NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 81

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 81

BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery:

Digital Counts in BIL Format

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Roseanne Dominguez, ATAC, Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000

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NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 81

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 81

BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery:

Digital Counts in BIL Format

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Roseanne Dominguez, ATAC, Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076-1320

Price Code: A17

Available from:

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Price Code: A10
BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Roseanne Dominguez

Summary

The level-0 AOCI imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was collected to provide

spatially extensive information about radiant energy over the primary BOREAS study areas. The AOCI

was the only remote sensing instrument flown with wavelength bands specific to the investigation of

various aquatic parameters such as chlorophyll content and turbidity. Only one flight of the AOCI

instrument was made onboard the ER-2 aircraft on 21-Jul-1994 over the SSA.

Note that the level-0 AOCI data are not contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set. An inventory

listing file is supplied on the CD-ROM to inform users of the data that were collected. See Section 15

for information about how to acquire actual level-0 AOCI images.

Table of Contents

1) Data Set Overview

2) Investigator(s)

3) Theory of Measurements

4) Equipment

5) Data Acquisition Methods

6) Observations

7) Data Description

8) Data Organization

9) Data Manipulations

10) Errors

11) Notes

12) Application of the Data Set

13) Future Modifications and Plans

14) Software

15) Data Access

16) Output Products and Availability

17) References

18) Glossary of Terms

19) List of Acronyms

20) Document Information

1. Data Set Overview

1.1 Data Set Identification

BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

1.2 Data Set Introduction

The level-0 Airborne Ocean Color Imager (AOCI) images contain 10 spectral bands that cover

portions of the electromagnetic spectrum from the visible through the thermal infrared. The data are

provided in the format that they were delivered to the BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

(BOREAS) Information System (BORIS).

Page 1
1.3 Objective/Purpose

The BOREAS Staff Science effort covered those activities that were BOREAS community-level

activities or required uniform data collection procedures across sites and time. These activities included

the acquisition, processing, and archiving of 10-band AOCI image data collected on the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) ER-2 aircraft.

For BOREAS, the AOCI imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was collected in

order to provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. This information

includes detailed land cover, biophysical parameter maps such as fraction of Photosynthetically Active

Radiation (fPAR), and Leaf Area Index (LAI), and surface thermal properties. The AOCI was the only

remote sensing instrument flown with wavelength bands specific to the investigation of various aquatic

parameters such as chlorophyll content and turbidity.

1.4 Summary of Parameters

AOCI level-0 image data in BORIS contain the following parameters: original housekeeping and

calibration information and bands 1 to 10 in the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Band Interleaved

by Line (BIL) format.

1.5 Discussion

BORIS staff processed the AOCI level-0 images by:

• Extracting pertinent header information from the level-0 image product and placing it in an

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) file on disk

• Reading the information in the disk file and loading the online data base with needed

information

1.6 Related Data Sets

BOREAS Level-0 ER-2 Aerial Photography

BOREAS Level-0 Daedalus TMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

BOREAS RSS- 18 Level- 1B AVIRIS Imagery: At-sensor Radiance in BIL Format

2. Investigator(s)

2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title

BOREAS Staff Science

2.2 Title of Investigation

BOREAS Staff Science Aircraft Data Acquisition Program

2.3 Contact Information

Contact 1:

Jeffrey S. Myers

Aircraft Data and Sensor Facilities

NASA Ames Research Center

MS 240-6 (Bldg. 240, Rm. 219)

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

(415) 604-6253

(415) 604-4987 (fax)

jmyers@ msmail, arc .nasa. gov

Page 2
Contact 2:

Jeffrey A. Newcomer

Raytheon ITSS

Code 923

NASA GSFC

Greenbelt, MD 20771

(301) 286-7858

(301) 286-0239 (fax)

Jeffrey.Newcomer@ gsfc.nasa.gov

3. Theory of Measurements

The NASA Earth Resources Aircraft Program at ARC operates the ER-2 aircraft to acquire data for

Earth science research. The AOCI instrument used on the ER-2 aircraft collects radiance measurements

in 10 total spectral bands, with nine bands covering the visible and near-infrared spectrum from 0.436

to 1.054 micrometers 0am), and one thermal-infrared band covering 8.423 to 12.279 _am.

