Data Variable, Units, and Definitions - Clouds Protocol
GLOBE Cloud Data Variable, Units, and Definitions
* Consult the Single Satellite Footprint TOA/Surface Fluxes and Clouds (SSF) Collection Document for more details on data definitions
Variable | Units | Definition |
Observation Number | integer | An identification code referencing the observer of the data |
Is GLOBE Trained |
1
= true | Indicates if the observer did a GLOBE training to make observations |
Is Citizen Science |
1
= true | Indicates if the observer used the GLOBE Observer app to collect the observation |
Site ID | integer | An identification code referencing the location of the observation |
Observation Latitude | decimal degrees north | The latitude of the site where data were observed. Range [-90, 90] |
Observation Longitude | decimal degrees east | The longitude of the site where date were observed. Range [-180, 180] |
Observation Elevation | meters above sea level | The elevation of the site where data were observed |
Measurement Date (UTC) | YYYY-MM-DD | The date when the data were observed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) |
Measurement Time (UTC) | HH:MM:SS | The time when the data were observed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) |
Sky Color | text | Sky color: deep blue, blue, light blue, pale blue or milky (blank if not reported) |
Sky Visibility | text | Sky visibility: unusually clear, clear, somewhat hazy, very hazy or extremely hazy (blank if not reported) |
Total Cloud Cover | text | Total amount of sky covered by clouds irregardless of altitude : none, clear, isolated, scattered, broken, overcast or obscured (blank if not reported) |
Total Cloud Cover % | text | Total percent of sky covered by clouds irregardless of altitude : 0, <10%, 10-25%, 25-50%, 50-90% or 90-100% (blank if not reported) |
Cirrus |
1
= true | Cirrus clouds detected |
Cirrocumulus |
1
= true | Cirrocumulus clouds detected |
Cirrostratus |
1
= true | Cirrostratus clouds detected |
Altostratus |
1
= true | Altostratus clouds detected |
Altocumulus |
1
= true | Altocumulus clouds detected |
Cumulus |
1
= true | Cumulus clouds detected |
Nimbostratus |
1
= true | Nimbostratus clouds detected |
Stratus |
1
= true | Stratus clouds detected |
Stratocumulus |
1
= true | Stratocumulus clouds detected |
Cumulonimbus |
1
= true | Cumulonimbus clouds detected |
Short Lived Contrails | integer | Number of short-lived contrails observed (blank if not reported) |
Spreading Contrails | integer | Number of spreading contrails observed (blank if not reported) |
Non Spreading Contrails | integer | Number of non-spreading contrails observed (blank if not reported) |
Fog |
1
= true | Fog obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Smoke |
1
= true | Smoke obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Haze |
1
= true | Haze obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Volcanic Ash |
1
= true | Volcanic Ash obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Dust |
1
= true | Dust obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Sand |
1
= true | Sand obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Spray |
1
= true | Spray obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Heavy Rain |
1
= true | Heavy rain obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Heavy Snow |
1
= true | Heavy snow obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Blowing Snow |
1
= true | Blowing snow obscured at least 25% of the sky |
Surface Snow/Ice |
1
= true | Snow or ice covered the ground |
Surface Standing Water |
1
= true | Body of water present in location of observation |
Surface Muddy |
1
= true | Mud present on the ground |
Surface Dry Ground |
1
= true | Ground reported as dry |
Surface Leaves on Trees |
1
= true | More than 50% of trees have leaves |
Surface Raining or Snowing |
1
= true | The observation was made while it rained/snowed |
High Cloud Cover | text | Total amount of sky covered by high clouds irregardless of altitude : clear (<10%), isolated (10-25%), scattered (25-50%), broken (50-90%) or overcast (90-100%) (blank if not reported or none) |
High Cloud Opacity | text | Average opacity of high clouds : transparent, translucent or opaque (blank if not reported or none) |
Mid Cloud Cover | text | Total amount of sky covered by mid clouds irregardless of altitude : clear (<10%), isolated (10-25%), scattered (25-50%), broken (50-90%) or overcast (90-100%) (blank if not reported or none) |
Mid Cloud Opacity | text | Average opacity of high clouds : transparent, translucent or opaque (blank if not reported or none) |
Low Cloud Cover | text | Total amount of sky covered by low clouds irregardless of altitude : clear (<10%), isolated (10-25%), scattered (25-50%), broken (50-90%) or overcast (90-100%) (blank if not reported or none) |
Low Cloud Opacity | text | Average opacity of high clouds : transparent, translucent or opaque (blank if not reported or none) |
Surface Air Temperature | degrees | The ambient air temperature in Celsius at the time of measurement (blank if not reported) |
Surface Barometric Pressure | millibars (mb) | Atmospheric pressure at the measurement site (blank if not reported) |
Surface Relative Humidity % | percent % | Relative humidity (blank if not reported) |
Ground Image North | link | URL link to image taken in the north cardinal direction (blank if photo not provided) |
Ground Image East | link | URL link to image taken in the east cardinal direction (blank if photo not provided) |
Ground Image South | link | URL link to image taken in the south cardinal direction (blank if photo not provided) |
Ground Image West | link | URL link to image taken in the west cardinal direction (blank if photo not provided) |
Ground Image Up | link | URL link to image taken in the upward direction (blank if photo not provided) |
Ground Image Down | link | URL link to image taken of the ground (blank if photo not provided) |
