ERBE Satellite Radiation Budget Averages on a 10-Degree Grid

ERBE_S4G_WFOV_SF_1 is a completed Earth Radiation Budget Experiment dataset providing regional averages of radiant flux and albedo. NASA and NOAA collected this non-scanner, wide field-of-view data from three satellites (ERBS, NOAA-9, NOAA-10) and processed it using the shape factor technique onto a 10.0-degree grid. The dataset includes monthly, daily, and hourly averages stored as integers in HDF format.

Use Cases

• Analyzing regional and global averages of radiant flux and albedo for climate modeling.
• Studying temporal variations in Earth's radiation budget using monthly, daily, and hourly averages.
• Comparing wide field-of-view (WFOV) non-scanner measurements from multiple satellite platforms.
• Investigating spectral radiation components, including total and shortwave (0.2 to 5 microns) channels.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete, providing a finalized record from the ERBE mission.
• Derived from a multi-satellite system (ERBS, NOAA-9, NOAA-10) offering complementary global and mid-latitude coverage.
• Processed using the shape factor data reduction technique for accuracy and averaged to a consistent 10.0-degree grid.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column names are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist: one source lists 2026-03-13 (likely a placeholder), while another lists 1990-02-28.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Collection Method

Satellite measurements from non-scanner active cavity radiometers on ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10, processed using the shape factor technique.

Time Range

Coverage spans the operational period of the ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10 satellites, concluding by 1990.

Freshness

1990-02-28 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Global coverage from NOAA-9 and NOAA-10, with ERBS providing coverage between 67.5 degrees north and south latitude.