Source/sensor: NOAA Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

Coverage: 11 November 1981 - 7 February 2001, global

Abstract: The AVHRR MCSST data set contains weekly averaged Multi-Channel Sea Surface Temperature (MCSST) data derived from the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Data for both the ascending pass (daytime) and descending pass (nighttime) are available globally in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) or in Raw Binary Format. Data are given on an equal-angle grid of 2048 pixels longitude by 1024 pixels latitude; therefore, the spatial resolution in pixels per degree of longitude and latitude is 2048/360 or approximately 5.689.

The global data are available via anonymous FTP to podaac.jpl.nasa.gov in the pub/sea_surface_temperature/avhrr/mcsst directory. Data may also be ordered on 8mm exabyte tape in LINUX TAR format using the on-line order form or by contacting the PO.DAAC User Services Office.

Documentation for these data are available on-line or on the PO.DAAC FTP site. Read software for the the global Raw Binary data (Fortran and IDL) and the global HDF data (C, Fortran and IDL) are also available on the PO.DAAC FTP site. Fortran read software for the Raw Binary subset data can be found on the FTP site as well.

Data Set Volume: Each file is approximately 1MB compressed.

Smallest order: One file via FTP.

Standard Product : FTP

Data Format: Global data are available in HDF and Raw Binary. Spatial subsets from the on-line subsetting routines are available in HDF, Raw Binary or GIF.

Media Format: Global data are available via FTP to podaac.jpl.nasa.gov, and on 8mm EXABYTE tape in LINUX TAR. Subset data are available via FTP.

Comments: Daily data at higher spatial resolutions are available with the AVHRR Pathfinder data sets. Please refer to the AVHRR Pathfinder Homepage for more information.