VISSRGOES2IMVIS: GOES-2 Satellite Visible Imagery from 70mm Film

VISSRGOES2IMVIS contains visible imagery (0.55 to 0.70 micrometer) from the GOES-2 satellite, with a maximum effective image size of 500 sq km represented by 4000 by 3904 pixels. Each digital TIFF file, scanned from original 70mm film, contains 2 or 3 pictures annotated with a title and a 33-level gray scale for brightness temperatures. The data was collected from 1977 through 1978 while the satellite was positioned at 75W longitude over the equator.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical cloud cover and storm systems based on visible wavelength imagery.
• Calibrating modern satellite data by comparing it with early geostationary sensor outputs.
• Studying the technical evolution of image processing from film to digital formats, given the contrast enhancement and sectorization options described.
• Training computer vision models for feature detection in historical, annotated satellite imagery with embedded title metadata.

Strengths

• Provides a specific historical time range (1977-1978) from a well-documented satellite mission.
• Images contain embedded metadata titles detailing satellite ID, picture type, coordinates, and start time.
• Includes calibration information via a 33-level gray scale representing brightness temperatures.

Limitations

• Key metadata conflicts: 'last updated' dates are inconsistent (1979 vs. 2026), creating provenance uncertainty.
• Sparse column information; the specific structure of ancillary data is unknown.
• Data is a digitized derivative of analog film, which may introduce artifacts from the scanning process.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Collection Method

Originally produced on commercial equipment from digital tapes to 70mm film, later scanned to digital TIFF files.

Time Range

1977 through 1978

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:53:30.107733

Geography

Hemisphere view from geostationary orbit at 75W longitude over the equator.