JPSS Science Data Processing

Developing and fielding a new environmental satellite system involves more than building and launching a spacecraft - the new system has to be methodically tested, the instruments have to be calibrated, and the measurements sent to Earth have to be validated to ensure accuracy and reliability. Once this process is complete, satellite observations can be used with confidencein making weather forecasts and other environmental data products, and the data can join the uninterrupted record of climate observations from space which now stretches 30+ years.

The NPOESS Preparatory Project, or NPP satellite is the precursor to JPSS. Launched by NASA, NPP fields for the first time the advanced instruments that the JPSS series will carry. NPP was launched on October 28, 2011, but checking-out of the spacecraft and the testing of its instruments will proceed for many months after launch. In fact, the final verification of the instruments and the associated environmental data products will stretch almost the entire lifetime of the spacecraft and will involve multiple levels of testing and review from specialists across the entire remote sensing community.

Below is a listing of the stages of testing and verification that NPP will be going through, as well as a timeline(coming soon) of when these stages are planned to be met by the various NPP instruments. This methodical review period will ensure that scientists, meteorologists, and other specialists are ready and able to use data from the first JPSS spacecraft as soon as possible after launch.

Maturity Level Definitions

NPP SDR

Beta

Early release product.
Initial calibration applied.
Minimally validated and may still contain significant errors (rapid changes can be expected. Version changes will not be identified as errors are corrected as on-orbit baseline is not established)
Available to allow users to gain familiarity with data formats and parameters
Product is not appropriate as the basis for quantitative scientific publications studies and applications

Provisional:

Product quality may not be optimal
Incremental product improvements are still occurring as calibration parameters are adjusted with sensor on-orbit characterization (versions will be tracked)
General research community is encouraged to participate in the QA and validation of the product, but need to be aware that product validation and QA are ongoing
Users are urged to contact NPOESS NPP CalIVal Team representatives prior to use of the data in publications

Validated/Calibrated:

On-orbit sensor performance characterized and calibration parameters adjusted accordingly
Ready for use by the Centrals and in scientific publications
There may be later improved versions
There will be sting versioning with documentation

NPP EDR

Beta

Early release product
Minimally validated
May still contain significant errors.
Versioning not established until a baseline is determined.
Available to allow users to gain familiarity with data formats and parameters
Product is not appropriate as the basis for quantitative scientific publications studies and applications

Provisional:

Product quality may not be optimal
Incremental product improvements are still occurring
Version control is in affect
General research community is encouraged to participate in the QA and validation of the product, but need to be aware that product validation and QA are ongoing
Users are urged to contact NPOESS NPP Cal/Val Team representative prior to use to understand issues
May be replaced in the archive when the validated product becomes available

Validated:

Validated Product uncertainties are well defined over a range of representative conditions
Ready for use by the Centrals and in scientific publications
There may be later improved versions
There are three validation stages (see next column)

Sensor Product Validation:

Stage 1 Validation

Product performance has been demonstrated to comply with the specification using a small number of independent measurements obtained from selected locations, periods, and associated ground-truth/field program efforts.

Stage 2 Validation

Product performance has been demonstrated to comply with the specification over a widely distributed set of locations and periods via several ground-truth and validation efforts.

Stage 3 Validation

Product performance has been demonstrated to comply with the specification and the uncertainties in the product well established via independent measurements in a systematic and statistically robust way representing global conditions.

coming soon...

Product Maturity Status

Sensor	Algorithm	Beta	Provisional	Val 1	Val 2	Val 3