Product Categories
GINA products are available to the public via web portals and public-facing servers. Links to portals can be found alongside products, under the “Real-Time Data” tab, or in this guide. All products are available through AWIPS, or through the “Products Query”. Contact us for additional information.
This guide will direct you to a number of GINA’s product portals.
Single Band Products
VIIRS i04 Band - 3.74 μm (colorized)
The VIIRS 3.74 μm “Shortwave IR” channel is highly sensitive to the short wavelength energy emissions of fires; these emissions can be detected day and night, making this channel ideal for monitoring wildland fires. It is the basis for most fire-related products. While solar radiation reflected by clouds or the Earth’s surface does contribute to the total daytime energy measured in the channel, the signal from fires is usually much stronger. A special colormap is used to accentuate higher temperatures from potential fires.
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VIIRS i05 Band - 11.5 μm
The VIIRS 11.5 μm “Longwave IR” channel is used for continuous day/night cloud feature identification and classification, convective severe weather signatures, and hurricane intensity. It is less sensitive than other infrared window bands to water vapor absorption, and therefore improves atmospheric moisture corrections, aids in cloud and other atmospheric feature identification/classification, estimation of cloud-top brightness temperature and cloud particle size, and surface property characterization in derived products.
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VIIRS Day/Night Band
The VIIRS DayNight Band (DNB) is is a highly sensitive visible channel available on both SNPP and NOAA-20 that can show clouds at night when there is sufficient secondary light sources such as moonlight. Satellites that are equipped with the VIIRS DNB sensor include NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and SNPP.
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VIIRS Visible channels
GINA provides VIIRS base channel products for 8 channels in the visible and near IR range including red, green and blue visible bands and the snow/ice band. Output is in reflectance percentages and wavelengths include 0.49, 0.56, 0.64, 0.87, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 2.3 micron. Some bands (0.64um, 0.87um, and 1.6um) have resolutions of 350 m with the rest at 750 m. Satellites that are equipped with the VIIRS sensor include NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and SNPP.
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VIIRS Infrared channels
GINA provides VIIRS base channel products for 6 channels in the infrared range. Output is in Brightness Temperatures and wavelengths include 3.7, 4.0, 8.6, 10.8, 11.4, 12.0 micron. Some bands (3.7um and 11.4um) have resolutions of 350 m with the rest at 750m. Satellites that are equipped with the VIIRS sensor include NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and SNPP.
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MODIS Visible channels
GINA provides MODIS base channel products for 8 channels in the visible and near IR range including red, green and blue visible bands and the snow/ice band. Output is in reflectance percentages and wavelengths include 0.47, 0.56, 0.65, 0.86, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 2.1 micron. The MODIS sensor is installed on the Aqua satellite.
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MODIS AQUA Infrared 11um (band 21)
MODIS band 21 is a longwave infrared channel with a wavelength of 11.0 μm. Similar to the VIIRS 11.5 μm this channel is used for continuous day/night cloud feature identification and classification, convective severe weather signatures, and hurricane intensity. It is less sensitive than other infrared window bands to water vapor absorption, and therefore improves atmospheric moisture corrections, aids in cloud and other atmospheric feature identification/classification, estimation of cloud-top brightness temperature and cloud particle size, and surface property characterization in derived products. The MODIS sensor is installed on the Aqua satellite.
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MODIS Infrared channels
GINA provides MODIS base channel products for 8 channels in the infrared range including 2 water vapor channels. Output is in Brightness Temperatures and wavelengths include 3.7, 4.0, 6.7, 7.3, 8.6, 9.7, 11.0, 12.0 micron. The MODIS sensor is installed on the Aqua satellite.
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AVHRR Visible channels
GINA provides AVHRR base channel products for 3 channels in the visible and near IR range including the red visible and the snow/ice bands. Output is in reflectance percentages and wavelengths include 0.63, 0.86, and 1.6 micron. Satellites that are equipped with the AVHRR sensor include NOAA-15, NOAA-18, NOAA-19, Metop-B, and Metop-C.
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AVHRR Band 5, 12.0 um
The 12um IR measures emitted energy from the surface or clouds, but it is often called the “Dirty Window” band because it is sensitive to moisture and particles aloft. When subtracted from the 11 um IR “clean window” it can identify areas of dust and volcanic ash.
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AVHRR Band 4, 10.8 um
The 11um longwave IR band is a window channel because it is less sensitive to water vapor. This bands is used for cloud and other atmospheric feature identification/classification as well as estimation of cloud-top brightness temperatures.
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AVHRR Infrared channels
GINA provides AVHRR base channel products for 3 channels in the infrared range. Output is in Brightness Temperatures and wavelengths include 3.7, 10.8, 12.0 micron. Satellites that are equipped with the AVHRR sensor include NOAA-15, NOAA-18, NOAA-19, Metop-B, and Metop-C.
