gov.noaa.class:GVAR_B11 DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/IPD > Information Processing Division, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 19950702 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/index.htm http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/ http web browser GOES Operations Web site provides information and links about the Geostationary Satellites. information http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http web browser GOES Project Science NASA web site that provides links to GOES images, information and news. information http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http web browser CLASS: GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 Information about GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 . information http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http web browser CLASS: GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 Search GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 datasets. search gov.noaa.class:GVAR_B11 GVAR is the data transmission format used to broadcast environmental data measured by the independent GOES Imager and Sounder instruments. The Block 11 data files contain ancillary imager instrument data and metadata that may be useful to expert users as well as the raw soundings that have occurred over a one hour period. Useful for scientists and engineers looking at the history of the health of satellite instruments. Also contains raw Sounder data. See GOES Satellite Data - Sounder for a more user friendly formatted dataset. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Systems, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 200510 http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf http PDF GOES Operations Ground Equipment (OGE) Interface Specification Describes systems for GOES I-M and NOP. information DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Graumann, Axel 20031201 Version 1.1 Asheville, NC DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/documentlibrary/tddoc/td3701.pdf http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/documentlibrary/tddoc/td3701.pdf http PDF GOES Data User's Guide Covers the three basic satellite systems, the GOES Spacecraft System, the GOES Spacecraft Support Subsystem, and the Product Generation and Distribution Subsystem. information 19950702 Present ground condition In work Hourly -178 -64 53 6 Level 1b Standards Working Group, Federal Geographic Data Committee 20021009 FGDC-STD-012-2002 590 National CenterReston, VA 20192 Federal Geographic Data Committee Secretariatc/o U.S. Geological Survey http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/csdgm_rs_ex/MetadataRemoteSensingExtens.pdf http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/csdgm_rs_ex/MetadataRemoteSensingExtens.pdf http PDF Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata, FGDC-STD-012-2002 The purpose of this standard is to provide extensions to the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata for describing geospatial data obtained from remote sensing. information ISO 19115 Topic Category climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere NASA/GCMD Earth Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > Spectral/Engineering > Sensor Characteristics > Electrical Properties EARTH SCIENCE > Spectral/Engineering > Sensor Characteristics > Thermal Properties None Telemetry NASA/GCMD Location Keywords Geographic Region > Western Hemisphere GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 8 GOES-8 GOES I-M IMAGER Imager GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 8 GOES-8 GOES I-M SOUNDER Sounder GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 9 GOES-9 GOES I-M IMAGER Imager GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 9 GOES-9 GOES I-M SOUNDER Sounder GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 10 GOES-10 GOES I-M IMAGER Imager GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 10 GOES-10 GOES I-M SOUNDER Sounder GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 11 GOES-11 GOES I-M IMAGER Imager GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 11 GOES-11 GOES I-M SOUNDER Sounder GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 GOES-12 GOES I-M IMAGER Imager GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 GOES-12 GOES I-M SOUNDER Sounder None None DOC/NOAA/NCDC/SSG > Satellite Services Group, NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Axel Graumann mailing and physical address

151 Patton Avenue, Room 120

