Global Satellite Precipitation and Ocean Data from GCOM-W AMSR2

NOAA_NCEI provides Level 2 satellite data products from the GCOM-W1 AMSR2 instrument. The archive contains seven distinct data types, including precipitation rate, soil moisture, sea ice concentration, and ocean parameters. Data is collected from orbital files, with approximately 14 to 15 files generated per day for each product type.

Use Cases

• Predict regional precipitation patterns using the Rain Rate feature from PRECIP files.
• Model sea ice dynamics by analyzing Sea Ice Concentration data from SEAICE-NH and SEAICE-SH files.
• Estimate ocean-atmosphere heat exchange using Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Sea Surface Wind Speed (SSW) from OCEAN files.
• Assess land surface conditions by analyzing Soil Moisture (SM/T) from SOIL files and Snow Depth (SC/D) from SNOW files.
• Calibrate other satellite sensors using the Microwave Brightness Temperatures for 7 AMSR2 channels from MBT files.

Strengths

• Data continuity from the Aqua/AMSR-E mission, providing a long-term observational record.
• Seven distinct geophysical data products generated from a single instrument source.
• Approximately 14 to 15 orbital files produced per day per product, enabling frequent global coverage.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and temporal coverage for the archive are not provided.
• Data is provided as orbital swaths, which may require specialized processing for gridded analysis.
• The description does not specify the spatial resolution of the Level 2 products.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) GCOM-W1 satellite with data processed by NOAA NESDIS.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) instrument, with Level 2 processing using the GCOM-W1 AMSR2 Algorithm Software Package (GAASP).

Time Range

Mission started with the GCOM-W1 launch in May 2012, as part of a planned 13-year project.

Freshness

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Geography

Global coverage from satellite orbits.