Description

In DSCOVR_EPIC_L2_composite_01, cloud property retrievals from multiple imagers on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites (including MODIS, VIIRS, and AVHRR) and geostationary (GEO) satellites (including GOES-13 and -15, METEOSAT-7 and -10, MTSAT-2, and Himawari-8) are used to generate the composite. All cloud properties were determined using a common set of algorithms, the Satellite ClOud and Radiation Property retrieval System (SatCORPS), based on the CERES cloud detection and retrieval system. Cloud properties from these LEO/GEO imagers are optimally merged together to provide a seamless global composite product at 5-km resolution by using an aggregated rating that considers five parameters (nominal satellite resolution, pixel time relative to the EPIC observation time, viewing zenith angle, distance from day/night terminator, and sun glint factor) and selects the best observation at the time nearest to the EPIC measurements. About 72% of the LEO/GEO satellite overpass times are within one hour of the EPIC measurements, while 92% are within two hours of the EPIC measurements. The global composite data are then remapped into the EPIC FOV by convolving the high-resolution cloud properties with the EPIC point spread function (PSF) defined with a half-pixel accuracy to produce the EPIC composite. PSF-weighted averages of radiances and cloud properties are computed separately for each cloud phase. Ancillary data (i.e. surface type, snow and ice map, skin temperature, precipitable water, etc.) needed for anisotropic factor selections are also included in the composite. These composite images are produced for each observation time of the EPIC instrument (typically 300 to 600 composites per month).

DOI

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View Citations

Resources and Documentation

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Earthdata Forum

DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

NOAA's Weather and Climate Toolkit

GOTO WEB TOOL

DSCOVR EPIC Visualization Tool

PROFESSIONAL HOME PAGE

NOAA - National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

ALGORITHM DOCUMENTATION

• Description of the DSCOVR/EPIC volcanic SO2 Level 2 Algorithm

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

• ASDC Data and Information for DSCOVR
• Earth Observation Portal Page for DSCOVR Mission Information

INSTRUMENT/SENSOR CALIBRATION DOCUMENTATION

• EPIC level 1 A & B Calibration factors table

MICRO ARTICLE

• NASA Captures "EPIC" Earth Image Article from July 20, 2015
• NASA Studies High Clouds, Saharan Dust from EPIC View
• New York Times Blog "From a Million Miles Away, a New NASA ‘Blue Marble’ View of Earth" By Andrew C. Revkin

PROCESSING HISTORY

• EPIC Data Format Control Book Specification July 1, 2016

PUBLICATIONS

• A New Blue Marble By Scott Kelly, NASA Astronaut
• Discover Article "The U.S. Deep Space Climate Observatory just sent back its first view of our home world, and it’s a beauty." By Robinson Meyer, July 20, 2015
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: 2016 Tournament Earth Champion: The Dark Side of the Moon - The images were acquired by the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) on the DSCOVR satellite
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: An EPIC Eclipse: Natural Hazards - The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) was built to provide a distinct perspective on our planet.
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: An EPIC New View of Earth: Image of the Day - From one million miles away, the DSCOVR satellite returned its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: April : 2016 : Earth Matters : Blog - The images were acquired by the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) on the DSCOVR satellite
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Keeping on the Sunny Side of Earth
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Plumes From Africa's Volcanic Duo: Image of the Day - Located near the equator in central Africa, the Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo volcanoes are often obscured from satellite view by clouds
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Seeing Through the Smoky Pall: Observations from a Grim Indonesian Fire Season - The Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite acquired this view of smoke drifting over the region.
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Space Debris: Image of the Day - Low and High Earth Orbital Debris Images
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: The Dark Side and the Bright Side: Image of the Day - A NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) has captured a unique view of the Moon as it passed between the spacecraft and Earth
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: The Legacy of Nimbus: Image of the Day - No Longer Just for Astronauts
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Up, Up, and Away for DSCOVR - The journey has been a long one for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR)
• NASA Earth Observatory Article: Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan: Image of the Day
• NASA Leadership Blog, DSCOVR’s First Light on the Future by Buzz Aldrin
• The Atlantic Article "Al Gore Dreamed Up a Satellite—and It Just Took Its First Picture of Earth: The U.S. Deep Space Climate Observatory just sent back its first view of our home world, and it’s a beauty." By Robinson Meyer, July 20, 2015

REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN

• DSCOVR Earth Science Instrument Overview

USER FEEDBACK PAGE

• NASA Goddard Twitter Page

Keywords

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