Cloud Satellite Comparison Table | link or text | URL link to the satellite match table or no match |
CALIPSO Satellite Match Table | link or text | URL link to the satellite match table or no match |
GEO Satellite | text | Geostationary satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
GEO Date | YYYY-MM-DD | Date of geostationary satellite data collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
GEO Time | HH:MM:SS | Time of geostationary satellite data collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
GEO Latitude | degrees | Latitude of the geostationary satellite relative to earth (always zero) (blank if no match) |
GEO Longitude | degrees | Longitude of the geostationary satellite relative to earth (blank if no match) |
GEO Vzen | degrees | Viewing zenith at surface. This parameter is the geodetic angle θ at the Earth point of the satellite (blank if no match) |
GEO Szen | degrees | Solar zenith at surface. This parameter is the geodetic zenith angle θο at the Earth point of the Sun (blank if no match) |
GEO Total Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of low clouds (0-2km) (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of mid clouds (2-6km) (blank if no match) |
GEO High Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of high clouds (>6km) (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Liquid | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with a liquid phase and cloud top height between 0-2 km (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Liquid | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with a liquid phase and cloud top height between 2-6 km (blank if no match) |
GEO High Liquid | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with a liquid phase and cloud top height above 6 km (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Ice | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with ice and cloud top height between 0-2 km (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Ice | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with ice phase and cloud top height between 2-6 km (blank if no match) |
GEO High Ice | percent % | Percent of clouds surrounding the site (out to 40-km away) with ice phase and cloud top height above 6 km (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
GEO High Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights above 6km (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Cloud Temp | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Coud Temp | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
GEO High Cloud Temp | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
GEO Low Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top altitude (km) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
GEO Mid Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top altitude (km) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
GEO High Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top altitude (km) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
GEO Snow | percent % | Percent snow and ice cover (blank if no match) |
GEO Ocean | percent % | Percent surface water (blank if no match) |
Terra
Satellite | Text |
Text
appears if data was collocated with the CERES instrument
onboard Terra (blank if no match) |
Terra
Longitude | degrees | Longitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
Terra
Latitude | degrees | Latitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
Terra
Date |
YYYY-MM-DD | Date CERES instrument onboard Terra satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
Terra
Time | HH:MM:SS | Time CERES instrument onboard Terra satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
Terra
Total Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover (blank if no match) |
Terra
Low Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Terra
Low Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Terra Low Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of low clouds (0-2km) (blank if no match) |
Terra Low Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 0-2km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Terra Low Cloud Temp (K) | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Terra Mid Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Terra Mid Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Terra Mid Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of mid level clouds (2-6km) (blank if no match) |
Terra Mid Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 2-6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Terra Mid Cloud Temp (K) | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Terra High Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
Terra High Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights above 6km (blank if no match) |
Terra High Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of high clouds (> 6km) (blank if no match) |
Terra High Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights above 6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Terra High Cloud Temp (K) | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
Terra Vzen | degrees | CERES viewing zenith at surface. This parameter is the geodetic angle θ at the Earth point of the satellite (blank if no match) |
Terra Szen | degrees | CERES solar zenith at Surface. This parameter is the geodetic zenith angle θο at the Earth point of the Sun (blank if no match) |
Terra Wind | Meters per seconds (m/s) | Surface wind speed (at 10 m altitude) calculated using u and v vectors based on modeled data (see SSF-57 and SSF-58 - https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/documents/collect_guide/pdf/SSF_CG_R2V1.pdf ) (blank if no match) |
Terra Snow | Percent (%) | Percent snow and ice cover (blank if no match) |
Terra Ocean | Percent (%) | Percent surface water (blank if no match) |
