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CLPX-Airborne: Multiband Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) Imagery

Summary

This data set provides multiband polarimetric brightness temperature images over three 25 x 25 km mesoscale study areas (MSAs) in Northern Colorado. The purpose of collecting these data within the overall aims of the NASA Cold Land Processes Field Experiment (CLPX) is to 1) provide multiband polarimetric dry snow microwave images using AMSR-E bands at a spatial resolution representative of the topography and vegetation cover, and 2) provide a simulated AMSR-E microwave data set coincident with the CLPX AIRSAR imagery for joint snow algorithm retrieval studies. Data were collected using the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR), an airborne multiband, conical-scanning, imaging radiometer system. PSR/A data were collected from a series of flight lines flown over the MSAs in February and March 2002 and 2003. PSR/A data are available via FTP as binary files (*.bin) and MATLAB files (*.mat).

The NASA CLPX is a multi-sensor, multi-scale experiment that focuses on extending a local-scale understanding of water fluxes, storage, and transformations to regional and global scales. Within a framework of nested study areas in the central Rocky Mountains of the western United States, ranging from 1-ha to 160,000 km2, intensive ground, airborne, and spaceborne observations were collected. Data collection focused on two seasons: mid-winter, when conditions are generally frozen and dry, and early spring, a transitional period when both frozen and thawed, dry and wet conditions are widespread.

Citing These Data

Stankov, B. and A. Gasiewski. 2004. CLPX-Airborne: Multiband Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) Imagery. Boulder, CO : National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital Media.

Overview Table

Category Description
Data format Binary, ASCII, and MATLAB files
Spatial coverage 25 km x 25 km study areas over the Fraser, North Park, and Rabbit Ears MSAs of the Small Regional Study Area (SRSA) within the CLPX in Northern Colorado, USA.
Temporal coverage and resolution 19, 21, and 23 February 2002
22, 23, 24, and 25 February 2003
25, 30, and 31 March 2003
File size Individual flight line files range from 1.9 to 8.7 MB. Header files are 1 KB.
Parameter(s) multi-band microwave imagery over dry-snow (brightness temperature)
Procedures for obtaining data Data are available via FTP

Table of Contents

1. Contacts
2. Detailed Data Description
3. Data Access
4. Data Acquisition
5. References and Related Publications
6. Document Information

1. Contacts and Acknowledgements

Investigator(s) Name and Title

Boba Stankov
NOAA/Environmental Technology Laboratory
Microwave Systems Development Division
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305-3328

Technical Contact

NSIDC User Services
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0449  USA
phone: +1 303.492.6199
fax: +1 303.492.2468
form: Contact NSIDC User Services
e-mail: nsidc@nsidc.org

2. Detailed Data Description

Data were collected using the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) during a series of flights flown over the three CLPX mesoscale study areas (MSAs) in February 2002 (onboard a NASA DC-8 aircraft) and in February and March 2003 (onboard a NASA/WFF P-3B aircraft). This airborne multiband conical-scanning imaging radiometer system provides multiband polarimetric brightness temperature images using AMSR-E bands, at a spatial resolution representative of the topography and vegetation cover. The PSR/A system operated in conical scanning mode at an incidence angle of 55 degrees from nadir, the same as that of the AMSR-E instrument. Table 1 provides a summary of PSR/A scanhead channels.

Table 1. PSR/A scanhead imaging bands, polarizations, and beam-widths

Band (GHz)

Polarizations

Beamwidth1

Δ Trms (K) 2

10.6 - 10.8

v,h
8°

0.49

18.6 - 18.8

v,h
8°

0.49

21.4 - 21.7 (H2O)

v,h

8°

0.49

36 - 38

v,h
2.3°

0.14

86 - 92

v,h
2.3°

0.14

9.6 - 11.5 uµm IR

v+h

7°

0.43

1 Half-power beamwidth
2 18 msec equivalent integration time, v & h

In 2002, PSR imaging occurred during both low altitude (~14,000 - 15,000 ft MSL, ~2.3 km AGL [above ground level]) and high altitude (~33,000 - 39,000 ft MSL, 9 km AGL) flight lines over the three CLPX MSAs. In 2003, PSR imaging occurred at low altitude (~14,000 - 15,000 ft MSL [mean sea level], ~2.3 km AGL), except on the first day when, in order to avoid flying within the cloud, the P-3 climbed to 3.93 km AGL. Seven flight lines were flown over each MSA every time it was visited.

Table 2 summarizes the IOP1 flights in February 2002, and the IOP3 and IOP4 flights during February and March 2003.

Table 2. Summary of CLPX PSR Flights

Exp. Name
MSA(s)
Imaged
Date
Obs. Times
(UTC)
Tot. # of
Fl. Lines
Avg. Fl. Alt
(km AGL)

3 dB Resolution
Range (m) at
37 and 89 GHz
3 dB Resolution
Range (m) at
10, 18 and 21 GHz

CLPX02
(IOP1)

RE

2/19/02

21:18-22:35

7

2.45

88 - 209
308 - 728

F

2/21/02

16:45-17:59

7

2.23

55 - 234
191 - 812

RE

2/21/02

18:09-18:25

2

2.45

88 - 209
308 - 728

NP

2/21/02

18:32-18:49

2

2.22

54 - 203
184 - 708

NP

2/23/02

17:30-18:34

7

2.22

54 - 203
184 - 708

RE

2/23/02

17:06-17:23

2

2.45

88 - 209
308 - 728

F

2/23/02

16:37-16:57

2

2.23

55 - 234
191 - 812
CLPX03A
(IOP3)