Thematic considerations have dictated, within technical constraints, the choice of spectral band

position and width in the AOCI sensor. These bands were chosen after many years of analysis for their

value in discrimination of aquatic features.

4. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

The AOCI instrument was designed to gather information about the visible reflectance and

temperature characteristics of water bodies. The AOCI is generally flown at high altitudes and provides

49.5-m resolution at nadir at an altitude of 19,800 m. The AOCI is flown aboard NASA's ER-2

aircraft based at ARC.

The 10 spectral channels of the AOCI sensor have the following bandpasses:

AOCI Channel Wavelength, _m

1 0.436 - 0.455

2 0.481 - 0.501

3 0.511 - 0.531

4 0.554 - 0.575

5 0.610 - 0.631

6 0.655 - 0.676

7 0.741 - 0.800

8 0.831 - 0.897

9 0.989 - 1.054

i0 8.423 - 12.279

4.1.1 Collection Environment

As part of the BOREAS Staff Science Data Collection Program, BORIS distributed 10-band

level-0 AOCI image data. The AOCI was flown on NASA's ER-2 aircraft during the BOREAS

mission (see the BOREAS Experiment Plan for flight pattern details and objectives).

Maintenance and operation of the instrument are the responsibility of ARC. The ER-2

Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental) produced by the High Altitude Missions Branch at ARC

provides a description of the instrument, calibration procedures, and data format.

Page 3
4.1.2 Source/Platform

NASA'sER-2EarthResourcesAircraft

4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives

The AOCI is a multispectral scanner built by Daedalus Enterprises, designed for oceanographic

remote sensing. The response of the instrument is optimized for the low levels of radiance normally

associated with water scenes, so some bands may saturate over bright terrestrial targets.

4.1.4 Key Variables

Emitted radiation, reflected radiation, and temperature.

4.1.5 Principles of Operation

None given.

4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry

Instantaneous Field-Of-View (IFOV) 2.5 mrad

Total Scan Angle 85 degrees

Pixels/Scan Line 716

Sensor footprint is 49.5 x 49.5 m at nadir at 19,800-m altitude.

4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument

Daedalus Enterprises

Ann Arbor, MI

4.2 Calibration

4.2.1 Specifications

The wavelength ranges (in pm) of the bands for the AOCI are:

AOCI Channel Wavelength, _m

1 0.436

2 0.481

3 0.511

4 0.554

5 0.610

6 0.655

7 0.741

8 0.831

9 0.989

i0 8.423

- 0.455

- 0.501

- 0.531

- 0.575

- 0.631

- 0.676

- 0.800

- 0.897

- 1.054

- 12.279

DESIGN DATA:

IFOV

Across-track FOV

Inflight calibration

Short wavelength array temperature

V/H range

Scan rate

Scan speed ability

2.5 milliradians

+/- 42.5 °

Integrating sphere and two

controllable blackbodies

255 K

Variable 0.025 to 0.25

Variable i0 to i00 scans/sec.

One-third of the IFOV, scan

line to scan line

Page 4
Data quantization

Number of video samples/scan

Roll compensation

Scan mirror

line

10-bits (1,024 discrete levels)

for bands 1 to 8 and

8-bits (256 discrete levels)

for bands 9 and i0

716

+/-15 °

45 ° rotating mirror

4.2.1.1 Tolerance

Unknown.

4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration

The ARC Sensor Calibration Laboratory measures the Spectral Response Function (SRF) of each

band several times per year using a full-aperture scanning monochromator. Radiometric calibration is

regularly performed using a low-intensity 30-in. integrating sphere with a 12-in. exit aperture. The

sphere is calibrated periodically against a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

standard reference source. The SRF is then convolved with the measured sphere radiance to produce

in-band radiance for bands 1-9. The thermal-infrared band l0 is calibrated with the two onboard

blackbody reference sources that are viewed before and after each scan line during the data acquisition,

together with the SRF measured in the laboratory.

