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Jason Satellite Products

The Jason-3 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 satellites are the latest in a series of ocean altimeter missions to collect data on ocean circulation, sea level rise, and wave height observations. The data collected is used to inform climate monitoring, operational oceanography and seasonal forecasting. Jason-3 ensures the continued flow of high quality altimetry data after Jason-2 is decommissioned. NCEI is the designated archive and public interface for OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 data, providing access and visualization methods for the general public, expert members of the Ocean Surface Topography Science Team (OSTST), and members of the OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 Science Working Teams.

Jason-3

January 17, 2016–Present

Level-2 X-GDR

Citation

Lillibridge, John; US DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2019). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present (NCEI Accession 0122595). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Unpublished Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0122595. Accessed [date].

OSTM/Jason-2

June 20, 2008–Present

Level-2 X-GDR

Citation

Cite as: NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2008). OSTM/Jason-2 Level-2 Geophysical Data Records (GDR), 2008 to 2019. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/OSTM-Jason2-xGDR. Accessed [date].

Jason-3 and OSTM/Jason-2 data are consolidated into Geophysical Data Records (GDR) that are divided into the following quality control tiers:

Operational (OGDR)

  • Produced within 1-2 hours of the satellite overflight
  • Lowest quality data, missing more data than other GDR types
  • Useful for time-critical applications

Interim (IGDR)

  • Produced within 1-2 days of overflight
  • Higher orbital quality

Final (GDR)

  • Produced with a 60-day time lag
  • Best quality

Related Products and Datasets

Archive Details

Services

All critical archive functions for OSTM/Jason-2 data were established and rigorously tested through comprehensive NOAA and Four Partner Operational Readiness Reviews. An ISO description for each OSTM/Jason-2 data family is available in CLASS, and ISO 19115 descriptions for Jason-3 were developed in 2015. Quality Assurance for OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 at ingest into the archive is maintained with NRTAVS, a system developed by JPL under contract with NOAA that extends near real time quality monitoring coverage to OSTM/Jason-2. NCEI has also established a Jason Rich Inventory (JRI) system which is being enhanced and operationalized for Jason-3. Standards-based services such as direct ftp, http and OPeNDAP for the X-GDR data are currently supported directly by NCEI, although these functions are expected to transition to CLASS in the future.

Metadata Accessions

  1. Level-2 X-Geophysical Data Records (O/I/GDR)
  2. Ancillary Files
  3. Auxiliary Files
  4. Near Real-Time Altimetry Validation System (NRTAVS) QA Reports
  5. Orbital Information
  6. Packet Telemetry

NOAA's Comprehensive Large-Array Stewardship System (CLASS) provides deep storage for mission data and information, including ancillary, auxiliary, NRTAVS, orbital information, and raw telemetry.

Note: Access to ancillary data and raw telemetry is restricted

About Quality Monitoring Statistics

The Jason-3 and OSTM/Jason-2 data quality monitoring system uses the Rich Inventory developed by the NCEI Enterprise Data Systems Group to provide a searchable database for tracking and discovering data quality, metadata, and dataset attributes. A near real time data quality check comprised of 8 statistics calculated on 23 parameters is performed as each Level-2 data file is ingested into NCEI's archives.

Geophysical Data Record (GDR) and Interim Geophysical Data Record (IGDR) Data Quality Monitoring

Granule Statistics

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height: GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR

0.25x0.25 lon/lat Degree Parameters

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR

3.0x1.0 lon/lat Degree Parameters

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR

Granule Statistics

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR

0.25x0.25 lon/lat Degree Parameters

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGD
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGD
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGD
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR

3.0x1.0 lon/lat Degree Parameters

  • Sea Surface Height Anomaly: GDR | IGDR
  • Significant Wave Height (Ku Band): GDR | IGDR
  • Altimeter Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Radiometer Wet Tropospheric and Model Correction: GDR | IGDR
  • Difference Between Altimeter and Radiometer Wind Speed: GDR | IGDR
  • Radiometer Water Vapor Content: GDR | IGDR