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    • International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Climate Data Record, H-Series

    Metadata Updated: September 19, 2023

    The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) focuses on the distribution and variation of cloud radiative properties to improve the understanding of the effects of clouds on climate, the radiation budget, and the long-term global hydrologic cycle.

    The ISCCP H-Series Climate Data Record consists of several parts: (1) ISCCP H-Series dataset, (2) ISCCP-Basic H-Series, and (3) Ancillary and input datasets.

    ISCCP H Series data The full ISCCP dataset consists of netCDF files containing various derived cloud parameters. The H-Series data includes several products. These include: * HXS (H-series pixel level single satellite - not in netcdf), * HXG (H-series pixel level gridded), * HGG (H-series Gridded Global), * HGH (H-series gridded monthly by hour), and * HGM ( H-series Gridded Monthly). The netCDF files are not structured with CF-standard names. Data variables are unitless and rely on data tables that are needed to represent each geophysical variable. Keeping ISCCP H-Series in this native format ensures that existing "power users" will be able to continue using the data.

    ISCCP Basic H Series ISCCP Basic files contains a subset of the cloud variables and products available in the full ISCCP dataset. It consists of remapped, calibrated, and subsetted variables following CF-conventions. In addition, the netCDF files follow full netCDF CF and ACDD Conventions. These files are intended to be use by new and/or less advanced users that may want to use cloud data, but do not need the full ISCCP dataset.

    Ancillary and Input data Ancillary and Input data used in the production of ISCCP are also archived. These consist of B1U geostationary satellite data, B1U and GAC calibration/HBT tables, and ancillary files for nnHIRS, AEROSOL, SNOWICE, and OZONE datasets.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date August 10, 2023
    Metadata Created Date October 28, 2022
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) June 15, 2017 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update quarterly

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    2009 - January Mean Cloud Amount (Sample)

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date August 10, 2023
    Metadata Created Date October 28, 2022
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) June 15, 2017 (publication)
    Responsible Party NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact); DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C00956
    Access Constraints Cite as: Rossow, W.B.; Walker, A.; Golea, V.; Knapp, K. R.; Young, A.; Inamdar A.; Hankins, B.; and NOAA's Climate Data Record Program (2016): International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Climate Data Record, H-Series [indicate subset used] NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date]. doi:10.7289/V5QZ281S, See the Use Agreement for this CDR available on the CDR dataset page., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update quarterly
    Graphic Preview Description 2009 - January Mean Cloud Amount (Sample)
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C00956_ISCCP.png
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 65310a50-236d-4824-9d80-d3b61f7219b4
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence Even long-term averages show systematic spatial patterns in cloud amount and cloud properties caused by relying on geostationary satellites. Internally-inconsistent retrievals are included in averages, so that total cloudiness and the amount of very high, optically thin clouds is overstated to an unknown degree. Approximately 10% of the planet is covered with partly cloudy pixels and many of these are treated as fully cloudy in ISCCP data, complicating comparisons with models., See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of the use limitations for this dataset.
    Lineage The data were produced as a joint effort between NASA Goddard and the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and are archived at NCEI. ISCCP was established in 1982 as part of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) to collect and analyze satellite radiance measurements to infer the global distribution of clouds, their properties, and their diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations. Data are collected from an international suite of weather satellites and merged into the ISCCP Climate Data Record Product.
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress planned
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1982-01-01

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