.. _vx-data-viirs:

VIIRS
=====

Description
  Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
  This instrument is on a polar-orbiting satellite providing global observations related to the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth's surface. This information is focused on aerosol optical thickness (other VIIRS products are available).
  
  https://www.jpss.noaa.gov/viirs.html

Sample image

  .. image:: images/viirs.png
   :width: 600

  Image from NOAA/STAR

Recommended use
  Evaluating aerosol properties with remotely-sensed data  

File format
  NetCDF

Location of data
  VIIRS Atmosphere: https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/near-real-time/download-nrt-data/viirs-a-nrt

  VIIRS Land: https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/near-real-time/download-nrt-data/viirs-nrt

Access restrictions
  Requires a free Earthdata account

Spatial resolution, grid, or coverage
  Global coverage via polar orbiting swaths, with approximately 1 pass per day per given location near the equator

  At-nadir resolution of 6 km x 6 km  

Temporal resolution
  6 min

Starting and/or ending dates
  For Level 2 Dust AOD: 1 March 2012-Present

Data latency
  147 min

Variables available
  Aerosol optical thickness at 550 nm over land, ocean, and land/ocean

METplus Use Cases
  Link to `METplus Use Cases <https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/develop/search.html?q=VxData%26%26UseCase&check_keywords=yes&area=default>`_ for this dataset.

Keywords
  .. note:: **Current Dataset:** VxDataVIIRS
  .. note:: **Data Labels:** DataTypeGridded, DataLevelSatellite, DataProviderNASA, DataApplicationShortRange, DataApplicationMediumRange