VJ202GDC_NRT: VIIRS/JPSS2 Dual Gain Calibrated Radiance Swath

VJ202GDC_NRT is a Level-1B satellite product containing unaggregated, calibrated top-of-atmosphere radiances from the VIIRS sensor aboard the JPSS-2/NOAA-21 satellite. It specifically preserves the M1–M5, M7, and M13 dual-gain band sub-pixel samples from nadir and near-nadir zones that are typically discarded during standard ground processing. The data is processed in near real-time from 6-minute observation swaths at a 750-meter spatial resolution.

Use Cases

• Sensor calibration validation by analyzing the raw, unaggregated dual-gain band samples.
• Developing or testing atmospheric correction algorithms using high-resolution calibrated top-of-atmosphere radiance.
• Conducting detailed radiometric studies on specific VIIRS bands (M1-M5, M7, M13) that have 6304 samples per scan.
• Comparing aggregated vs. unaggregated radiance data to understand ground processing impacts on data quality.

Strengths

• Provides unique, high-fidelity data by preserving sub-pixel samples typically discarded, offering a more granular view for seven specific dual-gain bands.
• Processed in near real-time (NRT), enabling timely analysis of satellite observations.
• Data is directly calibrated to top-of-atmosphere radiance, providing a standardized physical measurement.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, file size, and row counts are not provided on any platform.
• Spatial coverage is limited to 6-minute swaths from the JPSS-2/NOAA-21 satellite overpass, not a continuous global product.
• Documentation requires external reference to a technical OAD document for full algorithm details.

Provenance

Source

VIIRS sensor on the JPSS-2/NOAA-21 satellite, processed by the LANCEMODIS organization.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing, with data processed through the Level-1B ground system as described in the Operational Algorithm Description (OAD) document.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-09 according to nasa_earthdata and datagov.

Geography

Global coverage along the satellite's swath path, with data from nadir and near-nadir zones.