Asheville North Carolina 28801-5001 (828) 271-4850 ext. 3183 (828) 271-4328 NCDC.satorder@noaa.gov Axel.Graumann@noaa.gov 9 - 5 EST IPD/NESDIS sends XML files to CLASS containing details of bad/missing scanlines by band. When the GOES spacecraft enters and leaves the Earth's shadow the Imager and Sounder are idle prior to and following eclipse. For more information go to URL: http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/koz-eclipse/koz-eclipse.htm. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Unpublished material GOES_Level_0 raw satellite data and telemetry 1994 Present ground condition GOES_Level_0 Raw satellite data from which GOES Sounder datasets are derived. Prior to July 12, 2004 the source of the GOES data came from Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/IPD > Information Processing Division, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Unknown GVAR_Data processed satellite data 1994 Present upon processing GVAR_Data Level 1 imager and sounder data from GOES satellites from which products are generated. It is 1a before it is retransmitted to the direct readout users. NOAA archives the reprocessed GOES data, which has been calibrated. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/IPD > Information Processing Division, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 19950702 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/index.htm http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/ http web browser GOES Operations Web site provides information and links about the Geostationary Satellites. information http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http web browser GOES Project Science NASA web site that provides links to GOES images, information and news. information http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http web browser CLASS: GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 Information about GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 . information http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http web browser CLASS: GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 Search GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 datasets. search gov.noaa.class:GVAR_B11 satellite data 19940831 Present upon processing gov.noaa.class:GVAR_B11 The Block 11 data files contain ancillary imager instrument data and metadata that may be useful to expert users as well as the raw soundings that have occurred over a one hour period. The GOES Support System includes the Command and Data Acquisition (CDA) Station at Wallops Island, VA, and the Satellite Operations and Control Center (SOCC) at Suitland, MD. At the CDA station, raw instrument data and telemetry are read out from the satellite. Data are processed, calibrated, earth-located and converted to GOES Variable data format (GVAR) and rebroadcast to the satellite along with spacecraft command schedules. The GVAR data are then broadcast to direct readout users. GOES_Level_0 Not complete GVAR_Data Catherine L. Nichols NSOF IT Specialist Physical

NOAA / NESDIS Ground Systems Division NSOF, E/OSD3 4231 Suitland Road

Suitland MD 20746-4304 (301)457-5245 cathy.nichols@noaa.gov not applicable Unpublished material DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Systems, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 200510 http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf http PDF GOES Operations Ground Equipment (OGE) Interface Specification Describes systems for GOES I-M and NOP. information TBD Unknown GVAR data ingested by NOAA is processed further in that Block 11 is stripped away and created as two separate datasets, GOES Satellite Data - Sounder and GOES Satellite Data - Block 11. The remaining GVAR data contains only Imager data in blocks 0 -10. GVAR_Data Not complete gov.noaa.class:GVAR_B11 The earlest GVAR data from GOES-8 and GOES-9 had been recorded on Sony U-Matic Cassettes up until October 1997. Beginning in October 1997, SSEC switched to IBM 3590 tapes, capable of storing approximately 20 Gb of data. The data on U-Matic cassettes were pulled and copied onto IBM 3590 tapes under a "data rescue" agreement with NCDC. The data rescue project of the entire GOES archive was completed sometime in early 2003. Per directed ESDIM funding for FY 2001, NCD. GOES analogue archive 2003 GOES digital archive The GVAR Sounder/Auxiliary Data (SAD) Block 11 is a fixed-length block equal in size to the Imager documentation Block 0. The internal structure of a SAD block 11 depends upon the type of data being transported. The permissible SAD Block data types are as follows: a. Sounder Documentation Data, b. Sounder Scan Data, c. Instrument Compensation Terms, d. Instrument Spacelook Calibration Data, e. Instrument BB-Cal Data, f. Instrument ECAL Data, g. Instrument Telemetry Statistics, h. Instrument Calibration Coefficients, i. Instrument Normalization Lookup Tables, j. Instrument Star Sense Data, k. GIMTACS or SPS Text Messages, l. Imager Factory Coefficients, m. Fill Data Section 3.3.7 of GOES Operations Ground Equipment (OGE) Interface Specifications (http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf). DOC/NOAA/CLASS > Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Mailing and Physical

CLASS, 151 Patton Avenue