4.2.3 Other Calibration Information

AOCI data may be intentionally overscanned, e.g., operated at some integral multiple of the desired

scan rate and then subsampled in preprocessing. The subsampling factor is reported as a

"demagnification factor."

5. Data Acquisition Methods

As part of the BOREAS Staff Science Data Collection Program, BORIS distributed 10-band level-0

AOCI image data. The AOCI was flown on NASA's ER-2 aircraft during BOREAS (see the BOREAS

Experiment Plan for flight pattern details and objectives).

Maintenance and operation of the instrument are the responsibility of ARC. The ER-2

Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental) produced by the HIGH Altitude Missions Branch at ARC

provides a description of the instrument, calibration procedures, and data format.

6.1 Data Notes

None.

6.2 Field Notes

None.

6. Observations

7. Data Description

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

The BOREAS level-0 AOCI images cover the Southern Study Area (SSA), which is located in the

southwest portion of the overall BOREAS region.

Page 5
7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

The North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) corner coordinates of the SSA are:

Latitude Longitude

Northwest 54.321 N 106.228 W

Northeast 54.225 N 104.237 W

Southwest 53.515 N 106.321 W

Southeast 53.420 N 104.368 W

7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map

Not available.

7.1.3 Spatial Resolution

The AOCI IFOV provides a footprint of 49.5 m at nadir at an altitude of 19,800 m, which was

typical of the BOREAS flight.

7.1.4 Projection

The BOREAS level-0 AOCI images are stored in their original data collection frame with increasing

pixel sizes from nadir to the scanning extremes based on the scan angle.

7.1.5 Grid Description

The BOREAS level-0 AOCI images are stored in their original data collection frame with increasing

pixel sizes from nadir to the scanning extremes based on the scan angle.

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The level-0 AOCI image data were collected during Intensive Field Campaign (IFC)-2 on

21-Jul- 1994.

7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map

IFC# Dates

IFC-2 21-Ju1-1994

7.2.3 Temporal Resolution

Images were acquired only on 21-Jul-1994.

7.3 Data Characteristics

Page 6
7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

The parameter contained in the image data files is: Digital Number (DN)

The parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

ER2 MISSION ID

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

AOCI MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

For the image data files:

Digital Number (DN) - The quantized DN derived by the AOCI scanning system for

the respective channel.

The descriptions of the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Description

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

The general term used to denote the spatial area

over which the data were collected.

The date on which the data were collected.

The starting Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The ending Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The object (e.g., satellite, aircraft, tower,

person) that supported the instrument.

The name of the device used to make the

measurements.

The number of spectral bands in the data.

Page 7
PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

ER2 MISSION ID

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

AOCI MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

The nominal altitude of the data collection

platform above the target.

The minimum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The maximum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The minimum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The maximum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The mission identifier assigned to the ER2

mission in the form of YY-DDD where YY is the last

two digits of the fiscal year, and DDD is the

deployment number. An example would be 94-120.

The data analyst's assessment of the quality of

the spectral bands in the data.

The data analyst's assessment of the cloud cover

that exists in the data.

The mean frame status calculated from the

respective values on the digital tape of AOCI data

collected during the given flight.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the

north west corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

northwest corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the

northeast corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

northeast corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the

southwest corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southwest corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the

southeast corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southeast corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data

The BOREAS certification level of the data.

Examples are CPI (Checked by PI), CGR (Certified

by Group), PRE (Preliminary), and CPI-??? (CPI but

questionable).

