https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 24.4 2026-07-22T11:07:16.739Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/projects/a76e5b1a-cd44-434e-9042-910c64b46b94 NOAA/NASA PATHFINDER The NOAA/NASA Pathfinder Program was initiated in 1990 in response toa need for improved, long time series data sets for global changeresearch. Candidate data sets were identified based on availablecoverage and importance of the data in global change research. AllPathfinder data sets involve space-based observations. Pathfinderactivities include reprocessing of these data usingcommunity-consensus algorithms as recommended by designated ScienceWorking Groups (SWGs). The data sets will be made available throughthe Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) of the Earth ObservingSystem Data Information System (EOSDIS).Four data sets were identified for the initial Pathfinder processing effort:- The Advanved Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data fromNOAA/TIROS polar orbiting satellites.- The TIROS Operation Vertical Sounder (TOVS) data from NOAA/TIROS polarorbiting satellites.- Data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)- The Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) from the DefenseMeteorological Satelitte Program (DMSP).NASA, through the Mission to Planet Earth (MtPE) Program, initiatedthe following Pathfinders:- The Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) from theNimbus-7 satellite- Selected time periods of Landsat data from land cover classificationand change detection of several periods and regions.AVHRR PATHFINDER----------------AVHRR Pathfinder products consist of global vegetation and radiancedata over land, global sea surface temperatures, and global clouds,radiation, and aerosols. Data are produced from Global Area Coverage(GAC) observations from the AVHRR onboard NOAA-7, NOAA-9, and NOAA-11from mid-1981 through 1992.AVHRR Land Pathfinder data is available from the Goddard DAAC UserServices Office:Phone: 301-286-3209FAX: 301-286-1775Email: daacuso@eosdata.gsfc.nasa.govGoddard DAAC User Services OfficeCode 902.2Global Change Data CenterNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, MD 20771See also the AVHRR Pathfinder Home Page at 'http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/'AVHRR Ocean Pathfinder data is available from the JPL Physical Oceanography(PO-DAAC) Home Page on the WWW:'http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/sst/'JPL PO.DAACJet Propulsion Laboratory MS 300-3204800 Oak Grove Dr.Pasadena, CA 91109Phone: 818-354-9890FAX: 818-393-2718Email: podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.govGOES PATHFINDER---------------The GOES Pathfinder data sets consists of data products from the VISSRAtmospheric Sounder (VAS) in both visible and infrared from the GOES-7spacecraft. GOES Pathfinder data are available at:'http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/'Space Science and Engineering CenterUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI 53706goesprods@ssec.wisc.eduSSM/I PATHFINDER----------------SSM/I Pathfinder data products are available from the Marshall SpaceFlight Center Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). Products (data andimages) include:Antenna TemperaturesPrecipitation RateLiquid Water Over OceansWater Vapor Over OceanLand Surface ClassificationLand Surface TemperatureSSM/I products can be obtained from the MSFC DAAC WWW Home Page at:'http://ghrc.msfc.nasa.gov/'MSFC DAAC - User Services Office977 Explorer Blvd.Huntsville, AL 35806Phone: 205-922-5932FAX: 205-922-5723Email: msfc@eos.nasa.govSSM/I Pathfinder Products for Sea Ice Concentrations will be available fromthe National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) DAAC.User ServicesNSIDC/WDC CIRESCampus Box 449University of ColoradoBoulder, CO 80309-0449Phone: 303-492-6199Fax: 303-492-2468Email: nsidc@kryos.colorado.edu'http://www-nsidc.colorado.edu/NASA/GUIDE/'SSM/I Pathfinder products for Water Vapor and Wind Speed are availablefrom the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO-DAAC).'http://podaac-www.jpl.nasa.gov/'JPL PO.DAACJet Propulsion Laboratory MS 300-3204800 Oak Grove Dr.Pasadena, CA 91109Phone: 818-354-9890FAX: 818-393-2718Email: podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.govTOVS PATHFINDER---------------The TOVS Pathfinder Path C1 products are avilable from the MarshallSpace Flight Center Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). Theseproducts consist of daily 2.5 degree gridded layer temperatures andoceanic rainfall derived from the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU)instrument (part of the TOVS instrument) on the NOAA polar orbiters.SSM/I products can be obtained from the MSFC DAAC WWW Home Page at:'http://ghrc.msfc.nasa.gov/'MSFC DAAC - User Services Office977 Explorer Blvd.Huntsville, AL 35806Phone: 205-922-5932FAX: 205-922-5723Email: msfc@eos.nasa.govLANDSAT PATHFINDER------------------The Landsat Land Cover Pathfinder effort is to establish long-term,medium- to high-resolution data sets for regional and globalapplications to global change research. The North American LandscapeCharacterization (NALC) project is a component of the NASA LandsatPathfinder program, and is a cooperative effort between theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), NASA, and the USGS. The dataare available from the EROS Land Processes DAAC.Home Page: 'http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/landdaac/landdaac.html'EDC DAAC User ServicesU.S. Geological SurveyEROS Data CenterSioux Falls, SD 57198Phone: 605-594-6116FAX: 605-594-6589Email: edc@eos.nasa.govPATHFINDER SAMPLER------------------Pathfinder Sampler Data sets for the vernal equinox 1988 are availablevia ftp and from the WWW:'http://pathfinder.arc.nasa.gov'These products include:- AVHRR Land products and TOVS Path A and TOVS Path B products from theNASA GSFC DAAC- ISSCP, Shortwave and Longwave Radiation products from NASA LaRC- AVHRR Ocean Products from the JPL PO-DAAC- SSM/I Pathfinder products and TOVS Path C1 products from NASA MSFC DAAC- SSM/I gridded sea ice products from NSIDC DAAC- GOES Pathfinder products from SSEC, University of Wisconsin-Madison- TOVS Path P products from the University of Washington