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RGB and Multispectral Products
RGBs and other multispectral products can be found on GINA’s 24-hour gallery and the feeder website.
TrueColor RGB
This RGB is made from the red (0.64um), green (0.56um) and blue (0.49um) visible VIIRS channels. It produces a product that is close to what the human eye would see from space.
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Snow/Cloud Discriminator
The Snow/Cloud Discriminator combines information from 10 different bands on VIIRS (6 during the day and 4 at night) to help distinguish clouds from snow and ice. Unlike other RGBs for snow and cloud discrimination which only work during the day, the Snow/Cloud Discriminator uses the Day/Night Band (DNB) so it works around the clock. This is particularly useful during those long winter nights. These products were developed by Steve Miller and Curtis Seaman at CIRA.
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Snowmelt RGB
The 750-m SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS Snowmelt RGB is used to monitor snow on the ground and differentiate the microphysical characteristics of clouds (liquid versus ice). Specifically, this RGB utilizes the VIIRS 1.24-μm band that is highly sensitive to snow properties, including grain size and relative wetness. This RGB is useful for identifying areas of freezing rain and sleet accumulation, as well as for hydrological applications such as snowmelt-enhanced flood events.
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Night Time Microphysics
This RGB is designed to improve the distinction between clouds and fog or low stratus. The difference between 10.8um and 3.7um is often used for a quick analysis of fog/stratus, but this RGB adds another channel difference (10.8um -12um) as a proxy to cloud thickness and a repeat of the 10.8um to enhance areas of warm (low) clouds where fog is more likely green, and 0.64um for blue. It is used for discriminating ice/snow from clouds and for identifying burn scars from wildland fires.
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DayLandCloud RGB
This RGB has had many names in the past, but the most recent and recommended name is DayLandCloud RGB. It is used for discriminating ice/snow from clouds. In this RGB ice and snow on the ground and ice crystals aloft in cirrus clouds appear cyan-blue while water clouds appear white. This RGB can also be used to identify burn scars from wildland fires which appear brown whereas vegetation is green.
The VIIRS instrument on NOAA-20 and SNPP, the MODIS instrument on TERRA-1, and AVHRR from NOAA-19 all use the same band combination: 1.6um for red, 0.87um for green, and 0.64um for blue.
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DayLandCloudFire RGB
This RGB is created by assigning the 3.74um channel to red, 0.87um channel to green, and the 0.64um channel to blue. It is used to assess fire parameters and burn scars. These products were developed by Steve Miller and Curtis Seaman at CIRA.
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Fire Temperature RGB
This RGB is created by assigning the 3.74um channel to red, 2.25um channel to green, and the 1.61um channel to blue. It is used to assess fire intensity and size, with fires ranging from red (lowest) to yellow to white (hottest or biggest). These products were developed by Steve Miller and Curtis Seaman at CIRA.
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Blowing Snow RGB
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- AWIPS
MIRS Total Precipitable Water (TPW)
The TPW microwave product identifies how much moisture is contained vertically in a column of atmosphere. MIRS TPW products are derived from microwave seonsors on multiple polar satellites. It is used to locate very moist or very dry air masses which might otherwise be obscured by higher clouds in the infrared or visible wavelengths.
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- AWIPS
MIRS Rain Rate
MIRS Rain Rates are valid day or night in all weather conditions and over non-frozen surface types. MIRS rain rates are from derived microwave sensors on multiple polar satellites. They provide a more complete picture of precipitation patterns, especially where radar coverage is unavailable, and they can locate areas of heavy rain that might otherwise be obscured by high clouds.
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AMSR2 Rain Rate
AMSR2 Rain Rates are valid day or night in all weather conditions and over non-frozen surface types. They are higher resolution than MiRS and provide a more complete picture of precipitation patterns, especially where radar coverage is unavailable, and they can locate areas of heavy rain that might otherwise be obscured by high clouds.
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AK-SFR Snowfall Rate
The Alaska Snowfall Rate product is a liquid equivalent, instantaneous snowfall rate derived from multiple passive microwave instruments on several satellites. Since the passive microwave signal can penetrate clouds, the observations provide a signature of the snow within the clouds. The SFR can identify the extent of a snow storm and the location of the most intense snowfall, features not readily apparent from traditional visible or IR imagery. The SFR is most valuable in filling observational gaps in radar-poor regions such as mountains and remote locations.
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MIRS Cloud Liquid Water (CLW)
CLW estimates the amount of non-precipitating liquid water that is contained in a vertical column of atmosphere. In combination with the freezing level, it can be used to locate high concentrations of super-cooled water for assessing the risk of freezing drizzle or aircraft icing.
