DMSP F14 Satellite Ocean Wind, Vapor, Cloud, and Rain Grids

Ocean wind speed, water vapor, cloud water, and rain rate data retrieved from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) on the DMSP F14 satellite. Remote Sensing Systems produced this dataset using a unified, physically based algorithm refined over 20 years, with SSMIS data intercalibrated to extend the time series. The Global Hydrology Resource Center reformatted the original binary data into daily netCDF products for distribution.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global ocean surface wind speed patterns using the retrieved wind speed variable.
• Studying atmospheric water vapor distribution and transport over the oceans.
• Investigating cloud liquid water content and its relation to weather systems.
• Calculating precipitation rates and rain patterns over marine regions.
• Validating and calibrating climate models with a long-term, intercalibrated satellite time series of multiple ocean-atmosphere variables.

Strengths

• Data is produced using a unified algorithm refined and verified over a 20-year development period.
• SSMIS data has been intercalibrated with previous SSM/I brightness temperatures to ensure a consistent long-term time series.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete list of data columns are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one listing 2008-08-08 and others listing 2026-03-12, creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), generated for NASA's MEaSUREs Program.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the DMSP F14 SSM/I sensor, processed with a unified retrieval algorithm.

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:54:11.393416

Geography

Global ocean coverage.