Community Satellite Processing Package

  CSPP Polar2Grid Reprojection Software Version 3.2 Release

24 February 2026

The CSPP Polar2Grid Software was created to enable Polar Orbiter Satellite Imager users (VIIRS, AVHRR and MODIS), including the US National Weather Service (NWS), the capability to easily create high quality reprojected imagery. NOAA JPSS has funded this effort to create an open-source, modular application system. This bundled solution automates tools for converting satellite data including the JPSS Series VIIRS instruments into a variety of output formats, including GeoTIFFs, AWIPS compatible NetCDF, binary and HDF5.

In addition to traditional visible and infrared imagery, the software provides the capability to create sharpened true color, sharpened false color, and user-defined Red/Green/Blue (RGB) images.

What is new in Version 3.2:

Polar2Grid Version 3.2 is a minor update that includes the following changes:
  • Support for additional CSPP VIIRS Environmental Data Records (EDRs) with examples including:
    • Cloud Base Height (JRR-CloudBase*.nc files)
    • Total Cloud Fraction, Cloud Layers (JRR-CloudCoverLayers*.nc)
    • Cloud Top Temperature (JRR-CloudHeight*.nc files)
  • Expanded examples sections
  • New CSPP AMSR2 GAASP Level 2 product reader
  • New Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) MWR reader
  • Support input data directly from the Amazon JPSS Marketplace
  • Change default visible band output to apply /cos(SZA). Use --normalized-radiances for old behavior
  • Fix resampling coverage calculations
  • Optimizations
  • Bug fixes
The documentation includes descriptions of each reader and writer supported by Polar2Grid, along with many examples. We are happy to help with any questions or problems that you may have. Please use the `Contact Us` link at the bottom of any CSPP website page.

Features of Polar2Grid
  • Execution is performed through simple bash shell scripts, wrapping python underlying modules. For example, to create GeoTIFF files of NOAA20 VIIRS I-Bands 1 and 5 using the default Platte Carrée (Google Earth) projection, you can execute a command like this:
    polar2grid.sh -r viirs_sdr -w geotiff -p i01 i05 -f /viirs/sdr/SVI{01,05}*.h5 /viirs/geo/GITCO*.h5
  • True color and False color reprojections can be created using a single command.
  • If more than one contiguous granule is provided as input, an aggregated output image file will be created.
  • Users can define their own grids. A grid definition helper script is included with the package.
  • Proj4 grid definitions can be used.
  • The Polar2Grid open source software code repository is also available through github at: https://github.com/ssec/polar2grid.
System Requirements

  • Intel or AMD CPU with 64-bit instruction support (2+ cores - 2.4GHz)
  • 16 GB RAM (minimum)
  • Rocky 8 or Rocky 9 64-bit Linux (or other compatible 64-bit Linux distribution)
  • 10 GB disk space (minimum)
The following is a list of Satellite Instruments and Science Data Products supported:
  • NOAA-21, NOAA-20, S-NPP VIIRS
  • Aqua, Terra MODIS
  • MetOp-B,-C AVHRR
  • GCOM-W1 AMSR2
  • Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) Microwave Radiometer (MWR)
  • FY-3D MERSI-2
  • FY-3E MERSI-LL
  • CSPP MiRS Microwave Retrievals
  • CSPP AMSR2 GAASP Retrievals
  • CSPP ACSPO Sea Surface Temperature Retrievals
  • CSPP VIIRS Active Fire Retrievals
  • CSPP VIIRS AOD, Cloud Top Height, Cloud Top Temperature, Cloud Base Height, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Layers EDR products
  • CSPP VIIRS Surface Reflectance Products, including Vegetation Index Products (NDVI, EVI)
  • CSPP HEAP NUCAPS Atmospheric Profile Retrievals (CrIS/ATMS)
  • CSPP CLAVR-x Cloud Retrievals

Software, execution scripts and documentation are included with the release.

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