McIDAS-X User's Guide
Version 2023.1
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Satellites |
GOES-16 through GOES-19 (16 is operational at 75.2°W; 17 is in storage at 105°W; 18 is operational at 137°W; GOES-U is planned for launch in April 2024) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Instrument |
ABI (Advanced Baseline Imager) |
Resolution |
see table below |
Band |
Central Wavelength (µm) |
Resolution (km) |
Primary Uses |
|
1 | 0.47 | 1.0 | Daytime aerosol over land, coastal water mapping | |
2 | 0.64 | 0.5 | Clouds, fog, insolation, winds | |
3 | 0.86 | 1.0 | Daytime vegetation/burn scar and aerosols over water, winds | |
4 | 1.37 | 2.0 | Cirrus cloud detection | |
5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | Daytime cloud-top phase and particle size, snow | |
6 | 2.2 | 2.0 | Daytime land/cloud properties, particle size, vegetation, snow | |
7 | 3.9 | 2.0 | Surface and cloud, fog at night, fire, winds | |
8 | 6.2 | 2.0 | High-level atmospheric water vapor, winds, rainfall | |
9 | 6.9 | 2.0 | Mid-level atmospheric water vapor, winds, rainfall | |
10 | 7.3 | 2.0 | Lower-level water vapor, winds and SO2 | |
11 | 8.4 | 2.0 | Total water for stability, cloud phase, dust, SO2, rainfall | |
12 | 9.6 | 2.0 | Total ozone, turbulence, winds | |
13 | 10.3 | 2.0 | Surface and cloud | |
14 | 11.2 | 2.0 | Imagery, SST, clouds, rainfall | |
15 | 12.3 | 2.0 | Total water, ash, SST | |
16 | 13.3 | 2.0 | Air temperature, cloud heights and amounts | |
Central wavelengths in this table are the nominal values listed in the GOES-R Website's
ABI Bands Quick Information Guides page. See its Fact Sheets for details about each band's characteristics and uses. |
Satellites |
GOES-16 through GOES-19 (16 is operational at 75.2°W; 17 is in storage at 105°W; 18 is operational at 137°W; GOES-U is planned for launch in April 2024) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Data Type |
Level 2 Products |
Instrument |
ABI (Advanced Baseline Imager) |
Band |
Resolution (km) |
Primary Uses |
1 | 2 | ACM - Cloud Mask |
2 | 10 | CTP - Cloud Top Pressure |
3 | 10 | ACHA - Cloud Top Height |
4 | 2 | ACHT - Cloud Top Temperature |
5 | 2 | ACTP - Cloud Top Phase |
6 | 4 | COD - Cloud Optical Depth |
7 | 2 | CPS - Cloud Particle Size |
8 | 10 | DSI - Lifted Index |
9 | 10 | DSI - CAPE |
10 | 10 | DSI - Total Totals |
11 | 10 | DSI - Showalter Index |
12 | 10 | DSI - K-Index |
13 | 10 | TPW - Total Precipitable Water |
14 | 2 | FDC - Fire Detection Area |
15 | 2 | FDC - Fire Detection Temp |
16 | 2 | FDC - Fire Detection Mask |
17 | 2 | FDC - Fire Detection Power |
18 | 2 | LST - Land Surface Temperature |
19 | 2 | ADP - Aerosol Detection |
20 | 2 | ADP - Aerosol Detection Smoke |
21 | 2 | ADP - Aerosol Detection Dust |
22 | 2 | AOD - Aerosol Optical Depth |
23 | 2 | FSC - Fractional Snow Cover |
24 | 2 | RRQP - Rain Rate / QPE |
25 | 2 | SST - Sea Surface Temperature |
26 | 2 | VAA - Volcanic Ash Height |
27 | 2 | VAA - Volcanic Ash Mass Loading |
28 | 2 | GLM - Flash Extent Density |
29 | 2 | GLM - Flash Centroid Density |
30 | 2 | GLM - Event Density |
31 | 2 | GLM - Average Flash Density |
32 | 2 | GLM - Total Energy |
33 | 2 | GLM - Group Extent Density |
34 | 2 | GLM - Group Centroid Density |
35 | 2 | GLM - Average Group Area |
Satellites |
GOES-12 through GOES-15 (14 is in storage at ~105°W;
15 is west backup at ~128°W) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Instrument |
GVAR (GOES Variable Imager) |
Resolution |
see table below |
Band |
Central Wavelength (µm) |
Resolution (km) |
Primary Uses |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0.62 - 0.65 * | 1 | Visible cloud and surface features | |
