• NSIDC is currently working with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Science Data System (NASA JPL SDS) team to implement a server change for receiving SMAP data. This change is leading to delays in data forward processing, which began on 06/04/25. This change should be complete in coming weeks at which point data will return to normal availability. All missing forward processed data will be backfilled as it becomes available. 

SMAP L1B Radar Half-Orbit Time-Ordered Low-Resolution σo Data, Version 1
Data set id:
SPL1BS0
DOI: 10.5067/NEWTOCOKVZHF
NON-NSIDC DATA PRODUCT

Dear data users, NSIDC does not archive or provide citation guidance for these data.

Overview

This Level-1B (L1B) product provides time-ordered, parsed telemetry data retrieved by the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) radar during 6:00 a.m. descending and 6:00 p.m. ascending half-orbit passes. The major contents of the product are normalized radar cross section (sigma nought) measurements that represent discrete backscatter footprints on the Earth’s surface, as well as representative backscatter measurements for a set of slices within each footprint.
Parameter(s):
SIGMA NOUGHT
Platform(s):
SMAP Observatory
Sensor(s):
SMAP L-Band Radar
Data Format(s):
HDF5
Temporal Coverage:
13 April 2015 to 7 July 2015
Temporal Resolution:
  • 49 minute
Spatial Resolution:
  • 1 km to 3 km
  • 1 km to 3 km
Spatial Coverage:
N:
85.044
S:
-85.044
E:
180
W:
-180
Blue outlined yellow areas on the map below indicate the spatial coverage for this data set.