ATOST: High-Resolution Airborne Spectral Imagery for Weather Forecasting

Atlantic-THORpex Observing System Test (ATOST) data is part of an international program to improve 1 to 14 day weather forecasts through adaptive observation. The dataset includes imagery from the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS), a NASA ER-2 aircraft spectrometer capturing 50 spectral bands between 0.55 and 14.3 microns. Data collection began pre-1995 with a 12-band configuration, transitioning to a full 50-channel, 12-bit resolution digitizer in January 1995.

Use Cases

• Develop and test algorithms for the MODIS satellite sensor based on high-resolution airborne spectral imagery.
• Study cloud and surface features for atmospheric research using 50 spectral bands.
• Improve numerical weather prediction models by incorporating data from adaptive observation campaigns.
• Calibrate remote sensing instruments using data from a known, high-altitude airborne platform.

Strengths

• Imagery has high spatial resolution, with a 50-meter ground resolution from 20,000 meters altitude.
• Spectral data covers a wide range from 0.55 to 14.3 microns across 50 available bands.
• Data collection was part of a pioneering real-time adaptive control campaign for weather observation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data formats include BIN and ISO, which may require specialized tools for access and processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data acquired by the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) spectrometer onboard a NASA ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft.

Time Range

Campaign includes data from pre-1995 onwards, with a major instrument upgrade in January 1995.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 14:19:27.113247; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Campaign focused on the Atlantic region, as part of the THORpex observing system test.