University of Miami TIROS-N/NOAA AVHRR Level 1b

The primary objective of the AVHRR instrument is to provide cloud top
and sea surface temperatures through passively measured visible, near
infrared and infrared spectral radiation bands. NOAA-6 and 8 AVHRR
sensors measured in 4 spectral bands, while the NOAA 7 and 9 AVHRR
instruments measured in 5 spectral bands.

Full Resolution Level 1b Data:

The Level 1b data format corresponds to quality controlled raw AVHRR
data, that is assembled into discrete data sets with sensor
calibration and earth location information appended to the incoming
radiation (video) data (NOAA Polar Orbiter Data Users Guide). The
data tapes originate at NESDIS/SDSD in Suitland, Maryland.

The TIROS-N/NOAA series satellites have two operational modes for
collecting and transmitting full resolution AVHRR data. The normal
operating mode is direct transmission in real time to receiving
stations within line of sight of the orbiting satellite. This direct
transmission data is called HRPT for High Resolution Picture
Transmission. The second full resolution mode is LAC or Local Area
Coverage. LAC data is recorded and stored on-board the satellite for
later transmission. LAC data coverage is scheduled by NOAA/NESDIS and
may be recorded over any portion of the world. The primary receiving
stations for HRPT data are Wallops Island, Virginia and Gilmore Creek,
Alaska. The data collected by these two stations is permanently
stored on magnetic tape at the NESDIS data facility in Suitland,
Maryland. Based on these two stations HRPT areal coverage is of the
western North Atlantic west from about 50W, and north of 18N, the Gulf
of Mexico, north of 18N and the Gulf of Alaska in the North
Pacific. In July of 1987 HRPT collected at the NESDIS facility in
Redwood City, California became available. This archive will contain
AVHRR passes of the west coast of North America from 1984 to the
present in standard Level 1b format. The Naval Ocean Research and
Development Activity facility at NSTL, Mississippi has a non-permanent
90 day rotating HRPT archive of data collected over the Gulf of
Mexico.

Level 1b NOAA TIROS-N Data Archive at the University of Miami

Time Period: TirosN 11/03/1978 - 01/19/1980
NOAA-6 09/01/1979 - 02/19/1982
NOAA-7 07/11/1981 - 10/29/1984
NOAA-8 12/22/1983 - 09/20/1985
NOAA-9 01/19/1985 - 12/06/1987

File Size: TirosN Level 1b 730 passes;No more planned
NOAA-6 Level 1b 539 passes;No more planned
NOAA-7 Level 1b 289 passes;No more planned
NOAA-8 Level 1b 12 passes;No more planned
NOAA-9 Level 1b 135 passes;No more planned