NP

2/22/03

18:35-20:35

7

3.93

184 - 334
642 - 1161

NP, RE, F

2/23/03

17:35-21:37

21

2.18

65 - 215
229 - 749

NP, RE

2/24/03

20:30-23:05

14

2.22

71 - 206
246 - 718

NP, RE, F

2/25/03

17:30-21:00

21

2.18

65 - 215
229 - 749
CLPX03B
(IOP4)

NP, RE, F

3/25/03

17:50-22:05

20

2.18

65 - 215
229 - 749

NP, RE, F

3/30/03

18:10-22:30

22

2.18

65 - 215
229 - 749

NP, RE, F

3/31/03

17:50-21:50

21

2.18

65 - 215
229 - 749
RE = Rabbit Ears, F = Fraser, NP = North Park

Figures 1-3 show flight tracks, and the terrain traversed, during the three sorties on 19, 21, and 23 February 2002 during IOP1. Each flight line (marked in red) was assigned a serial number during data processing, and those numbers are indicated in black numbers on the figures. The serial numbers are used in the data filenames. Figures 4-7 show flight tracks for the four IOP3 sorties, and Figures 8-10 show flight tracks for the three IOP4 sorties.

On 30 March 2003, two additional flight lines were flown over the Rabbit Ears MSA. Those two lines were flown at a 30º and 10º incidence angle from nadir, instead of the standard 55º. The serial numbers of these two lines are 0213 and 0214, respectively, in Figure 9.

Red lines – data collected with PSR scanning in conical mode
Grey lines – cross-track scanning during turns (for calibration)
Black numbers - line serial numbers


Figure 1. NASA DC-8 Flight tracks on 19 February 2002 at Rabbit Ears MSA.


Figure 2. NASA DC-8 flight tracks on 21 February 2002 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs. .


Figure 3. NASA DC-8 flight tracks on 23 February 2002 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs.


Figure 4. NASA P-3 flight tracks on 22 February 2003 at North Park MSA.


Figure 5. NASA P-3 flight tracks on 23 February 2003 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs. Line colors same as Fig. 1.


Figure 6. NASA P-3 flight tracks on 24 February 2003 at North Park and Rabbit Ears MSAs.


Figure 7. NASA P-3 flight tracks on 25 February 2003 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser.


Figure 8. NASA P-3 Flight tracks on 25 March 2003 at North Park,
Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs.


Figure 9. NASA P-3 Flight tracks on 30 March 2003 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs.


Figure 10 . NASA P-3 Flight tracks on 31 March 2003 at North Park, Rabbit Ears, and Fraser MSAs.

Flight Summaries

The following tables are flight catalogs of the PSR flight lines over the CLPX MSAs, and provide a description of maneuvers listed by PSR serial number. The tables include the maneuver ID assigned to a given maneuver by the PSR processing system, date, UTC time (start and stop), and position (start and stop). Flight catalog tables are also provided as tab-delimited ASCII files with the data.

The maneuver ID consists of several fields of information separated by dots. For example, the maneuver ID CL02.DF006.M600.SLH.T has the following interpretation:

CL02: CLPX02 (IOP1)
DF006: 6th data flight during CLPX02 (IOP1)
M600: maneuver serial number
SLH: maneuver type: straight and level, at high-altitude
SLM:straight and level at mid altitude
SLL: straight and level at low altitude
T: maneuver type (transect)

2002 (CLPX02/IOP1) Flight Catalog

PSR Serial No.

Maneuver ID

Date

Maneuv. Start (UTC)

Maneuv. Stop (UTC)

Maneuv. Start °Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Start °Lon. (W)

Maneuv.
Stop
°Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Stop °Lon. (W)

