VISSRSMS1IMVIS: SMS-1 Satellite Visible Imagery Scans from 1974

4000 by 3904 pixel TIFF scans contain visible imagery (0.55 to 0.70 micrometer) from the first Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-1), originally recorded on 70mm film. Each picture includes a title with satellite identification and start time, and a 33-level gray scale for brightness temperatures. The dataset was created to support the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) and documents the satellite's operational positions from 45W in June 1974 to 105W in standby mode.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical cloud cover and storm systems based on visible wavelength imagery.
• Calibrating image processing algorithms using the embedded 33-level brightness temperature gray scale.
• Tracking the SMS-1 satellite's field of view over time using coordinate numbers in the image titles.
• Studying the evolution of early geostationary satellite technology and data preservation methods.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution historical imagery with a maximum effective size of 500 sq km represented by 4000x3904 pixels.
• Images contain rich metadata annotations, including satellite ID, picture type, start time, and sensor coordinates.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA EarthData and Data.gov signals its importance as a preserved scientific record.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts: last_updated dates are 2026-04 09 (future) and 1979-04-19, creating uncertainty about provenance.
• Sparse column information; the specific data structure within the TIFF/ZIP files is not described.
• The dataset's size, row count, and exact number of scans are unknown, hindering assessment of its complete scope.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Covers the SMS-1 operational period from its launch on June 7, 1974.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:10:43.382305 (This date is in the future and conflicts with another source date of 1979-04-19.)

Geography

Hemispheric views from geostationary orbit at longitudes 45W, 75W, and 105W over the Atlantic and Americas.