Asheville NC 28801-5001 USA (828) 271-4850 x3183 (828) 271-4328 info@class.noaa.gov 9:00 - 5:00 EST GVAR_B11 Disclaimer - While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. File name format is gXX.YYYY.JJJ.HH.tar (e.g. g12.2004.160.18). Where: g = constant, XX = GOES satellite number (08-12), YYYY = 4 digit year (e.g. 2006), JJJ = *day of year (01-366), HH = *hour (00-23), *Time is Greenwich Mean Time. binary GVAR block format 20051021 Format for Block 11 is described in OGE Interface Specification at http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/G023_504.02_DCN2.pdf. http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=GVAR_B11 http web browser CLASS: GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 Download options for GOES Satellite Data - Block 11. download CD-ROM n/a DVD n/a IBM LTO Tape n/a Generations 1, 2 and 3. Electronic download (FTP) of the data is free. There is a fee for copies of data on physical media. Optical disks are $25.00 per unit and magnetic tape is $100 per unit. Price does not include additional service and handling costs. The option to order data for shipping will occur at the order checkout stage, from which you will then proceed to another NOAA site to provide shipping and billing addresses and credit card information. Contact the CLASS Help Desk (info@class.noaa.gov) for instructions for payment by other means. Delivery of physical media occurs within 1 to 2 weeks, but may take longer for large orders. 19950702 Present 20090814 20080123 20090123 DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Anna Milan Mailing and Physical Address

325 Broadway, Mail Code E/GC4

Boulder CO 80305-3328 USA (303) 497-5099 (303) 497-6513 Anna.Milan@noaa.gov 9:00 - 5:00 Mountain Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata FGDC-STD-012-2002 http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/metadata/extensions/local_extensions.html NGDC Extensions to FGDC Metadata GOES > NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites The GOES project is a joint effort of NASA and NOAA. The GOES I-M series of satellites is owned and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) manages the design, development, and launch of the spacecraft. Once the satellite is launched and checked out, NOAA assumes responsibility for the command and control, data receipt, and product generation and distribution. These spacecraft help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, fog, flash floods, and other severe weather. In addition, GOES observations have proven helpful in monitoring dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires. The GOES I-M mission is scheduled to run from the mid-1990s into the first decade of the 21st century. Each element of the mission has been designed to meet all in-orbit performance requirements for at least five years. NOAA and NASA have developed a new generation of GOES satellites, designated GOES-N,O,P, that will continue and enhance the previous generation of GOES satellites through 2012. The next generation of satellites will provide a continuation of meteorological and environmental data products and services to the GOES data user community. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series (GOES-R) program is a key element of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) operations. As such, the GOES-R series of satellites will be comprised of improved spacecraft and instrument technologies, which will result in more timely and accurate weather forecasts, and improve support for the detection and observations of meteorological phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and ultimately, economic health and development. The first launch of the GOES-R series satellite is scheduled for 2015. 19661207 The Applications Technology Satellite series was a set of six NASA spacecraft launched from Dec. 7, 1966, to May 30, 1974, created to explore and flight-test new technologies and techniques for communications, meteorological and navigation satellites. ATS was a multi-purpose engineering satellite series, testing technology in communications and meteorology from geosynchronous orbit. The major objective of the early ATS satellites was to test whether gravity would anchor the satellite in a synchronous orbit (22,300 statute miles above the Earth), allowing it to move at the same rate the Earth is turning, thus seeming to remain stationary. Although the ATS satellites were intended mainly as test beds, they also collected and transmitted meteorological data and functioned at times as communications satellites. ATS provided the first color images from space as well as regular cloud cover images for meteorological studies. 19661207 Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-1) launched. 19740517 SMS-1 ended operations 197601 SMS-1 deorbited 19810121 The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program formally began in 1975 as a joint effort of NOAA and NASA. 1975 SMS-2 (SMS-A) launched. 19750206 SMS-2 deactivated 19820805 GOES-1 (GOES-A) launched. 19751016 GOES-1 (A) relocated to replace SMS-2 197806 GOES-1 (A) deactivated 19950307 GOES-2 (GOES-B) launched. 