00643

CL02.DF006.M643.SLM.T

02/19/02

21:18:14

21:24:55

40.546

106.227

40.554

106.959

00645

CL02.DF006.M645.SLM.T

02/19/02

21:29:53

21:35:56

40.522

107.079

40.522

106.417

00647

CL02.DF006.M647.SLM.T

02/19/02

21:39:17

21:45:40

40.477

106.259

40.487

106.960

00649

CL02.DF006.M649.SLM.T

02/19/02

21:50:48

21:56:48

40.450

107.069

40.454

106.415

00651

CL02.DF006.M651.SLM.T

02/19/02

22:01:08

22:07:35

40.425

106.251

40.420

106.959

00653

CL02.DF006.M653.SLM.T

02/19/02

22:12:51

22:18:57

40.388

107.083

40.388

106.419

00655

CL02.DF006.M655.SLM.T

02/19/02

22:23:13

22:30:02

40.364

106.220

40.345

106.964
                 

00705

CL02.DF007.M705.SLL.T

02/21/02

16:45:20

16:53:27

39.985

105.253

39.995

106.147

00706

CL02.DF007.M706.SLL.T

02/21/02

16:57:59

17:04:06

39.960

106.252

39.964

105.596

00708

CL02.DF007.M708.SLL.T

02/21/02

17:09:33

17:15:16

39.934

105.525

39.929

106.148

00710

CL02.DF007.M710.SLL.T

02/21/02

17:19:54

17:26:04

39.893

106.275

39.898

105.608

00712

CL02.DF007.M712.SLM.T

02/21/02

17:30:39

17:37:09

39.867

105.446

39.861

106.148

00714

CL02.DF007.M714.SLM.T

02/21/02

17:41:44

17:47:56

39.827

106.284

39.829

105.610

00716

CL02.DF007.M716.SLM.T

02/21/02

17:53:11

17:59:31

39.801

105.462

39.794

106.149

00719

CL02.DF007.M719.SLM.T

02/21/02

18:09:28

18:16:17

40.511

106.224

40.521

106.964

00721

CL02.DF007.M721.SLM.T

02/21/02

18:19:44

18:25:42

40.384

107.062

40.387

106.414

00723

CL02.DF007.M723.SLM.T

02/21/02

18:32:40

18:38:09

40.654

105.949

40.653

106.563

00725

CL02.DF007.M725.SLM.T

02/21/02

18:43:33

18:49:41

40.684

106.695

40.689

106.020
                 

00804

CL02.DF008.M804.SLM.T

02/23/02

16:37:08

16:47:10

39.847

105.053

39.861

106.147

00805

CL02.DF008.M805.SLM.T

02/23/02

16:51:16

16:57:43

39.920

106.309

39.931

105.610

00807

CL02.DF008.M807.SLM.T

02/23/02

17:06:24

17:15:49

40.507

106.013

40.520

107.036

00808

CL02.DF008.M808.SLM.T

02/23/02

17:18:31

17:23:34

40.396

106.965

40.388

106.414

00810

CL02.DF008.M810.SLM.T

02/23/02

17:30:27

17:36:16

40.783

105.921

40.788

106.559

00811

CL02.DF008.M811.SLM.T

02/23/02

17:40:16

17:46:45

40.761

106.728

40.756

106.017

00813

CL02.DF008.M813.SLM.T

02/23/02

17:51:49

17:59:22

40.721

105.732

40.721

106.563

00815

CL02.DF008.M815.SLM.T

02/23/02

18:04:34

18:11:18

40.694

106.749

40.689

106.018

00816

CL02.DF008.M816.SLM.T

02/23/02

18:15:48

18:23:11

40.658

105.752

40.652

106.567

00817

CL02.DF008.M817.SLM.T

02/23/02

18:27:35

18:34:02

40.625

106.722

40.621

106.014

00819

CL02.DF008.M819.SLM.T

02/23/02

18:38:55

18:46:04

40.589

105.780

40.584

106.558

2003 (CLPX03A/IOP3) Flight Catalog

PSR Serial No.

Maneuver ID

Date

Maneuv. Start (UTC)

Maneuv. Stop (UTC)

Maneuv.
Start
°Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Start °Lon. (W)

Maneuv. Stop °Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Stop °Lon. (W)

00103

CL3A.DF001.M103.SLM.T

02/22/03

18:37:55

18:43:06

40.787

106.572

40.782

105.908

00104

CL3A.DF001.M104.SLM.T

02/22/03

18:45:45

18:53:57

40.757

105.839

40.761

106.736

00105

CL3A.DF001.M105.SLM.T

02/22/03

18:56:48

19:04:38

40.721

106.735

40.721

105.726

00106

CL3A.DF001.M106.SLM.T

02/22/03

19:07:12

19:17:24

40.689

105.626

40.694

106.756

00107

CL3A.DF001.M107.SLM.T

02/22/03

19:19:39

19:26:36

40.652

106.630

40.658

105.741

00108

CL3A.DF001.M108.SLM.T

02/22/03

19:39:44

19:45:59

40.583

106.576

40.589

105.771

00109

CL3A.DF001.M109.SLM.T

02/22/03

19:48:26

19:55:57

40.618

105.881

40.625

106.728

                 

00202

CL3A.DF002.M202.SLM.T

02/23/03

17:38:11

17:45:02

40.554

107.091

40.547

106.224

00203

CL3A.DF002.M203.SLM.T

02/23/03

17:47:37

17:55:32

40.522

106.321

40.522

107.093

00204

CL3A.DF002.M204.SLM.T

02/23/03

17:57:43

18:03:34

40.488

106.960

40.476

106.225

00205

CL3A.DF002.M205.SLM.T

02/23/03

18:06:04

18:13:40

40.454

106.323

40.450

107.069

00206

CL3A.DF002.M206.SLM.T

02/23/03

18:16:10

18:22:12

40.422

107.007

40.425

106.248

00207

CL3A.DF002.M207.SLM.T

02/23/03

18:24:38

18:33:01

40.385

106.255

40.388

107.085

00208

CL3A.DF002.M208.SLM.T

02/23/03

18:35:21

18:41:56

40.342

107.039

40.364

106.211

00209

CL3A.DF002.M209.SLM.T

02/23/03

18:48:32

18:56:07

40.784

105.805

40.788

106.564

00210

CL3A.DF002.M210.SLM.T

02/23/03

19:00:28

19:05:50

40.760

106.700

40.756

106.010

00211

CL3A.DF002.M211.SLM.T

02/23/03

19:11:16

19:20:27

40.720

105.670

40.721

106.568

00212

CL3A.DF002.M212.SLM.T

02/23/03

19:26:28

19:33:11

40.691

106.875

40.689

106.010

00213

CL3A.DF002.M213.SLM.T

02/23/03

19:37:44

19:46:45

40.658

105.683

40.652

106.572

00215

CL3A.DF002.M215.SLM.T

02/23/03

19:52:32

19:59:04

40.625

106.847

40.621

106.007

00217

CL3A.DF002.M217.SLM.T

02/23/03

20:03:20

20:12:18

40.590

105.679

40.584

106.563

00219

CL3A.DF002.M219.SLM.T

02/23/03

20:19:49

20:27:54

39.997

106.280

39.985

105.252

00220

CL3A.DF002.M220.SLM.T

02/23/03

20:30:41

20:39:45

39.968

105.373

39.960

106.275

00221

CL3A.DF002.M221.SLM.T

02/23/03

20:41:56

20:46:53

39.930

106.146

39.934

105.519

00222

CL3A.DF002.M222.SLM.T

02/23/03

20:49:26

20:57:58

39.899

105.464

39.892

106.310

00223

CL3A.DF002.M223.SLM.T

02/23/03

21:00:02

21:06:15

39.861

106.199

39.867

105.428

00224

CL3A.DF002.M224.SLM.T

02/23/03

21:08:00

21:16:43

39.827

105.462

39.827

106.321

00225

CL3A.DF002.M225.SLM.T

02/23/03

21:18:36

21:24:48

39.791

106.223

39.801

105.456

                 

