General Information:

Through the Shared Processing Program civilians may obtain (among other datasets) Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sounder (SSMIS) channel ("Temperature Data Record" and "Sensor Data Record") data as well as imager products ("Environmental Data Record") from US Department of Commerce (DOC) NOAA/NESDIS.   However, SSMIS data will only be available after the DOD's SSMIS Cal/Val period, which could last as long as 1 year after launch of F16 (launch scheduled for October 2002).

Specific Information:

1)  To express interest and to obtain sample data please contact NESDIS via Ingrid.Guch@noaa.gov.   NESDIS will ask you to fill out a short 1 page request form prior to providing sample or real-time data.  Some requests may be denied.  Be sure to specify the benefits expected from obtaining the data.  Only datasets and documentation cleared through DOD channels will be made available.  Comments about difficulties will be passed on to DOD channels if the concerns cannot be addressed by NESDIS. 

2)  Data will be in BUFR format and available to the public through the Satellite Active Archive (SAA) at http://www.saa.noaa.gov/ .  Subscription services will be available.  HDF-EOS format is a possibility as well, but NESDIS is still assessing demand.  Please indicate your preference in the 1 page request form mentioned in item 1.  The native format that the SSMI data is currently in is not an option, as the SSMIS and SSMI instruments are too different.

3)  Click here for more information on SSMIS data attributes.

    The following items may be helpful after obtaining sample datasets

1)  A UKMO guide to BUFR format (used to generate the TDR data)
2) Tables used for decoding sample data
3) Current issues being worked
4) BUFR decoding software and users guide from NOAA/NWS/NCEP
 

Click HERE to return to the Shared Processing Home Page.