Page 8
7.3.3 Unit of Measurement

For the image data files: Digital Number (DN) - counts

The measurement units for the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Units

SPATIAL COVERAGE [none]

DATE OBS [DD-MON-YY]

START TIME [HHMM GMT]

END TIME [HHMM GMT]

PLATFORM [none]

INSTRUMENT [none]

NUM BANDS [counts]

PLATFORM ALTITUDE [meters]

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

ER2 MISSION ID [none]

BAND QUALITY [none]

CLOUD COVER [none]

AOCI MEAN FRAME STATUS [unitless]

NW LATITUDE [degrees]

NW LONGITUDE [degrees]

NE LATITUDE [degrees]

NE LONGITUDE [degrees]

SW LATITUDE [degrees]

SW LONGITUDE [degrees]

SE LATITUDE [degrees]

SE LONGITUDE [degrees]

CRTFCN CODE [none]

7.3.4 Data Source

The level-0 AOCI image bands were collected by the AOCI instrument on the ER2 aircraft. The raw

data were decommutated, processed, and sent to BORIS by personnel within the High Altitude Aircraft

Branch at NASA ARC.

The source of the parameter values contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Data Source

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

[ER2 Flight Summary Reports and calculations

within the BORIS software using information from

the AOCI image data]

[AOCI image housekeeping data]

[AOCI image housekeeping data

[AOCI image housekeeping data]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Constant software parameter value]

[ER2 Flight Summary Reports]

[Calculated from DATE OBS, TIME OBS, and

latitude and longitude information]

[Calculated from DATE OBS, TIME OBS, and

Page 9
MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

ER2 MISSION ID

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

AOCI MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

latitude and longitude information]

[Calculated from DATE OBS, TIME OBS, and

latitude and longitude information]

[Calculated from DATE OBS, TIME OBS, and

latitude and longitude information]

[ER2 Flight Summary Reports]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Calculated with software from the AOCI image

housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Calculated from the nadir latitude and longitude,

heading and altitude information in the Flight

Summary Report the constant instrument scan

angle and mean aircraft roll angle calculated

from the image housekeeping data]

[Constant data base value]

Page 10
7.3.5 Data Range

Themaximumrangeof DNs in eachlevel-0AOCI imagebandis limitedfrom 0 to 1023(10bits)

andis storedin a 16-bit(2-byte)field.

Thefollowingtablegivesinformationabouttheparametervaluesfoundin theinventorytableonthe

CD-ROM.

Minimum Maximum Missng Unrel Below Data

Data Data Data Data Detect Not

Column Name Value Value Value Value Limit Cllctd

SPATIAL COVERAGE N/A N/A None None None None

DATE OBS 21-JUL-94 21-JUL-94 None None None None

START TIME 1628 1854 None None None None

END TIME 1631 1903 None None None None

PLATFORM ER2 ER2 None None None None

INSTRUMENT N/A N/A None None None None

NUM BANDS i0 i0 None None None None

PLATFORM ALTITUDE 19141 19903 None None None None

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG 68.4 69.9 None None None None

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG 68.7 70.7 None None None None

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG 275.6 277.7 None None None None

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG 276.2 278.9 None None None None

ER2 MISSION ID 94-120 94-120 None None None None

BAND QUALITY N/A N/A None None None None

CLOUD COVER N/A N/A None None None None

AOCI MEAN FRAME 0 0 None None None None

STATUS

NW LATITUDE 53.333 54.46046 None None None None

NW LONGITUDE -106.687 -104.83885 None None None None

NE LATITUDE 53.30691 54.43288 None None None None

NE LONGITUDE -105.91003 -104.17147 None None None None

SW LATITUDE 53.00647 53.81953 None None None None

SW LONGITUDE -106.73624 -104.92877 None None None None

SE LATITUDE 52.98057 53.78488 None None None None

SE LONGITUDE -106.01627 -104.23941 None None None None

CRTFCN CODE PRE PRE None None None None

Minimum Data Value -- The minimum value found in the column.

Maximum Data Value -- The maximum value found in the column.

Missng Data Value -- The value that indicates missing data. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Unrel Data Value -- The value that indicates unreliable data. This is used

to indicate an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the value was deemed to be

unreliable by the analysis personnel.

