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SSMI(S) Hydrological Products

Published by DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2017-11-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
The Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager-Sounder (SSMIS) have been making measurements of earth-emitted microwave radiation for over two decades. Antenna temperature data from these sensors are used to derive both atmospheric and surface hydrological parameters and to generate these global monthly mean products. Specifically, this includes monthly or 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. The data collection consists of five different products: the Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Monthly 1.0 Degree Gridded Dataset, the Pentad 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset, Imagery, and specially formatted files used in the Global Precipitation Climatology Project Dataset (GPCP). All data in this collection (except the Pentad and Imagery datasets) extend from July 1987 until present. Monthly 2.5 Degree Gridded Dataset Products included in this domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 degree lat × 2.5 degree long grids. Imagery This dataset portrays monthly estimates of precipitable water (wvp), liquid water path (lwp), rainfall (pr1), and snow cover in both color and black and white. This domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive includes images of data from January 2006 to the present. GPCP Input files This time series domain of the SSM/I and SSMIS archive is formatted for the production of GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) datasets. The dataset is processed using early and late orbits plus a special "dual" orbit that combines the early and late satellite data. Products include rainfall (pr1 and pr2) and mean sampling fraction (ssa). The product is averaged to 2.5 degrees lat × 2.5 degrees long grids. Binary All data is also available in a legacy binary format, with the addition of a daily and pentad product. Products included in the daily domain are taken from early orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf2), rainfall (pr1), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 1 lat x 1 long grids. Products included in Pentad domain are taken from specific satellite orbits and include: mean cloud fraction (cfr), mean sea-ice cover (ice), liquid water path (lwp), mean rain fraction (pf1 and pf2), rainfall (pr1 and pr2), snow cover fraction (snw), mean sampling fraction (ssa), and mean total precipitable water (wvp). Products are averaged to 2.5 lat x 2.5 long grids using 5-day estimates of rainfall and its frequency, cloud liquid water and cloud frequency, water vapor, liquid water path, snow cover frequency, satellite sampling frequency and various imagery. Pentad data only includes data from March 2008 to present. For a complete description of these products, please refer to all associated documentation.

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Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Ice Extent Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation Geographic Region > Global Vertical Location > Land Surface Vertical Location > Troposphere SSMIS > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder SSMI > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager DMSP 5D-2/F8 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F8 DMSP 5D-2/F10 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F10 DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11 DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13 DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14 DMSP 5D-3/F15 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15 DMSP 5D-3/F16 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F16 DMSP 5D-3/F17 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F17 DMSP 5D-3/F18 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F18 Monthly Climatology 100 km - < 250 km or approximately 1 degree - < 2.5 degrees DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

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