19770616 GOES-2 (B) ended imaging operations 1993 GOES-2 (B) deorbited 20010505 GOES-3 (GOES-C) launched. 19780616 GOES-4 (GOES-D) launched. 19800909 GOES-4 (D) deativated 19881122 GOES-5 (GOES-E) launched. 19810515 GOES-5 (E) deactivated 19900718 GOES-6 (GOES-F) launched. 19830428 GOES-6 (F) deactivated 19920524 GOES-G launched, but did not reach operational orbit. 19860503 GOES-7 (GOES-H) launched. 19870226 GOES-7 (H) switched to standby status 199601 GOES-8 (GOES-I) launched. 19940413 0604 GOES 8 (I) deorbited 20040505 GOES-9 (GOES-J) launched. 19950523 055202 GOES-9 deactivated, because of failing bearings in the momentum wheels. 19980728 GOES-10 (GOES-K) launched. 19970425 0549 GOES-10 (K) became the Operational West satellite. 19980707 GOES-10 (K) operational status is standby/drifting. 20060630 GOES-11 (GOES-L) launched. 20000503 0707 GOES-11 (L) became the Operational West satellite. It replaced GOES-10. 20060621 GOES-12 (GOES-M) launched. 20010723 0723 GOES-12 (M) became the Operational East satellite. 20030401 GOES-13 (N) launched. 20060524 GOES-13 (N) resumed standby status. 20090106 GOES-14 (O) launched 20090627 Unknown GOES-8 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 8 19940413 DOC/NOAA > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce NASA > National Aeronautics Space Agency GOES-8 - Spacecraft letter: I. Launched: April 13, 1994. Spacecraft Location: ~4 deg/day West Drift. Instruments: Imager, Sounder and SEM. AOCS Mode: L2. Operational status: decommissioned. 19960113 040417 -75 km 35797 GOES-9 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 9 19950930 NOAA > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NASA > National Aeronautics Space Agency GOES-9 - Spacecraft letter: J. Launched: May 23, 1995. Spacecraft Location: 160 East. Instruments: Imager, Sounder and SEM. AOCS mode: L1. Operational status: backup. 20060123 12 -155 km 35783 GOES-10 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 10 19980707 DOC/NOAA > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration GOES-10 - Spacecraft Letter: K. Launched: April 25, 1997. Spacecraft Location: 135 West (previous location) Instruments: Imager, Sounder and SEM. AOCS mode: V - yaw flip. Operational status: At 60 W longitude beginning 12/04/06 to support South America mission. 20060123 06 -134.5 km 35784 GOES-11 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 11 20060621 06 DOC/NOAA > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration GOES-11 Spacecraft Letter: L. Launched: May 3, 2000. Spacecraft Location: 135 West. Instruments: Imager, Sounder and SEM. AOCS Mode: V-MODE. Operational status: Operational West. 20060123 -107.398 km 35783 GOES-12 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 20030401 DOC/NOAA > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration GOES-12 - Spacecraft Letter: M. Launch Date: July 23, 2001. Spacecraft Location: 75 West. Instruments: Imager, Sounder, SEM and SXI. AOCS Mode: V. Operational status: Operational East. 20060123 06 -74.9 km 35789.3 GOES I-M Imager imager Full disk (earth), sector or area scans whiskbroom degrees minutes kilometers kilometers For the visible detectors (Band 1) along the East-to-West/West-to-East path. The infrared detectors are 4 km or 8 km. 1 North-to-South swath along the East-to-West/West-to-East path. 8 kilometer 1 http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/imager.calibration.html 5 micrometers 0.55 0.75 0.65 visible kilometer 1 Channel 1. For instruments aboard GOES 8 - 12. Primary purpose: Visible cloud cover and surface features. micrometers 3.80 4.00 3.90 infrared - shortwave kilometers 4 Channel 2. For instruments aboard GOES 8 - 12. Primary purpose: Nighttime clouds and fire detection. micrometers 6.50 7.0 6.8 infrared kilometers 8 Channel 3. For instruments aboard GOES-8 through 11. Primary purpose: water vapor. micrometers 5.8 7.3 6.5 infrared kilometers 4 Channel 3. For instrument aboard GOES-12. Primary purpose: water vapor. micrometers 10.20 11.20 10.70 infrared - longwave 1 kilometers 4 Channel 4. For instrument aboard GOES 8 - 12. Primary purpose: sea surface temperature and water vapor. micrometers 11.50 12.50 12.00 infrared - longwave 2 kilometers 4 Channel 5. For instrument aboard GOES-8 through 11. Primary purpose: sea surface temperature and water vapor. micrometers 13.0 13.7 13.3 infrared kilometers 4 Channel 6. For instrument aboard GOES-12. Primary purpose: cloud cover and height. GOES I-M satellites are three-axis stabilized, giving the Imager a continuous view of the Earth. NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Unknown http://goespoes.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/instruments/i_m_imager.html http://goespoes.