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Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) and VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) Data from GOES 1-7 and SMS 1-2, Version 2006 (Version Superseded)

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 03, 2026 at 06:54 AM | Dataset Last Updated: May 01, 1974 at 12:00 AM
*This version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended for users to access the current version. Users should only access this superseded version for special cases, such as reproducing studies. If necessary, this version can be accessed by contacting NCEI.* GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier) - The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series of satellites goal is to monitor the atmosphere for severe weather development such as tornadoes, flash floods, hail storms and hurricanes. The positioning of the GOES satellites at around 36,000 km (22,000 statute miles) above the equator at a fixed position above the earth allowed them to scan large geographic regions of the Western Hemisphere and as frequently as once every half hour. Coverage is typically provided by two GOES spacecraft, one at -75.0 Longitude (GOES East) and the other at -135.0 Longitude (GOES West). The Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) was flown aboard NOAA Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-1 and SMS-2) and GOES-1 through GOES-3 and modified to become the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) flown aboard GOES-4 through GOES-7.

Resources

12 resources available

  • NCEI Dataset Landing Page

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    Visit Page

  • GOES Mode A Documentation

    PDF
    Download

  • GOES Mode AAA Documentation

    PDF
    Download

  • CLASS GOES Data Help Page

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • History of GOES Archive at SSEC

    PDF
    Download

  • McIDAS Users' Group (MUG)

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • Contact NCEI

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • VAS Demonstration: (VISSR Atmospheric Sounder) Description and Final Report

    PDF
    Download

  • NCEI Dataset Landing Page for the Current Version

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • GCOS Essential Climate Variables

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) Web Page

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

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Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Imagery Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Radiance Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Thermal Infrared Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Imagery Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Radiance Earth Science > Climate Indicators Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
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describedByType application/octet-steam
description *This version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended for users to access the current version. Users should only access this superseded version for special cases, such as reproducing studies. If necessary, this version can be accessed by contacting NCEI.* GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier) - The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series of satellites goal is to monitor the atmosphere for severe weather development such as tornadoes, flash floods, hail storms and hurricanes. The positioning of the GOES satellites at around 36,000 km (22,000 statute miles) above the equator at a fixed position above the earth allowed them to scan large geographic regions of the Western Hemisphere and as frequently as once every half hour. Coverage is typically provided by two GOES spacecraft, one at -75.0 Longitude (GOES East) and the other at -135.0 Longitude (GOES West). The Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) was flown aboard NOAA Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-1 and SMS-2) and GOES-1 through GOES-3 and modified to become the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) flown aboard GOES-4 through GOES-7.
distribution 
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    "title": "Contact NCEI",
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  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "VAS Demonstration: (VISSR Atmospheric Sounder) Description and Final Report",
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    "description": "Montgomery, H.E. and L.W. Uccellini, 1985: VAS Demonstration: (VISSR Atmospheric Sounder) Description and Final Report. NASA-RP-1151, 200 pp, https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/1986",
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    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "NCEI Dataset Landing Page for the Current Version",
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    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Landing page for the Current Version.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords",
    "accessURL": "https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords.",
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    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "GCOS Essential Climate Variables",
    "accessURL": "https://public.wmo.int/en/programmes/global-climate-observing-system/essential-climate-variables",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Overview of the GCOS Essential Climate Variables.",
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    "title": "NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) Web Page",
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/aim/iso/xml/C01584.xml
issued 1974-05-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Imagery",
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Radiance",
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Thermal Infrared",
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Imagery",
  "Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Radiance",
  "Earth Science > Climate Indicators",
  "Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties",
  "Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Water Vapour",
  "Geographic Region > Equatorial",
  "Geographic Region > Mid-Latitude",
  "Geographic Region > Northern Hemisphere",
  "Geographic Region > Southern Hemisphere",
  "Geographic Region > Western Hemisphere",
  "Geographic Region > Tropics",
  "Continent > North America > United States Of America",
  "Continent > North America > Central America",
  "Continent > South America",
  "Ocean > Atlantic Ocean",
  "Ocean > Pacific Ocean",
  "Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Gulf Of Mexico",
  "Vertical Location > Troposphere",
  "GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites",
  "VISSR > Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer",
  "VAS > VISSR Atmospheric Sounder",
  "SMS-1 > Synchronous Meteorological Satellite 1",
  "SMS-2 > Synchronous Meteorological Satellite 2",
  "GOES-1 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 1",
  "GOES-2 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 2",
  "GOES-3 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 3",
  "GOES-4 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 4",
  "GOES-5 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 5",
  "GOES-6 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 6",
  "GOES-7 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 7",
  "1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree",
  "500 meters - < 1 km",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "gov.noaa.class:PRE_GVAR",
  "PRE_GVAR",
  "GOES_A",
  "GOES_AA",
  "GOES_AAA"
]
landingPage https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/GOES/index.html
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 1974-05-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
references 
[
  "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19860004398.pdf",
  "https://doi.org/10.25921/TBD"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial 6.2995,-81.3282,141.7005,81.3282
temporal 1974-05-01T00:00:00+00:00/1996-01-11T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) and VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) Data from GOES 1-7 and SMS 1-2, Version 2006 (Version Superseded)

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