2 | 3.9 | 4 | Infrared low-level cloud/fog, fire detection | |
3 | 6.5 | 4 | Infrared mid-level water vapor | |
4 | 10.7 | 4 | Infrared surface/cloud-top temperature | |
6 | 13.3 | 4 - 8 ** | Infrared CO2; cloud heights | |
* The band 1 central wavelength is 0.65 µm for GOES-12, 0.63 µm for GOES-13, and 0.62 µm for GOES-14 and 15. | ||||
** The band 6 resolution is 8 km for GOES-12 and 13, and 4 km for GOES-14 and 15. |
Satellites |
GOES-8 through GOES-11 (no longer in use) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Instrument |
GVAR (GOES Variable Imager) |
Resolution |
see table below |
Band |
Central Wavelength (µm) |
Resolution (km) |
Primary Uses |
1 | 0.65 | 1 | Visible cloud and surface features |
2 | 3.9 | 4 | Infrared low-level cloud/fog, fire detection |
3 | 6.8 | 8 | Infrared mid-level water vapor |
4 | 10.7 | 4 | Infrared surface/cloud-top temperature |
5 | 12.0 | 4 | Infrared surface/cloud temperature, low-level water vapor |
Satellites |
GOES-8 through GOES-15 (14 is in storage at ~105°W;
15 is west backup at ~128°W) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Instrument |
Sounder |
Resolution |
10 km |
Band |
Central Wavelength (µm) |
Absorbing Gases |
Wave Number (cm-1) |
Sounding Level (mb) |
Primary Uses |
1 | 14.7 | CO2 | 680 | 90 | Stratosphere temperature |
2 | 14.4 | CO2 | 694 | 300 | Sounding; tropopause temperature |
3 | 14.1 | CO2 | 709 | 550 | Sounding; upper-level temperature |
4 | 13.6 | CO2; H2O | 735 | 850 | Sounding; mid-level temperature |
5 | 13.4 | CO2; H2O | 746 | 900 | Sounding; low-level temperature |
6 | 12.7 | H2O | 787 | Surface | Sounding; total precipitable water |
7 | 12.0 | H2O | 833 | Surface | Surface temperature and moisture |
8 | 11.0 | H2O | 909 | Surface | Surface temperature |
9 | 9.7 | O3 | 1031 | 25 | Total ozone |
10 | 7.4 | H2O | 1351 | 725 | Low-level moisture |
11 | 7.0 | H2O | 1428 | 550 | Sounding; mid-level moisture |
12 | 6.5 | H2O | 1538 | 350 | Sounding; upper-level moisture |
13 | 4.6 | N2O | 2173 | 1000 | Sounding; low-level temperature |
14 | 4.5 | N2O | 2222 | 950 | Sounding; mid-level temperature |
15 | 4.4 | CO2; N2O | 2272 | 650 | Sounding; upper-level temperature |
16 | 4.1 | CO2 | 2439 | Surface | Sounding; boundary layer |
17 | 4.0 | Window | 2500 | Surface | Temperature |
18 | 3.7 | Window | 2702 | Surface | Temperature |
19 | 0.70 | Window | 14286 | Surface | Clouds |
20 | Star scan |
Satellites |
GOES-6 and GOES-7 (no longer in use) |
Orbit Type |
Geostationary |
Instrument |
VAS |
Resolution |
1 km VIS, 4/8 km IR |
Band |
Central Wavelength (µm) |
Major Absorbing Gases |
Sounding Level (mb) |
Primary Uses |
1 | 14.7 (IR) | CO2 | 70 | Temperature sounding |
2 | 14.5 (IR) | CO2 | 125 | Temperature sounding |
3 | 14.3 (IR) | CO2 | 200 | Temperature sounding |
4 | 14.0 (IR) | CO2 | 500 | Temperature sounding, cloud heights |
5 | 13.3 (IR) | CO2 | 920 | Temperature sounding, cloud heights |
6 | 4.5 (IR) | CO2, N2O | 850 | Temperature sounding |
7 | 12.7 (IR) | H2O | 1000 | Water vapor detection |
8 | 11.2 (IR) | Window | Surface | Nighttime cloud detection, surface temperature |
9 | 7.3 (IR) | H2O | 600 | Water vapor detection |
10 | 6.7 (IR) | H2O | 400 | Water vapor detection |
11 | 4.4 (IR) | CO2, N2O | 300 | Temperature sounding |
12 | 3.9 (IR) | Window | Surface | Surface skin temperature, cloud detection |
13* | - | - | - | - |
NA | 0.65 (VIS) | Window | Surface | Daytime cloud detection |
* Band 13 in a McIDAS Area is the same as band 8 but at lower resolution. |
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