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- AWIPS
MIRS Sea Ice Concentration
Sea Ice Concentration estimates the percentage of sea ice within each pixel, meaning concentration amounts can somewhat vary with the different microwave sensor resolutions that MiRS uses. It is especially effective for monitoring sea ice changes in areas obscured by clouds in infrared or visible wavelengths.
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AMSR2 Sea Ice Concentration
Sea Ice Concentration estimates the percentage of sea ice within each pixel. The AMSR2 sensor is much higher resolution than the sensors used for MiRS, so ice concentration variations can be more detailed. It is especially effective for monitoring sea ice changes in areas obscured by clouds in infrared or visible wavelengths.
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AMSR2 Multi-Year Sea Ice Concentration
Multi-Year Sea Ice Concentration estimates the percentage of Multi-Year Sea Ice Concentration within each pixel. The AMSR2 sensor is much higher resolution than the sensors used for MiRS, so ice concentration variations can be more detailed. It is especially effective for monitoring sea ice changes in areas obscured by clouds in infrared or visible wavelengths.
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MIRS Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)
The MiRS Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) product is an estimate of the water content in the snowpack. It is valid day or night regardless of cloud cover, however it can have variable results with changes to the snowpack that affect emissivity, such as melting or ponding on the surface.
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- AWIPS
AMSR2 Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)
The AMSR2 Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) product is and estimate of the water content in the snowpack. It is valid day or night regardless of cloud cover, however it can have variable results with changes to the snowpack that affect emissivity, such as melting or ponding on the surface. The AMSR2 sensor has a much higher resolution than the MiRS sensors, however it still may have difficulty resolving details in terrain such as forests and steep mountains.
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AMSR2 Snow Depth
The AMSR2 Snow Depth product is an estimate of the amount of snow on the ground. It is valid day or night regardless of cloud cover, however like SWE it can have variable results with changes in the snowpack that affect emissivity, such as melting or ponding on the surface. The AMSR2 sensor is higher resolution than the sensors used for MiRS, however it still may have difficulty resolving details in terrain such as forests and steep mountains.
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AMSR2 Ocean Wind Speed
The AMSR2 Ocean Wind Speed product is an estimate of surface wind speed over water based on emissivity differences caused by variations in sea surface roughness. Like other microwave products, it is not obscured by clouds.
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AMSR2 Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
The AMSR2 Sea Surface Temperature (SST) product is an estimate of sea water surface temperature. Like other microwave products, it is not obscured by clouds.
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Satellite Cloud Vertical Cross-section (CVC)
This experimental product is part of a 3-D satellite cloud height field that displays where clouds are present in a vertical column of the atmosphere. Information on the 3-D cloud structure is important to the aviation community, used for flight planning. Derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on-board operational NOAA satellites, the CVC is computed along flight routes from Cloud Top Height (CTH) and Cloud Base Height (CBH) products.
Determining the cloud base from satellites is challenging due to inherited limitations of passive sensors (e.g., VIIRS and ABI) which primarily detect cloud top or vertically integrated features.
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Single Band IR Imagery Composites
Mosaics overlay common products from several polar satellites into a regional view with the latest image on top of older images. This provides a regional perspective of synoptic conditions.
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MIRS Microwave Composites
Mosaics overlay common products from several polar satellites into a regional view with the latest image on top of older images. This provides a regional perspective of synoptic conditions.
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ACSPO SST Composites
The Advanced Clear Sky Processor for Oceans (ACSPO) is an algorithm used to generate SST products under clear skies from VIIRS, MODIS, and AVHRR imagery data.
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NUCAP Soundings
Vertical profiles of temperature and moisture are produced by the NOAA-Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System by merging Infrared and Microwave sounder data. These satellite soundings are independent of any model. Sensors used are CrIS and ATMS (S-NPP, NOAA-20 and NOAA-21) and IASI and AMSU/MHS (Metop-B and Metop-C). The polar trajectories of LEO satellites provide numerous satellite soundings in the high latitudes day and night.
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- AWIPS
Gridded NUCAPS Data (SPoRT & GINA)
Since NUCAPS Soundings are available in AWIPS, sounding data can be gridded to produce plan-view and cross-section displays of temperature and moisture fields, as well as derived fields such as lapse rate, theta-e, and precipitable water). Gridded NUCAPS has been demonstrated to diagnose regions of Cold Air Aloft for aviation, and the characteristics of the pre-convective environment. Because ozone data is available, ozone related fields and tropopause height are available to diagnose tropopause folding.
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- AWIPS
Cloud Cover at Flight Levels
This CLAVR-x product classifies cloud layers with colors that represent general height terms: low, mid, high, or some combination of the those levels.
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Cloud Top Temperature
The Cloud-Top Temperature is one of the directly retrieved products from the AWG Cloud Height Algorithm (ACHA).
