Descriptor Files

A descriptor file contains a list of currently available index files (images) for a specific data type and area of coverage. The file name indicates the area of coverage or type of data. Each satellite type has a unique set of descriptor file names, which are described in its ingestor procedures chapter. However, all satellite types have a descriptor file name called ALL. This descriptor file contains a list of all available images for this satellite type, regardless of the area of coverage.

Note! The descriptor names are designed to be used as a search tool
for images and their times over your areas of interest only.
No sectorizing is done by the SDI system.

Descriptor File Naming Convention

The naming convention is: /data/descriptor

Where: descriptor is the descriptor file name.

As an example, the file /data/HRPT contains a list of all the index files for POES HRPT images on the SDI computer.

Descriptor File Format

The descriptor file format is different for different satellite types. Refer to the Descriptor File Format description in the satellite-specific chapter for your ingestor for details.

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