00303

CL3A.DF003.M303.SLM.T

02/24/03

20:36:41

20:41:38

40.789

106.556

40.787

105.906

00304

CL3A.DF003.M304.SLM.T

02/24/03

20:44:23

20:52:44

40.757

105.934

40.761

106.757

00305

CL3A.DF003.M305.SLM.T

02/24/03

20:54:21

21:01:41

40.720

106.682

40.721

105.716

00306

CL3A.DF003.M306.SLM.T

02/24/03

21:03:55

21:14:19

40.688

105.773

40.694

106.772

00307

CL3A.DF003.M307.SLM.T

02/24/03

21:15:52

21:23:18

40.649

106.707

40.658

105.739

00308

CL3A.DF003.M308.SLM.T

02/24/03

21:25:24

21:34:59

40.619

105.787

40.625

106.744

00309

CL3A.DF003.M309.SLM.T

02/24/03

21:37:24

21:43:32

40.584

106.574

40.589

105.770

00310

CL3A.DF003.M310.SLM.T

02/24/03

21:45:23

21:58:38

40.518

105.772

40.522

107.103

00311

CL3A.DF003.M311.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:00:51

22:06:44

40.553

106.980

40.546

106.214

00312

CL3A.DF003.M312.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:08:22

22:17:41

40.454

106.173

40.450

107.110

00313

CL3A.DF003.M313.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:20:00

22:25:53

40.485

106.969

40.476

106.217

00314

CL3A.DF003.M314.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:27:58

22:36:36

40.387

106.259

40.388

107.122

00315

CL3A.DF003.M315.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:38:40

22:45:05

40.419

107.019

40.425

106.195

00316

CL3A.DF003.M316.SLM.T

02/24/03

22:49:16

22:57:49

40.365

106.123

40.344

106.989

                 

00404

CL3A.DF004.M404.SLM.T

02/25/03

17:30:44

17:36:45

40.791

106.633

40.782

105.889

00405

CL3A.DF004.M405.SLM.T

02/25/03

17:38:57

17:46:29

40.757

105.973

40.761

106.746

00406

CL3A.DF004.M406.SLM.T

02/25/03

17:48:26

17:55:48

40.720

106.636

40.721

105.728

00407

CL3A.DF004.M407.SLM.T

02/25/03

17:57:38

18:06:59

40.686

105.779

40.694

106.755

00408

CL3A.DF004.M408.SLM.T

02/25/03

18:08:33

18:16:17

40.651

106.696

40.658

105.748

00409

CL3A.DF004.M409.SLM.T

02/25/03

18:17:57

18:26:48

40.618

105.790

40.625

106.726

00410

CL3A.DF004.M410.SLM.T

02/25/03

18:28:39

18:35:42

40.584

106.635

40.589

105.776

00411

CL3A.DF004.M411.SLM.T

02/25/03

18:37:35

18:49:33

40.519

105.799

40.522

107.082

00412

CL3A.DF004.M412.SLM.T

02/25/03

18:51:36

18:57:43

40.554

106.970

40.546

106.222

00413

CL3A.DF004.M413.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:00:13

19:07:13

40.454

106.330

40.450

107.092

00414

CL3A.DF004.M414.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:09:12

19:15:17

40.487

107.001

40.476

106.251

00415

CL3A.DF004.M415.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:17:24

19:24:40

40.387

106.324

40.389

107.087

00416

CL3A.DF004.M416.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:26:56

19:32:47

40.420

106.964

40.425

106.245

00417

CL3A.DF004.M417.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:36:37

19:44:48

40.366

106.104

40.345

106.967

00418

CL3A.DF004.M418.SLM.T

02/25/03

19:50:33

20:01:53

40.000

106.631

39.984

105.232

00419

CL3A.DF004.M419.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:04:30

20:13:36

39.963

105.349

39.960

106.304

00420

CL3A.DF004.M420.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:15:27

20:21:49

39.928

106.214

39.934

105.442

00421

CL3A.DF004.M421.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:23:48

20:30:50

39.899

105.510

39.893

106.278

00422

CL3A.DF004.M422.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:32:42

20:38:40

39.859

106.188

39.867

105.442

00423

CL3A.DF004.M423.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:40:45

20:47:51

39.830

105.515

39.827

106.287

00424

CL3A.DF004.M424.SLM.T

02/25/03

20:49:51

20:55:41

39.794

106.184

39.801

105.454

2003 (CLPX03B/IOP4) Flight Catalog

PSR
Serial No.

