A reprocessing activity of Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) parameters as currently produced at NOAA/NESDIS operationally in support of the GCIP/GAPP is in progress at the University of Maryland. The objective is to produce homogeneous SRB information for the period of January 1996 to December 2000. The data are to be produced with updated calibrations; improved cloud detection schemes, in particular, better cloud detection over snow, and improved atmospheric input parameters such as ozone (which till now was taken from climatology). The first version of this reprocessed product (Version 2.0) is provided at this web site at 1/2 degree resolution. A newer version (Version 2.1) has been used to produce the 1/8th degree resolution product for the years 1996-2000. The raw satellite model input data are provided by NCAR. The operational GCIP/GAPP SRB product as produced by NOAA/NESDIS at 1/2 degree resolution (Version 1.0) from 1996 till present is provided on a continuous basis. For the period 1996-2000 three products (Version 1.0, Version 2.0 and Version 2.1) are provided for the benefit of users of the operational product.
Please note: In addition to the SRB parameters, the "Reprocessed" product includes surface skin temperature for day and night as well as cloud information for both day and night. To derive surface skin temperature, used was the NOAA/NESDIS operational algorithm.
Surface Radiation Budget Account