SMEX02 European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-2) AMI Data, Iowa

Summary

This data set consists of browse images acquired by the C-band Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) onboard the European Remote Sensing Satellite 2 (ERS-2) and provides only a general quality assessment of the ERS-2 AMI data. The Precision Images (PRIs) were used as a part of the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02) and are available to research groups from the European Space Agency (ESA). The data were obtained over the SMEX02 study area in Iowa, USA on 31 May, 5 July, and 13 September 2002. These images are uncalibrated, subsets of the raw ERS-2 AMI PRIs. The images are a function of decibels (dB) and are intended for browsing locations and general features. They cannot be used to derive dB values; researchers interested in dB values must obtain the AMI data.

These data were collected as part of a validation study for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). AMSR-E is a mission instrument launched aboard NASA's Aqua Satellite on 04 May 2002. AMSR-E validation studies linked to SMEX are designed to evaluate the accuracy of AMSR-E soil moisture data. Specific validation objectives include assessing and refining soil moisture algorithm performance; verifying soil moisture estimation accuracy; investigating the effects of vegetation, surface temperature, topography, and soil texture on soil moisture accuracy; and determining the regions that are useful for AMSR-E soil moisture measurements.

Citing These Data

Jackson, T., R. Van der Velde, 2004. SMEX02 European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-2) AMI Data, Iowa. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

Overview Table

Category	Description
Data format	JPEG image files
Spatial coverage and resolution	41.308°N to 42.389°N, -93.913°W to -93.017°W
Temporal coverage and resolution	31 May 2002 to 13 September 2002 Data were gathered on 31 May, 5 July, and 13 September 2002
File naming convention	Files use the convention ERSdaacmmddyy.jpg
File size	File sizes are between 4.07 MB and 4.67 MB
Parameter(s)	C-band backscatter browse scenes
Procedures for obtaining data	Data are available via FTP

Table of Contents

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

1. Contacts and Acknowledgments

Investigator(s) Name and Title

Thomas Jackson, Rogier Van der Velde
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) National Soil Tilth Laboratory

Technical Contact

2. Detailed Data Description

Format

Data are JPEG format image files.

File Naming Convention

The image files use the convention: ERSdaacmmddyy.jpg. For example, the file acquired on 7 July 2002 is "ERSdaac070502.jpg."

File Size

File sizes range from 4.07 MB to 4.67 MB.

Spatial Coverage

Southernmost Latitude: 41.308° N
Northernmost Latitude: 42.389° N
Westernmost Longitude: -93.913° W
Easternmost Longitude: -93.017° W

The spatial coverage of each scene is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Coverage of the ERS-2 AMI scenes

date	latitude	longitude	latitude	longitude
31 May	42.216°N	93.963°W	41.179°N	93.063°W
5 July	42.389°N	93.913°W	41.308°N	93.017°W
13 Sept	42.372°N	93.935°W	41.294°N	93.041°W

Spatial Resolution

Pixel spacing is 12.5 m.

Temporal Coverage

Data were gathered on 31 May, 5 July, and 13 September 2002.

Parameter or Variable

C-band radar backscatter browse images.

Sample Data Record

The following is a small sample of the image file "ERSdaac070502.jpg."

3. Data Access and Tools

Data Access

Data are available via FTP. (This data set gives only a general impression about the quality of the ERS-2 AMI data. Full ERS-2 data are available only by individual research groups from the ESA)

Table 2 below shows ordering information of the different scenes. Please contact the ESA to order the full ERS-2 AMI PRIs.

Table 2. Ordering information for the different ERS-2 scenes

date	orbit	frame	order number	Ur_id
31 May	37183	2763	33521	44018
5 July	37684	2763	34007	45335
13 Sept	38686	2763	34233	45020

Volume

Total volume of combined files is 13.3 MB.

Related Data Collections

• AMSR-E Validation Data
• AMSR-E Data at NSIDC

4. Data Acquisition and Processing

Sensor or Instrument Description

The C-band Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) onboard the ERS-2 space platform provides backscatter measurements around incidence angles of 23° and at VV polarization.

5. References and Related Publications

Please see the SMEX02 site for more information, and the NSIDC SMEX site to access data.

ERS Active Microwave

AMI Instrument Description

European Remote Sensing Satellite-2

6. Document Information

Acronyms and Abbreviations

The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this document.

AMI	Active Microwave Instrument
AMSR-E	Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System
ERS-2	European Remote Sensing Satellite
ESA	European Space Agency
FTP	File Transfer Protocol
PRI	Precision Image
SMEX	Soil Moisture Experiment

Document Creation Date

June 2004

Document URL

http://nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/nsidc0198_smex_ERS_2.gd.html