Maneuver ID

Date

Maneuv.
Start
(UTC)

Maneuv. Stop (UTC)

Maneuv. Start
°Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Start °Lon. (W)

Maneuv. Stop
°Lat. (N)

Maneuv. Stop °Lon. (W)

00100

CL3B.DF001.M100.SLM.T

03/25/03

17:50:23

17:57:24

40.758

106.152

40.761

106.728

00101

CL3B.DF001.M101.SLM.T

03/25/03

17:59:15

18:08:22

40.723

106.663

40.721

105.723

00102

CL3B.DF001.M102.SLM.T

03/25/03

18:10:20

18:22:14

40.686

105.777

40.694

106.753

00103

CL3B.DF001.M103.SLM.T

03/25/03

18:23:54

18:33:06

40.651

106.683

40.658

105.747

00104

CL3B.DF001.M104.SLM.T

03/25/03

18:34:18

18:46:25

40.615

105.739

40.625

106.732

00105

CL3B.DF001.M105.SLM.T

03/25/03

18:48:51

18:56:54

40.581

106.586

40.589

105.758

00107

CL3B.DF001.M107.SLM.T

03/25/03

19:00:43

19:15:06

40.519

105.878

40.522

107.090

00108

CL3B.DF001.M108.SLM.T

03/25/03

19:16:19

19:24:35

40.554

107.063

40.546

106.217

00109

CL3B.DF001.M109.SLM.T

03/25/03

19:27:51

19:37:14

40.453

106.285

40.450

107.077

00110

CL3B.DF001.M110.SLM.T

03/25/03

19:38:18

19:46:22

40.485

107.054

40.476

106.231

00112

CL3B.DF001.M112.SLM.T

03/25/03

19:49:00

19:59:04

40.387

106.249

40.389

107.090

00113

CL3B.DF001.M113.SLM.T

03/25/03

20:00:26

20:08:15

40.420

107.026

40.425

106.219

00114

CL3B.DF001.M114.SLM.T

03/25/03

20:12:20

20:22:09

40.365

106.150

40.345

106.969

00115

CL3B.DF001.M115.SLM.T

03/25/03

20:45:34

20:55:12

39.964

105.455

39.960

106.267

00116

CL3B.DF001.M116.SLM.T

03/25/03

20:56:52

21:03:39

39.931

106.190

39.934

105.510

00117

CL3B.DF001.M117.SLM.T

03/25/03

21:06:37

21:14:28

39.896

105.645

39.893

106.278

00118

CL3B.DF001.M118.SLL.T

03/25/03

21:15:59

21:23:44

39.860

106.214

39.866

105.433

00119

CL3B.DF001.M119.SLM.T

03/25/03

21:25:20

21:35:05

39.829

105.489

39.827

106.287

00120

CL3B.DF001.M120.SLM.T

03/25/03

21:36:26

21:44:24

39.793

106.236

39.801

105.431

00122

CL3B.DF001.M122.SLM.T

03/25/03

21:56:23

22:05:47

39.996

106.195

39.986

105.239
                 

00200

CL3B.DF002.M200.SLM.T

03/30/03

18:12:21

18:18:04

40.759

106.249

40.761

106.732

00201

CL3B.DF002.M201.SLM.T

03/30/03

18:19:00

18:29:13

40.717

106.726

40.721

105.727

00202

CL3B.DF002.M202.SLM.T

03/30/03

18:30:49

18:42:52

40.682

105.749

40.694

106.751

00203

CL3B.DF002.M203.SLM.T

03/30/03

18:44:15

18:54:17

40.649

106.708

40.658

105.747

00204

CL3B.DF002.M204.SLM.T

03/30/03

18:55:48

19:07:07

40.618

105.769

40.625

106.724

00205

CL3B.DF002.M205.SLM.T

03/30/03

19:08:04

19:17:55

40.580

106.720

40.588

105.777

00206

CL3B.DF002.M206.SLM.T

03/30/03

19:21:03

19:35:23

40.519

105.870

40.522

107.081

00207

CL3B.DF002.M207.SLM.T

03/30/03

19:36:25

19:45:10

40.553

107.062

40.547

106.224

00208

CL3B.DF002.M208.SLM.T

03/30/03

19:47:16

19:57:15

40.453

106.224

40.451

107.072

00209

CL3B.DF002.M209.SLM.T

03/30/03

19:58:41

20:06:38

40.487

107.021

40.477

106.256

00210

CL3B.DF002.M210.SLM.T

03/30/03

20:08:38

20:18:04

40.386

106.285

40.389

107.086

00211

CL3B.DF002.M211.SLM.T

03/30/03

20:18:57

20:28:55

40.418

107.081

40.423

106.129

00212

CL3B.DF002.M212.SLL.T

03/30/03

20:30:18

20:41:44

40.366

106.136

40.336

107.112

00213

CL3B.DF002.M213.SLM.T

03/30/03

20:43:58

20:52:58

40.400

107.091

40.399

106.234

00214

CL3B.DF002.M214.SLM.T

03/30/03

20:55:59

21:06:54

40.398

106.134

40.400

107.077

00216

CL3B.DF002.M216.SLM.T

03/30/03

21:14:32

21:27:17

39.995

106.485

39.985

105.251

00217

CL3B.DF002.M217.SLM.T

03/30/03

21:30:15

21:40:19

39.965

105.389

39.960

106.255

00218

CL3B.DF002.M218.SLM.T

03/30/03

21:41:37

21:48:52

39.927

106.215

39.933

105.523

00219

CL3B.DF002.M219.SLM.T

03/30/03

21:50:17

21:58:42

39.898

105.555

39.893

106.276

00220

CL3B.DF002.M220.SLM.T

03/30/03

22:00:40

22:08:37

39.859

106.188

39.867

105.444

00221

CL3B.DF002.M221.SLM.T

03/30/03

22:10:22

22:19:22

39.831

105.507

39.827

106.286

00222

CL3B.DF002.M222.SLM.T

03/30/03

22:20:49

22:29:06

39.794

106.242

39.801

105.461
                 

00304

CL3B.DF003.M304.SLM.T

03/31/03

17:51:15

17:56:58

40.790

106.516

40.783

105.916

00305

CL3B.DF003.M305.SLM.T

03/31/03

17:58:57

18:08:15

40.756

105.944

40.761

106.733

00306

CL3B.DF003.M306.SLM.T

03/31/03

18:10:05

18:19:03

40.721

106.668

40.721

105.729

00307

CL3B.DF003.M307.SLM.T

03/31/03

18:21:59

18:33:01