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Cloud Top Heights
The CLAVR-x Cloud-Top Height product is derived from the cloud-top temperature and an atmospheric temperature profile provided by a background NWP model.
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Cloud Phase
The CLAVR-x Cloud Phase product categorizes the cloud scene into a set of cloud phase classifications. The cloud phase classifications from CLAVR-x are: Clear, Water, Supercooled, Mixed, and Ice.
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Cloud Type
The Cloud Type product categorizes the cloud scene into a set of cloud types classifications. The integer cloud type classifications from CLAVR-x are: Clear, Probably Clear, Fog, Water, Supercooled, Mixed, Cirrus, Thin Cirrus, Overlap, Overshoot, and Dust.
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Rain Rate
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VIIRS River Flood Areal Extent
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Flood Areal Extent, is a satellite-based flood extent product, derived from daytime Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) and NOAA-20 satellite imagery. In this product, flood extent is represented in floodwater fractions, where ‘water fraction’ indicates percentage of open water extent in a VIIRS 375-m pixel. VIIRS Flood Areal Extent provides the spatial distribution of floodwater, that is valuable for National Weather Service (NWS) and River Forecast Center (RFC) forecasters with respect to flood forecasting applications.
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VIIRS Ash Index
The VIIRS Ash Index is tuned specifically for volcanic ash, reducing the complexity of interpretation that can be a problem with RGB type products. Increasing ash concentrations are shown in red to orange to yellow. The polar orbit of VIIRS provides frequent coverage of the high latitudes without the parallax and pixel growth inherent in geostationary data at those latitudes.
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VIIRS SO2 Index
The VIIRS SO2 index is tuned specifically for SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide), reducing the complexity of interpretation that can be a problem with RGB type products. Increasing SO2 concentrations are shown in red to orange to yellow. The polar orbit of VIIRS provides frequent coverage of the high latitudes without the parallax and pixel growth inherent in geostationary data at those latitudes.
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OMPS SO2
The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) SO2 product provides quantitative estimates of SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide) concentrations in Dobson units. Resolution of the OMPS SO2 product has increased from 50 km with SNPP and 17 km with NOAA-20 to 10 km with NOAA-21.
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OMPS Ash-Smoke Index
The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ash-Smoke Index identifies UV-absorbing aerosols such as smoke, dust, and ash above or mixed with clouds. This product can detect smoke, dust, and ash that are above or mixed in clouds since cloud droplets scatter UV radiation and do not absorb it. The magnitude is sensitive to altitude so similar concentrations at higher altitudes will have higher values.
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OMPS Ozone
The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ozone product provides quantitative estimates of Ozone concentrations in Dobson units. This product can be used to calibrate other subjective presentations of ozone such as RGBs. Resolution of the OMPS Ozone product has increased from 50 km with SNPP and 17 km with NOAA-20 to 10 km with NOAA-21.
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VIIRS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)
VIIRS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is a quantitative measure of aerosol loading in the atmosphere. VIIRS AOD is reported at 550 nm, in the middle of the visible spectrum. It is unitless; higher values of AOD indicate higher concentrations of aerosols, including smoke, blowing dust, and haze.
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Fire Heat Points (VIIRS Active Fires Detection Algorithm - VAF)
Software that identifies points that are likely active fires. Points area derived from an algorithm that uses the VIIRS I04 (3.75 um) to find high brightness temperatures, and then compares those locations wth the VIIRS I05 (11.5 um) and reflectance bands I01 (0.64 um), i02 (0.87 um) to isolate only on hot pixels that are caused by an active fire.
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AWIPS Derived Motion Wind (DMW)
Using wind data provided by SSEC/CIMSS, the Derived Motion Wind Vectors from polar satellites are produced using sequential VIIRS images and as such they can provide important information about winds at different levels during synoptic times. Areas of wind shear or jet maxima can be identified. Wind Vectors are computed using both visible and infrared (including water vapor) imagery.
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- AWIPS
ACSPO Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
The Advanced Clear Sky Processor for Oceans (ACSPO) is an algorithm used to generate Sea Surface Temperature (SST) products under clear skies from VIIRS, MODIS, and AVHRR imagery data.
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VIIRS Ice Thickness
This Sea Ice Thickness product is based on VIIRS imagery so estimates can only be done in cloud-free areas. Sea Ice Thickness for each pixel is expressed in meters.
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VIIRS Sea Ice Concentration
This Sea Ice Concentration product is based on VIIRS imagery, so estimates can only be done in cloud-free areas. Concentrations are expressed as estimates the percentage of sea ice within each pixel.
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VIIRS Ice Surface Temperature
The VIIRS Ice Surface Temperature product displays the temperature of the sea ice surface in degrees Celsius. However, it is restricted to use only where skies are clear since VIIRS cannot penetrate cloud cover.