Community Satellite Processing Package

  VIIRS ATMOSphere (ATMOS) Environmental Data Record (EDR) Software Version 1.0 Release

20 March 2025

This is the first release of the CSPP JPSS VIIRS ATMOSphere (ATMOS) Enterprise Environmental Data Record (EDR) software package for creating VIIRS Atmosphere Products from direct broadcast NOAA-21, NOAA-20 and Suomi-NPP Sensor Data Record (SDR) inputs.

The VIIRS ATMOS EDR software package includes binary executable files, supporting static data files, and input and output files for verifying successful local installation. This CSPP release (VIIRS ATMOS Version 1.0) offers NOAA VIIRS ATMOSphere EDR Software Versions 3.2, adapted and tested for real-time direct broadcast environments. It supersedes the Atmosphere Products previously created as part of the CSPP ASCI package.

How Does CSPP VIIRS ATMOS Differ from CSPP ASCI?

Important differences between the CSPP ASCI and CSPP ATMOS are listed below. Please see the installation document for more information.
  • CSPP VIIRS ATMOS creates Atmosphere products only.
  • CSPP ATMOS Version 1.0 adds support for NOAA-21 VIIRS.
  • The target Operating System for CSPP ATMOS is Rocky Linux 8.10.
  • CSPP ATMOS requires considerably more processing resources than CSPP ASCI. Please see the System Requirements Section.
  • The algorithms have been updated to NOAA Versions 3.2, with the exception of the VIIRS Cloud Cover Layers product, which is Version 2.0.
  • The dynamic ancillary data Global Forecast System (GFS) Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) input files used by CSPP ATMOS are .25 degree resolution; CSPP ASCI used .50 degree resolution input files.
  • The local dynamic ancillary data cache structure has changed. All dynamic ancillary is stored directly in the top level CSPP_DYNAMIC_ANCIL_DIR and not within any other sub-directories.
The CSPP VIIRS ATMOS software supports the following products:
  • VIIRS Cloud Retrievals, including Cloud Mask, Cloud Top Properties, Cloud Phase, Cloud Type, Cloud Base Height, Cloud Cover/Layers and Cloud Daytime and Nighttime Microphysical Properties.
  • VIIRS Aerosol Retrievals, including Aerosol Optical Depth, and the Aerosol Detection Product.
  • VIIRS Volcanic Ash Retrievals, including Ash Top Height, Ash Top Temperature, Ash Effective Radius and Ash Optical Depth.
The NOAA ASSISTT group worked with the CSPP team to integrate the JPSS processing framework enterprise algorithms into standalone executables. These can be executed through simple CSPP bash shell and Python scripts. The output files are identical in naming, format (NetCDF), and structure to the corresponding NOAA archived files. This CSPP release (VIIRS_ATMOS) has been adapted and tested for operation in a real-time direct broadcast environment. A separate test data package can be downloaded for verifying a successful installation.

CSPP VIIRS ATMOS System Requirements
  • Intel or AMD CPU with 64-bit instruction support,
  • 18 GB RAM (minimum) per core,
  • Rocky Linux 8.10. The software has also been tested on Rocky Linux release 9.4,
  • 70 GB disk space (minimum),
  • Internet connection (for downloading dynamic ancillary data).
Note: For routine real-time processing of S-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 direct broadcast, a Linux server running Rocky Linux 8 with 64 cores, 256 GB RAM, and 8 TB hard drive space is recommended. These are the same system specifications as needed for routine SDR file creation.

The software, test data and installation guide are available at the CSPP Download website.


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