40.685

105.829

40.694

106.753

00308

CL3B.DF003.M308.SLM.T

03/31/03

18:34:33

18:43:55

40.652

106.724

40.658

105.748

00309

CL3B.DF003.M309.SLM.T

03/31/03

18:45:55

18:56:55

40.622

105.793

40.625

106.726

00310

CL3B.DF003.M310.SLM.T

03/31/03

18:57:59

19:07:06

40.583

106.718

40.589

105.777

00311

CL3B.DF003.M311.SLM.T

03/31/03

19:10:12

19:23:42

40.523

105.876

40.522

107.089

00312

CL3B.DF003.M312.SLM.T

03/31/03

19:26:34

19:33:37

40.557

106.957

40.547

106.224

00313

CL3B.DF003.M313.SLM.T

03/31/03

19:36:32

19:45:36

40.456

106.301

40.450

107.074

00314

CL3B.DF003.M314.SLM.T

03/31/03

19:48:17

19:54:58

40.486

106.951

40.476

106.256

00315

CL3B.DF003.M315.SLM.T

03/31/03

19:57:14

20:06:37

40.388

106.290

40.388

107.087

00316

CL3B.DF003.M316.SLM.T

03/31/03

20:09:11

20:16:13

40.422

106.970

40.425

106.246

00317

CL3B.DF003.M317.SLM.T

03/31/03

20:19:06

20:26:39

40.360

106.313

40.345

106.967

00319

CL3B.DF003.M319.SLM.T

03/31/03

20:34:54

20:44:32

39.997

106.236

39.985

105.248

00320

CL3B.DF003.M320.SLM.T

03/31/03

20:47:24

20:57:59

39.962

105.349

39.960

106.255

00321

CL3B.DF003.M321.SLM.T

03/31/03

21:00:01

21:06:33

39.931

106.198

39.934

105.521

00322

CL3B.DF003.M322.SLM.T

03/31/03

21:09:02

21:17:02

39.904

105.595

39.893

106.277

00323

CL3B.DF003.M323.SLM.T

03/31/03

21:18:50

21:26:08

39.864

106.200

39.867

105.442

00324

CL3B.DF003.M324.SLM.T

03/31/03

21:27:55

21:37:21

39.830

105.483

39.827

106.286

00325

CL3B.DF003.M325.SLM.T

03/31/03

21:39:00

21:46:24

39.792

106.224

39.801

105.457

Format

PSR/A data are available as MATLAB® files (*.mat) and binary files (*.bin) with associated ASCII headers. Missing data are identified by "-9999". All brightness temperatures are calibrated, and are in Kelvin. The data are geolocated with respect to 30-m resolution USGS terrain elevation data.

MATLAB files (e.g., L23Gqassss.mat, where ssss is the maneuver serial number) contain data organized in the following manner:

Table 3. Data type (order of variables in the third dimension).

Data Plane

Description

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,1)

10.7 GHz vert. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,2)

10.7 GHz horz. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,3)

18.7 GHz vert. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,4)

18.7 GHz horz. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,5)

21.5 GHz vert. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,6)

21.5 GHz horz. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,7)

37.0 GHz vert. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,8)

37.0 GHz horz. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,9)

89.0 GHz vert. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,10)

89.0 GHz horz. polarization brightness temperature (TB)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,11)

GPS altitude (feet)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,12)

Time stamp (sec from the beginning of the day)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,13)

Pixel terrain geolocated latitude (dd.ddd)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,14)

Pixel terrain geolocated longitude (dd.ddd)

sceneL23Gqa(:,:,15)

Terrain height (m) at the pixel lat/lon

Additional variables present in each of the PSR/A CLPX02/IOP1 level 2.3Gqa files are:

ssn

Serial number of maneuver (see CLPX02/IOP1 data flight catalog)

firstday

Julian day on which the flight began

scanhead

Type of PSR scanhead (e.g., PSRA for CLPX02/IOP1)

description

Text string indicating PSR maneuver ID

Binary files (e.g., L23Gqassss.bin) contain data written out as a line of sequential points in the order described for the MATLAB files. Each binary file has an ASCII header file (e.g., L23Gqassss.txt) associated with it. An example of the ASCII header file follows:

Julian day at the beginning of the flight: 55
PSR scanhead type: PSRA
Maneuver serial number: 0304
Maneuver description: CL3A.DF003.M304.SLM.T_Conical
Size of sceneL23Gqa data matrix (numscans,numsamples,numchannels): sceneL23Gqa(127,304,15)
Binary data file: \CLPX03A\2003_0224\level2.3Gqa\SL\L23Gqa0304.bin is written as real*8 (double) floating point; 64 bits

File and Directory Structure: 

CLPX02/
  2002_0219/
    level2.3Gqa/
      SL/
       L23Gqa0643.bin
       L23Gqa0643.mat
       L23Gqa0643.txt
		etc.
  2002_0221/
  2002_0223/
  CLPX02L23Gqa.log


