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SSMI(S) Hydrological Products

Published by DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: April 12, 2026 at 09:15 PM | Dataset Last Updated: November 01, 2017 at 12:00 AM
The Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager-Sounder (SSMIS) have been making measurements of earth-emitted microwave radiation for over two decades. Antenna temperature data from these sensors are used to derive both atmospheric and surface hydrological parameters and to generate these global monthly mean products. Specifically, this includes monthly or 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. The data collection consists of five different products: the Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Monthly 1.0 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Pentad 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, Imagery, and specially formatted files used in the Global Precipitation Climatology Project Dataset (GPCP). All data in this collection (except the Pentad and Imagery datasets) extend from July 1987 until present. Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset Products included in this domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 degree lat × 2.5 degree long grids. Imagery This dataset portrays monthly estimates of precipitable water (wvp), liquid water path (lwp), rainfall (pr1), and snow cover in both color and black and white. This domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive includes images of data from January 2006 to the present. GPCP Input files This time series domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive is formatted for the production of GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) datasets. The dataset is processed using early and late orbits plus a special "dual" orbit that combines the early and late satellite data. Products include rainfall (pr1 and pr2) and mean sampling fraction (ssa). The product is averaged to 2.5 degrees lat × 2.5 degrees long grids. Binary All data is also available in a legacy binary format, with the addition of a daily and pentad product. Products included in the daily domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 1 lat x 1 long grids. Products included in Pentad domain are taken from specific satellite orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf1 and pf2), rainfall (pr1 and pr2), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 lat x 2.5 long grids using 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. Pentad data only includes data from March 2008 to present. For a complete description of these products, please refer to all associated documentation.

Resources

10 resources available

  • NCEI Dataset Landing Page

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • NCEI Product Information Page

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • NCEI Direct Download

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • An Eight-Year (1987-1994) Time Series of Rainfall, Clouds, Water Vapor, Snow Cover, and Sea Ice Derived from SSM/I Measurements.

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
    Download

  • Improved Global Rainfall Retrieval Using the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I).

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
    Download

  • The Performance of Hydrological Monthly Products Using SSM/I - SSMI/S Sensors

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
    Download

  • GPCP Monthly V2.3

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords

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    Visit Page

  • GCOS Essential Climate Variables

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

    TEXT/HTML
    Visit Page

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Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Ice Extent Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation Geographic Region > Global

Complete Metadata
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accessLevel non-public
accrualPeriodicity R/P1M
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describedByType application/octet-steam
description The Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager-Sounder (SSMIS) have been making measurements of earth-emitted microwave radiation for over two decades. Antenna temperature data from these sensors are used to derive both atmospheric and surface hydrological parameters and to generate these global monthly mean products. Specifically, this includes monthly or 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. The data collection consists of five different products: the Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Monthly 1.0 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Pentad 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, Imagery, and specially formatted files used in the Global Precipitation Climatology Project Dataset (GPCP). All data in this collection (except the Pentad and Imagery datasets) extend from July 1987 until present. Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset Products included in this domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 degree lat × 2.5 degree long grids. Imagery This dataset portrays monthly estimates of precipitable water (wvp), liquid water path (lwp), rainfall (pr1), and snow cover in both color and black and white. This domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive includes images of data from January 2006 to the present. GPCP Input files This time series domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive is formatted for the production of GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) datasets. The dataset is processed using early and late orbits plus a special "dual" orbit that combines the early and late satellite data. Products include rainfall (pr1 and pr2) and mean sampling fraction (ssa). The product is averaged to 2.5 degrees lat × 2.5 degrees long grids. Binary All data is also available in a legacy binary format, with the addition of a daily and pentad product. Products included in the daily domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 1 lat x 1 long grids. Products included in Pentad domain are taken from specific satellite orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf1 and pf2), rainfall (pr1 and pr2), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 lat x 2.5 long grids using 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. Pentad data only includes data from March 2008 to present. For a complete description of these products, please refer to all associated documentation.
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    "title": "An Eight-Year (1987-1994) Time Series of Rainfall, Clouds, Water Vapor, Snow Cover, and Sea Ice Derived from SSM/I Measurements.",
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    "description": "Published paper associated with dataset. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)077<0891:AEYTSO>>2.0.CO;2",
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    "title": "GPCP Monthly V2.3",
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    "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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  {
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    "title": "GCOS Essential Climate Variables",
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    "description": "Overview of the GCOS Essential Climate Variables.",
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/aim/iso/xml/C00789.xml
isPartOf An Eight-Year (1987-1994) Time Series of Rainfall, Clouds, Water Vapor, Snow Cover, and Sea Ice Derived from SSM/I Measurements.
issued 2012-09-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
                                            [
  "Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover",
  "Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Ice Extent",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water",
  "Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation",
  "Geographic Region > Global",
  "Vertical Location > Land Surface",
  "Vertical Location > Troposphere",
  "SSMIS > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder",
  "SSMI > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager",
  "DMSP 5D-2/F8 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F8",
  "DMSP 5D-2/F10 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F10",
  "DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11",
  "DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13",
  "DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14",
  "DMSP 5D-3/F15 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15",
  "DMSP 5D-3/F16 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F16",
  "DMSP 5D-3/F17 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F17",
  "DMSP 5D-3/F18 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F18",
  "Monthly Climatology",
  "100 km - < 250 km or approximately 1 degree - < 2.5 degrees",
  "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"
]
language 
                                            []
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2017-11-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
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references 
                                            [
  "https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)077%3C0891:AEYTSO%3E2.0.CO;2",
  "https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JAMC2294.1",
  "https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-12-056.1",
  "https://doi.org/10.7289/V56971M6"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial 180.0,-90.0,-180.0,90.0
temporal 1987-07-01T00:00:00+00:00/1987-07-01T00:00:00+00:00
title SSMI(S) Hydrological Products

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