SNDRSNML2RMSSUP: Global Atmospheric Profiles from Suomi NPP ATMS

Suomi NPP satellite observations from the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) are processed by the RAMSES II algorithm to generate all-weather atmospheric retrievals. The dataset provides global profiles of temperature, water vapor, precipitation, and surface properties, with data organized into 6-minute granules. It is designed for continuous monitoring, with 240 granules produced daily and a 16-day orbit repeat cycle.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical temperature profiles based on microwave-only retrievals from 22 ATMS channels.
• Monitoring total precipitable water and layered humidity indicators for weather forecasting models.
• Studying sea surface and land surface skin temperature under all-weather conditions, as the algorithm lacks cloud clearing.
• Investigating atmospheric water phases, including liquid water equivalent for precipitation studies.

Strengths

• Provides all-weather retrievals, as the RAMSES II algorithm does not require cloud clearing.
• Offers high temporal resolution with 240 data granules generated per day.
• Based on a specific, well-defined instrument: the Suomi NPP ATMS cross-track scanner with 22 channels (23-183 GHz).

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing or unknown across sources, including specific column names, row counts, and dataset size.
• The exact data format and structure are unclear, with only high-level output formats (PNG, HTML, PDF, BIN, ISO) listed.
• Author and detailed organizational provenance beyond 'GES_DISC' are not provided.

Provenance

Source

GES_DISC (NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center)

Collection Method

Retrievals generated by the RAMSES II algorithm from Suomi NPP ATMS instrument observations.

Time Range

Temporal coverage is not explicitly stated, but the data generation cycle is continuous with a 16-day orbit repeat.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:30:40.427479

Geography

Global, inferred from satellite cross-track scanning observations.