CLPX03A/
  2003_0222/
    level2.3Gqa/
      SL/
       L23Gqa0103.bin
       L23Gqa0103.mat
       L23Gqa0103.txt
       etc.
  2003_0223/
  2003_0224/
  2003_0225/
  CLPX03AL23Gqa.log


CLPX03B/
  2003_0325/
    level2.3Gqa/
      SL/
       L23Gqa0100.bin
       L23Gqa0100.mat
       L23Gqa0100.txt  
       etc.
  2003_0330/
  2003_0331/
  CLPX03BL23Gqa.log


dislpay_l23Gqa/
  ReadPSRBin&TxtFile.m
  displayl23Gqa.m
  flushlog.m
  includechans23Gqa.m
  jetclip.m
  mainshelldisp23Gqa.m
  mapl23Gqa.m
  navdist.m
  readlog.m
  request_params_23Gqa.m
  setrootdir.m
  suptitle.m

psr_flight_catalog.txt

File Naming Convention

Data are provided in directories by IOP (CLPX02 [IOP1], CLPX03A [IOP3], and CLPX03 [IOP4]). Subdirectories are named for the year, month, and date. For example, 2002_0219 is the directory for 19 February 2002. Within each directory, data files are named L23Gqassss.bin, L23Gqassss.mat, and L23Gqassss.txt, where ssss corresponds to a PSR serial number. "L23" represents Level2.3 PSR data, "G" stands for geolocated PSR data, “q” represents a “quality control” identifier, and “a” stands for a subset of PSR data provided to users.

The directory “display_l23Gqa” contains the MATLAB version 6.1 m-files necessary to render brightness temperature maps from the PSR data, and a file “ReadPSRBin&TxtFile.m” that shows the necessary steps to read a binary data file using MATLAB software. Information about using these files is given in the Software and Tools section of this document.

File Size

Files range in size from 1.9 to 8.7 MB. Header files are 1 KB.

Spatial Coverage

Flights were flown over the Fraser, North Park, and Rabbit Ears MSAs of the CLPX study area. Flight lines are matched to data files in the Flight Summaries section of this document.

Temporal Coverage

Three flights were flown on 19, 21, and 23 February 2002 during IOP1. In 2003, four flights were flown on 22, 23, 24, and 25 February (IOP3) and three flights were flown on 25, 28 and 30 March during IOP 4. There were 10 sorties with 25 passes over the MSAs, totaling 28 hours and 3 minutes of flight lines.

Parameter or Variable

This data set provides multiband polarimetric brightness temperature images over three 25 x 25 km mesoscale study areas in Northern Colorado

Sample Data Records

The following is an example of PSR data. Additional browse images are provided.


PSR image for 37 GHz channel on 19 February 2002 at Rabbit Ears MSA. Square in the center is the 25x25 km MSA area.

Quality Assessment:

When interference occurred during calibration at either end of a flight line, it was possible that the data from either the whole line or from part of the line were out of calibration with the rest of the flight lines. When that happened, the investigators had two options: 1) change the calibrating software to look at all of the calibration during the entire flight together, and perform statistical analysis on the calibration looks to eliminate outliers and obtain uniform calibration for the entire flight, or 2) manually remove data in the flight lines that were obviously out of calibration. The first option requires effort beyond the scope of this project. Thus, in this first version of delivered PSR data, the investigators manually removed data. Table 5, showing quality control statistics, summarizes the effects of the data-removal process.

There were 10 sorties with 25 flights over the MSAs, totaling 28 hours and 3 minutes of flying time. The total number of lines was 1,560 where the number of lines was obtained by multiplying the number of flight lines by the number of data channels. During data removal, entire lines were mostly removed but, in some cases, only part of the line was removed. This happened when the calibration occurred within the line or when calibration on one end of the line was out of calibration with respect to the other end's calibration. When this occurred, the investigators counted that line as half of the line in computing the quality control statistics. The largest number of removed lines occurred in February 2003, when the weather over the MSAs was cloudy. However, in those cases, the removed lines were mostly for the 89 GHz channel (both vertical and horizontal polarization) because this channel is known to be sensitive to clouds. Vertical polarization for the 18.7 and 21.5 GHz channels was also affected, but to much lesser extent.

Table 5. Data “Quality Control” Statistics.

MSA Area

Date

Obs. Times (UTC)

Flight Duration

Tot. No. of lines*

No. of removed lines*

% removed lines

RE

02/19/02

21:18 - 22:30

1:12

70

11

15.7

NP RE F

02/21/02

16:45 - 18:50

2:05

110

8

7.3

NP RE F

02/23/02

16:37 - 18:46

2:09

110

10

9.1

NP

02/22/03

18:37 – 20:00

1:23

70

7

10.0

NP RE F

02/23/02

17:38 - 21:25

3:47

210

27

12.8

NP RE

02/24/03

20:36 - 22:58

2:22

140

23

16.4

NP RE F

02/25/03

17:30 - 20:56

3:26

210

33

15.7

NP RE F

03/25/03

17:50 - 22:17

3:27

210

10

4.8

NP RE F

03/30/03

18:12 - 22:29

4:17

220

10

4.5

NP RE F

03/31/03

17:51 - 21:46

3:55

210

8

3.8

TOTAL

28:30

1,560

147

9.4

* indicates lines for each channel

3. Data Access and Tools

Data Access

Data are available via FTP at ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/CLP/data/airborne/nsidc0155_psr/.

Software and Tools

MATLAB® software and Directory Structure for displaying PSR/A data.

