CloudSat Data Processing Center—Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) data processing, products, and user applications

All of the Level 0, 1, and 2 data products for the NASA CloudSat Mission are produced by the CloudSat Data Processing Center (DPC) at Colorado State University. Data are downlinked from the spacecraft, via the USAF Satellite Communications Network, to the mission command and control center at Kirtland AFB, NM. There, the data are decommutated, placed into blocked binary data files, and served to the CloudSat Data Processing Center to be processed to level 0-2 products. These products are then archived, and distributed by the DPC via a web-based data ordering system. This presentation provides details of the CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), “Standard” and “Enhanced” CPR data products, and the data processing, archive, and distribution system. In addition an overview is given of web-based user applications that are available for researchers who are interested in finding CPR data for specific case study dates or specific weather patterns or events.