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/instruments/i_m_imager.html http browser GOES Project, GOES I-M Imager Description of GOES I-M Imager from NASA website. information NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA 19960831 Greenbelt, Maryland SS/L > Space Systems-Loral http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/databook/section03.pdf http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/databook/section03.pdf http browser and PDF GOES I-M DataBook, Section 3, Imager Information about GOES I-M Imager. information NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA 19960831 revision 1 Greenbelt, Maryland SS/L > Space Systems-Loral http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/goes.databook.html http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/goes.databook.html http web browser and PDF GOES I-M DataBook A summary and technical overview of the GOES I-M system, its satellites, subsystems, sensor suite, and associated ground communication and data handling subsystems. information GOES I-M Sounder sounder Regional, limited regional, hurricane sectors whiskbroom degrees minutes kilometers kilometers East to West/West to East alternate 8 North to South swath width same as Imager, e.g. 8km 8 kilometer 8 http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/sounder.calibration.html 19 um 999.999 999.999 14.71 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 1 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 14.37 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 2 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 14.06 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 3 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 13.64 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 4 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 13.37 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 5 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 12.66 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 6 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 12.06 longwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 7 surface temperature um 999.999 999.999 11.03 midwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 8 surface temperature um 999.999 999.999 9.71 midwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 9 ozone um 999.999 999.999 7.43 midwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 10 water vapor sounding um 999.999 999.999 7.02 midwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 11 water vapor sounding um 999.999 999.999 6.51 midwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 12 water vapor sounding um 999.999 999.999 4.57 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 13 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 4.52 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 14 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 4.45 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 15 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 4.13 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 16 temperature sounding um 999.999 999.999 3.98 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 17 surface temperature um 999.999 999.999 3.74 shortwave infrared kilometers 8 Channel 18 surface temperature um 999.999 999.999 0.67 visible kilometers 9 Channel 19 cloud detection The Sounder acquires radiometric data from 19 distinct channels through the use of four separate detector arrays and a rotating filter wheel. The radiomentric data are comprised of one visible channel, one star sense visible channel, and 18 IR channels. The Sounder is capable of full earth sounding (19 degrees N/S by 19.2 degrees E/W) and sector sounding, including various sounding area sizes totally enclosed within the earth scene. Area scan size can be as small as one sounding location. The sounding dwell at each step is selectable to be 0.2 or 0.4 second in place of 0.1 second. An optional capability is provided for skipping scan lines to increase the rate of area sounding at a dwell time of 0.2 second per sounding. The Sounder's flexible operation includes a star sensing capability. The filters are arranged on the wheel for efficient use of sample time and optimal channel coregistration. Each detector converts the atmospheric radiance into an electrical signal that is amplified, filtered, and digitized; the resulting digital signal is routed to a sensor data transmitter, then to an output multiplexer for downlinking to a ground station. By synchronizing filter wheel rotation with the scan mirror's stepping motion, all sampling is accomplished with the mirror in a stopped condition. Accuracy of pixel location is provided by the absolute position control system in which position error is noncumulative. NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA 1994 revised August 31, 1996 http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/databook/section04.pdf http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/databook/section04.pdf pdf Web browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader GOES I-M DataBook Information about GOES sensors and satellites. PDF document published by Space Systems Loral under contract with NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center, home of the GOES Project Office. information