The directory “display_l23Gqa" contains the MATLAB version 6.1 m-files necessary to render brightness temperature maps from the PSR data, and a file “ReadPSRBin&TxtFile.m” that shows the necessary steps to read a binary data file using MATLAB software. This should aid the user in designing their own data-reading routine using different software. The calibrated 2.3Gqa data should be organized in a series of subdirectories (one for each CLPX02, CLPX03A, and CLPX03B flight) in the following manner:

experiment_directory\yyyy_mmdd\level2.3Gqa\sl\L23Gqaxxxx where:

experiment_directory is the root name of the main directory (e.g. CLPX02)
yyyy_mmdd is a subdirectory indicating the year, month, and day of the beginning of data flight in UTC
level2.3Gqa is a subdirectory referring to the data level
sl is a subdirectory referring to straight and level maneuvers
L23Gqaxxxx.mat is a data file of type ".mat" corresponding to a maneuver with serial number xxxx.
L23Gqaxxxx.bin is a binary data file corresponding to a maneuver with serial number xxxx. It contains data identical to the data contained in the".mat" file and is associated with the header file L23Gqaxxxx.txt.

The MATLAB data and m-files delivered to NSIDC are organized as described above, and there is a CLPXXXL23Gqa.log file in each experiment_directory. The user should create a PSR directory on their computer and copy the data files into this directory. The following two steps should then be done:

1) edit the m-file named setrootdir.m, changing the variable "rootdir" to indicate the path to the directory experiment_directory

2) modify the MATLAB path (appended) using the “set path” command to include the subdirectory of mfiles in display_23Gqa.

To run the display m-files, issue the command “mapl23Gqa” in the MATLAB command window. The program will show the available dates for display, and the user is prompted to select a particular flight code. The program then lists all available maneuvers from the selected flight code by their serial numbers, and queries the user to select which file(s) is(are) to be displayed. The user can select the maneuver(s) by either the listed ordinal number or the associated CLPX02/IOP1 maneuver serial number; for example, “sxxxx”. A group of maneuvers can be selected by indicating the range of ordinal numbers; for example, “2:13”. If more than one maneuver is selected, the program will ask if the user wants to spatially interpolate between adjacent maneuvers (e.g., using kridging) or overlay them on top of each other. If interpolation is selected, the program will automatically interpolate between the end of one maneuver and the beginning of the next. When the default option (overlay) is selected, no interpolation is performed and the data are overlaid, possibly overwriting data from previous maneuvers.

After loading the data for the selected maneuvers, the program queries the user for the channel (or set of channels) to be displayed. Several channel grouping options are provided in the command line. The next variables that can be selected are the minimum and maximum brightness temperatures for the range of the color map. If the minimum color temperature is defined by user, he/she will also be asked for the maximum; otherwise, the program will automatically assign those values. If auto-range calculation is selected, the program will attempt to fit a Gaussian probability distribution function to the brightness temperature histogram, and compute the color range individually for each channel using the Gaussian parameters along with a range factor. The range factor sets the color range relative to the mean by the indicated number of standard deviations. The range factor defaults to 0.6, but can be modified according to the needs of the user. Autocalculation is useful for scenes in which the brightness temperatures mostly fall within a narrow range of values.

The user can then display only a portion of the maneuver by selecting the scans to be displayed from all the scans available in the selected set of maneuvers. Here, for conical scanning, one full scan means one full rotation around the azimuth axis, and includes front and back looks. Next, the user can choose to produce either individual maps (i.e., one image for each channel) or a composite image of all channels and looks in a single map. Finally, the user has the option of selecting new latitude and longitude corners. If the user has installed the MATLAB Mapping Toolbox, he/she will also be asked to choose whether to include lines of individual U.S. states on the final map.

Related Data Collections

All CLPX Data Sets

4. Data Acquisition

The PSR DC-8 configuration for CLPX 2002 (IOP1) and the NASA P-3 configuration for CLPX03A/IOP3 and CLPX03B/IOP4 used the NOAA PSR/A scanhead, operated in conical scanning mode at an incidence angle of 55 degrees from nadir (the same incidence angle as the AMSR-E sensor). During CLPX03B/IOP4, both the PSR/A and PSR/CX scanheads were installed on the P-3 aircraft. This pair of PSR scanheads provided the first full polarimetric and spectral simulation of the Aqua AMSR-E sensor.

PSR/A Geolocation Procedure

The following shows the geolocation calculation for PSR/A data:

Let
A = PSR location on the aircraft
R = distance to the ground along the beam
θ = elevation angle
φ = azimuth angle
vector o = observation vector
vector n = normal to the plane where the beam hits the
ground"

5. References and Related Publications

Stankov, B. Boba, Albin J. Gasiewski, Marian Klein, Vladimir Leuski, Bob L. Weber, Vladimir Irisov, Don Cline, and A. Yevgrafov. 2003. Airborne Measurement of Snow Cover Properties using the Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer during the Cold Land Processes Experiments (CLPX02-03. IGARSS2003, July 21-25, Toulouse, France.

Yueh, Simon H., William J. Wilson, and Steve Dinard . 2002. Polarimetric Radar Remote Sensing of Ocean Surface Wind. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., Vol. 40, N . 4, pp. 793-800.

6. Document Information

List of Acronyms

AGL = Above Ground Level
AMSR-E = Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System
CLPX = NASA Cold Land Processes Field Experiment
IOP = Intensive Observation Period
ISA = Intensive Study Area
LRSA = Large Regional Study Area
LSOS = Local Scale Observation Site
MSA = Meso-cell Study Area
MSL = Mean Sea Level
PSR = Multiband Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer

 

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