terra Aerosol, Cloud and Water Vapor Subset 5-Min L2 Swath 5km and 10km | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF-EOS | |
| MODIS/Terra Aerosol Cloud Water Vapor Ozone 8-Day L3 Global 1Deg CMG | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-18 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
1 Decimal Degrees x 1 Decimal Degrees | HDF-EOS |
| MODIS/Terra Aerosol Cloud Water Vapor Ozone Daily L3 Global 1Deg CMG | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
1 Decimal Degrees x 1 Decimal Degrees | HDF-EOS |
| MODIS/Terra Aerosol Cloud Water Vapor Ozone Monthly L3 Global 1Deg CMG | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-01 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
1 Decimal Degrees x 1 Decimal Degrees | HDF-EOS |
| MODIS/Terra Temperature and Water Vapor Profiles 5-Min L2 Swath 5km | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF-EOS | |
| MODIS/Terra Total Precipitable Water Vapor 5-Min L2 Swath 1km and 5km | 6.1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF-EOS | |
| Multilayer Greenland Ice Surface Temperature, Surface Albedo, and Water Vapor from MODIS V001 | 1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-03-01 to 2021-08-31 |
N: 84 S: 58 E: 12 W: -94 |
0.78 Kilometers x 0.78 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| NAAMES C-130 Aircraft Merge Data Files | 1 | C-130 | Computer | 2015-11-10 to 2017-09-22 | ICARTT | ||
| NAAMES C-130 Navigational and Meteorological Data, Version 1 | 1 | C-130 | GPS, HYGROMETERS, PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS, PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM, TEMPERATURE SENSORS | 2015-11-04 to 2018-03-26 | ICARTT | ||
| NAAMES C-130 Trace Gas In Situ Data, Version 1 | 1 | C-130 | LGR, PTR-MS | 2015-11-12 to 2017-09-20 | ICARTT | ||
| NAAMES R/V Atlantis Navigational and Meteorological In Situ Data, Version 1 | 1 | R/V Atlantis | THERMOMETERS, RADIOMETERS, COMPASSES, ANEMOMETERS, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, HUMIDITY SENSORS | 2015-11-05 to 2018-04-12 | ICARTT | ||
| NAAMES Sonde Meteorological InSitu Data, Version 1 | 1 | RADIOSONDES | RADIOSONDES | 2015-11-07 to 2016-06-03 | ICARTT | ||
| NACP: Climate Data Inputs (3-hourly) for Community Land Model, Western USA, 1979-2015 | 1 | MODELS | Computer | 1979-01-01 to 2016-01-01 |
N: 49.0208 S: 31.1875 E: -101.979 W: -124.812 |
netCDF-4 classic | |
| NACP Site: Tower Meteorology, Flux Observations with Uncertainty, and Ancillary Data | 1 | METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS | THERMOMETERS | 1991-01-01 to 2007-12-31 |
N: 71.3225 S: 33.3739 E: -68.7403 W: -157.409 |
Shapefile | |
| NAMMA DC-8 DROPSONDE V1 | 1 | NASA DC-8 | DROPSONDES | 2006-08-07 to 2006-09-12 |
N: 47.4533 S: 7.31667 E: -12.7411 W: -90.0467 |
ASCII | |
| NAMMA DC-8 NAVIGATION AND HOUSEKEEPING (ICATS) V1 | 1 | NASA DC-8 | ICATS, INS, TEMPERATURE PROBES | 2006-08-19 to 2006-09-12 |
N: 21.9783 S: 7.03833 E: -10.5583 W: -34.1533 |
TAR | |
| NAMMA DIODE LASER HYGROMETER (DLH) V1 | 1 | NASA DC-8 | DLH | 2006-08-19 to 2006-09-12 |
N: 21.9783 S: 7.03833 E: -10.5583 W: -34.1533 |
ASCII | |
| NAMMA LIDAR ATMOSPHERIC SENSING EXPERIMENT (LASE) V1 | 1 | NASA DC-8 | DIAL, LASE | 2006-08-15 to 2006-09-12 |
N: 47.8839 S: 7.0367 E: -10.5579 W: -96.5259 |
ASCII | |
| NAMMA PRAIA CAPE VERDE RADIOSONDE V1 | 1 | RADIOSONDES | GPS, HUMIDITY SENSORS, TELEMETER, THERMISTORS | 2006-08-18 to 2006-09-14 |
N: 15.2707 S: 14.6689 E: -23.4742 W: -24.5327 |
ASCII | |
| NAMMA Raw DC-8 Dropsonde V1 | 1 | NASA DC-8 | DROPSONDES | 2006-08-07 to 2006-09-12 |
N: 47.453 S: 7.485 E: -12.741 W: -93.799 |
ASCII |
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
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