2.2.3. Coarse (Global and Regional-Scale) Resolution Data Products
In response to a demand for large-scale land cover products to assess change,
several global datasets are now available. These include the AVHRR-derived global 1
km vegetation product; the 1 km, 8 km and 1 degree global land cover classified maps;
the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA); and NOAA’s
GOES archival data. With the exception GOES archival data, most of these data
products are only of peripheral interest to coastal and aquatic researchers. A much
larger collection (archived at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Physical Oceanography
DAAC) of regional and global resolution data is discussed in the following section.
NOAA GOES archival data. The GOES archival data are distributed through the
UMD’s department of meteorology in association with the GLCF. GOES data are
primarily used for basic weather monitoring, forecasting operations, sea surface
temperature, sea surface height, and climate modeling. Associated coastal land surface
conditions, winds, and cloud cover can also be derived from GOES data. GOES
derived products can be generated near real-time. Examples of these products include
atmospheric profiles (total precipitable water in cloud column), sea surface temperature,
fire detection, and biomass burning (SSEC, 2001).
2.2.4 Other Available Historical Image Datasets
There are several other noteworthy archives of satellite imagery. Two are briefly
discussed below.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC) The
PO.DAAC houses an extensive online collection of data and data products applicable to
research pertaining to the physical state of the ocean. Data regarding ocean surface
topography, ocean wind vectors, sea surface temperature, ocean currents, and wave
height are provided. With respect to sea surface temperature, there is also in situ data
available to validate remotely sensed measurements. There are 19 sensors that provide
data at varying regional to global spatial resolutions. The spectral resolution is also
quite broad, considering all 19 instruments. The data available on PO.DAAC include,
for example, data from TOPEX/POSEIDON, ATSR, AVHRR, CZCS, GOES-3,
GEOSAT, MODIS, and SEASAT. Most datasets have at least three years of temporal
coverage, making time-series analysis possible. The site also contains viewing and
download tools allowing users to access large datasets easily and efficiently. The web
address is http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html.
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) This center provides online
access to all available data in NASA’s Earth Observing System. The data vary in their
scale, size, temporal, and global coverage. There is a large variety of atmospheric,
land, and oceanic data acquired by EOS sensors such as the Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission (TRMM), MISR, Landsat ETM+, Terra ASTER, Terra MODIS,
Landsat Pathfinder, AVHRR, global elevation data, global land cover dataset, airborne
imagery, and SIR-C radar data. DACC is an institute that produces EOS data products
and carries out data archival, management, and distribution for NASA. Cost of data
products depends on the product and level of processing. These data are distributed by
the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC), located at the U.S.
Geological Survey’s EROS Data Center (http://LPDAAC.usgs.gov).
189
Integration of New Data Types
In response to a demand for large-scale land cover products to assess change,
several global datasets are now available. These include the AVHRR-derived global 1
km vegetation product; the 1 km, 8 km and 1 degree global land cover classified maps;
the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA); and NOAA’s
GOES archival data. With the exception GOES archival data, most of these data
products are only of peripheral interest to coastal and aquatic researchers. A much
larger collection (archived at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Physical Oceanography
DAAC) of regional and global resolution data is discussed in the following section.
NOAA GOES archival data. The GOES archival data are distributed through the
UMD’s department of meteorology in association with the GLCF. GOES data are
primarily used for basic weather monitoring, forecasting operations, sea surface
temperature, sea surface height, and climate modeling. Associated coastal land surface
conditions, winds, and cloud cover can also be derived from GOES data. GOES
derived products can be generated near real-time. Examples of these products include
atmospheric profiles (total precipitable water in cloud column), sea surface temperature,
fire detection, and biomass burning (SSEC, 2001).
2.2.4 Other Available Historical Image Datasets
There are several other noteworthy archives of satellite imagery. Two are briefly
discussed below.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC) The
PO.DAAC houses an extensive online collection of data and data products applicable to
research pertaining to the physical state of the ocean. Data regarding ocean surface
topography, ocean wind vectors, sea surface temperature, ocean currents, and wave
height are provided. With respect to sea surface temperature, there is also in situ data
available to validate remotely sensed measurements. There are 19 sensors that provide
data at varying regional to global spatial resolutions. The spectral resolution is also
quite broad, considering all 19 instruments. The data available on PO.DAAC include,
for example, data from TOPEX/POSEIDON, ATSR, AVHRR, CZCS, GOES-3,
GEOSAT, MODIS, and SEASAT. Most datasets have at least three years of temporal
coverage, making time-series analysis possible. The site also contains viewing and
download tools allowing users to access large datasets easily and efficiently. The web
address is http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html.
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) This center provides online
access to all available data in NASA’s Earth Observing System. The data vary in their
scale, size, temporal, and global coverage. There is a large variety of atmospheric,
land, and oceanic data acquired by EOS sensors such as the Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission (TRMM), MISR, Landsat ETM+, Terra ASTER, Terra MODIS,
Landsat Pathfinder, AVHRR, global elevation data, global land cover dataset, airborne
imagery, and SIR-C radar data. DACC is an institute that produces EOS data products
and carries out data archival, management, and distribution for NASA. Cost of data
products depends on the product and level of processing. These data are distributed by
the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC), located at the U.S.
Geological Survey’s EROS Data Center (http://LPDAAC.usgs.gov).
189
Integration of New Data Types