Aqua Satellite | Text | Text appears if data was collocated the CERES instrument onboard Aqua (blank if no match) |
Aqua Longitude | degrees | Longitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
Aqua Latitude | degrees | Latitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
Aqua Date | YYYY-MM-DD | Date CERES instrument onboard Aqua satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
Aqua Time | HH:MM:SS | Time CERES instrument onboard Aqua satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
Aqua Total Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover (blank if no match) |
Aqua Low Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Low Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Low Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of low clouds (0-2km) (blank if no match) |
Aqua Low Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 0-2km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Aqua Low Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Mid Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Mid Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Mid Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of mid level clouds (2-6km) (blank if no match) |
Aqua Mid Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 2-6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Aqua Mid Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua High Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua High Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights above 6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua High Cloud Cover | percent | Total cloud cover of high clouds (> 6km) (blank if no match) |
Aqua High Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights above 6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
Aqua High Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
Aqua Sat Vzen | degrees | CERES viewing zenith at surface. This parameter is the geodetic angle θ at the Earth point of the satellite (blank if no match) |
Aqua Sat Szen | degrees | CERES solar zenith at Surface. This parameter is the geodetic zenith angle θο at the Earth point of the Sun (blank if no match) |
Aqua Wind | Meters per seconds (m/s) | Surface wind speed (at 10 m altitude) calculated using u and v vectors based on modeled data (see SSF-57 and SSF-58 - https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/documents/collect_guide/pdf/SSF_CG_R2V1.pdf ) (blank if no match) |
Aqua Snow | Percent (%) | Percent snow and ice cover (blank if no match) |
Aqua Ocean | Percent (%) | Percent surface water (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Satellite | Text | Text appears if data was collocated the CERES instrument onboard NOAA-20 (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Longitude | degrees | Longitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Latitude | degrees | Latitude of satellite at time of observation (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Date | YYYY-MM-DD | Date CERES instrument onboard NOAA-20 satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Time | HH:MM:SS | Time CERES instrument onboard NOAA-20 satellite collocated or matched to citizen science observation (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Total Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Low Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Low Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Low Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of low clouds (0-2km) (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Low Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 0-2km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Low Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 0-2km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Mid Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Mid Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Mid Cloud Cover | percent % | Total cloud cover of mid level clouds (2-6km) (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Mid Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights between 2-6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Mid Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops between 2-6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 High Cloud Altitude | Kilometers | Cloud top height (km) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 High Cloud Opt | number | Optical depth for cloud top heights above 6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 High Cloud Cover | percent | Total cloud cover of high clouds (> 6km) (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 High Cloud Phase | integer | Mean cloud particle phase (liquid, mix, ice) for cloud top heights above 6km. A particle phase of 1.0 means the entire cloud is water. A particle phase of 2.0 means the entire cloud is ice (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 High Cloud Kel | Kelvin | Effective temperature (K) for clouds with tops above 6km (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Sat Vzen | degrees | CERES viewing zenith at surface. This parameter is the geodetic angle θ at the Earth point of the satellite (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Sat Szen | degrees | CERES solar zenith at Surface. This parameter is the geodetic zenith angle θο at the Earth point of the Sun (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Wind | Meters per seconds (m/s) | Surface wind speed (at 10 m altitude) calculated using u and v vectors based on modeled data (see SSF-57 and SSF-58 - https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/documents/collect_guide/pdf/SSF_CG_R2V1.pdf ) (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Snow | Percent (%) | Percent snow and ice cover (blank if no match) |
NOAA-20 Ocean | Percent (%) | Percent surface water (blank if no match) |