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    • CYGNSS Level 1 Science Data Record Version 3.2

    Metadata Updated: March 13, 2026

    This CYGNSS Level 1 (L1) science data record dataset contains the version 3.2 geo-located Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs) calibrated into Power Received (Watts) and Bistatic Radar Cross Section (BRCS) expressed in units of m2 from the Delay Doppler Mapping Instrument aboard the CYGNSS satellite constellation. This version supersedes Version 3.1: https://doi.org/10.5067/CYGNS-L1X31. Other useful scientific and engineering measurement parameters include the DDM of Normalized Bistatic Radar Cross Section (NBRCS), the Delay Doppler Map Average (DDMA) of the NBRCS near the specular reflection point, and the Leading Edge Slope (LES) of the integrated delay waveform. The L1 dataset contains a number of other engineering and science measurement parameters, including sets of quality flags/indicators, error estimates, and bias estimates as well as a variety of orbital, spacecraft/sensor health, timekeeping, and geolocation parameters. At most, 8 netCDF data files (each file corresponding to a unique spacecraft in the CYGNSS constellation) are provided each day; under nominal conditions, there are typically 6-8 spacecraft retrieving data each day, but this can be maximized to 8 spacecraft under special circumstances in which higher than normal retrieval frequency is needed (i.e., during tropical storms and or hurricanes). Latency is approximately 6 days (or better) from the last recorded measurement time.

    The correction for coarse quantization effects that was implemented in v3.1 for the signal portion of the DDM has been updated to include a correction to the noise floor portion of the DDM. This update is found to improve the sensitivity to soil moisture over land and to have a minimal effect on the sensitivity to wind speed over ocean. An update is made to the correction for the temperature dependence of the receiver electronics. This update reduces slow variations in calibration bias associated with a ~60 day oscillation in the mean temperature of the satellites. L1 variables over land and ocean are now combined in common netcdf data files, with additional details added regarding the specular point calculation over land. Nadir (science) antenna pattern and NBRCS rescaling has been updated to improve the inter-satellite consistency of the L1 calibration.

    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.

    Access & Use Information

    Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: See this page for license information.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Created Date April 9, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date March 13, 2026

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NASA Data.json

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Created Date April 9, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date March 13, 2026
    Publisher NASA/JPL/PODAAC;NASA/ESSP/UMICH/CYGNSS
    Maintainer
    Identifier 10.5067/CYGNS-L1X32
    Data Last Modified 2026-03-10
    Category Earth Science
    Public Access Level public
    Bureau Code 026:00
    Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
    Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
    Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
    Harvest Object Id 153ae523-c3e8-4ef8-a039-a5fb67e0e629
    Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
    Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
    License https://www.usa.gov/government-works
    Old Spatial "CARTESIAN",{"NorthBoundingCoordinate":40,"WestBoundingCoordinate":-180,"EastBoundingCoordinate":180,"SouthBoundingCoordinate":-40}
    Program Code 026:000
    Source Datajson Identifier True
    Source Hash 67bba735a66d829a2a435a765c1d27c559399aabd0b7dbbadd14aed09989ca9f
    Source Schema Version 1.1
    Spatial

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