Below Detect Limit -- The value that indicates parameter values below the

instruments detection limits. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the analysis personnel determined

that the parameter value was below the detection

limit of the instrumentation.

Data Not Cllctd -- This value indicates that no attempt was made to

determine the parameter value. This usually

indicates that BORIS combined several similar but

Page 11
not identical data sets into the same data

but this particular science team did not

measure that parameter.

base table

Blank -- Indicates that blank spaces are used to denote that type of value.

N/A -- Indicates that the value is not applicable to the respective column.

None -- Indicates that no values of that sort were found in the column.

7.4 Sample Data Record

A sample data record for the level-0 AOCI images is not available here.

The following are wrapped versions of the first few records from the level-0 AOCI inventory table

on the CD-ROM:

SPATIAL COVERAGE,DATE OBS,START TIME,END TIME,PLATFORM, INSTRUMENT,NUM BANDS,

PLATFORM ALTITUDE,MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG,MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG,MIN SOLAR AZ ANG,

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG,ER2 MISSION ID,BAND QUALITY,CLOUD COVER, AOCI MEAN FRAME STATUS,

NW LATITUDE,NW LONGITUDE,NE LATITUDE,NE LONGITUDE,SW LATITUDE,SW LONGITUDE,

SE LATITUDE,SE LONGITUDE,CRTFCN CODE

'SSA',21-JUL-94,1628,1631, 'ER2', 'AOCI' 10,19202.0,68.4,68.7,275.6,276.2,'94-120',

'NOT ASSESSED', 'NOT ASSESSED',0,53.333 -105.95442,53.30691,-105.38564,53.00647,

-i05.99376,52.98057,-i05.42938, 'PRE'

'SSA',21-JUL-94,1637,1638, 'ER2', 'AOCI' 10,19263.0,69.1,69.4,276.6,277.1,'94-120',

'NOT ASSESSED', 'NOT ASSESSED',0,54.01666,-105.60672,53.98428,-104.93893,53.64976,

-i05.65474,53.61767,-i04.99284, 'PRE'

8. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest unit of level-0 AOCI data is the entire tape of data covering the flights on

21-Jul-1994. Although the image inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual

level-0 AOCI images are not. See Section 15 for information about how to obtain the data.

8.2 Data Format(s)

A level-0 AOCI tape contains one header file followed by up to 50 files containing data from AOCI

flight lines. For BOREAS, the single level-0 tape contains the header file followed by 15 image data

files.

The header file contains one record of 9,192 bytes that contain a mixture of ASCII and binary

values. The multibyte integer fields are stored as high-order byte first. The contents of the header

record fields are:

Bytes Description

1 - 80 Data Description (ASCII characters, e.g., 'AOCI (CANADA) ')

81 - 90 Flight Number (ASCII characters, e.g., 92-120)

91 - 120 Data Collection Date (ASCII characters, e.g., 21-JULY-1994)

121 - 150 Data Decommutation Date (ASCII characters)

151 - 180 Archive Tape Creation Date (ASCII characters)

181 - 182 Aircraft Number (binary 16-bit integer, value of 708)

183 - 184 Scanner Type (ASCII characters, 'DA')

185 - 186 Reel Number (binary 16-bit integer)

187 - 188 Expected Number of Reels (binary 16-bit integer)

189 - 198 Filler bytes

Page 12
199 - 200

201 - 224

225 - 236

237 - 238

239 - 240

241 - 244

245 - 248

Number of Channels Processed (binary 16-bit integer)

(Erroneous value of 12 on the BOREAS tape; should be i0)

Channel numbers (binary 16-bit integers)

(Erroneous values of ii and 12 on BOREAS tape; should be 1 to i0)

Filler bytes

Mode used to specify flight line boundaries (ASCII characters)

(AL : all data contained in one flight line)

(SL : selected scan lines) (BOREAS tape)

(GM : selected times)

Number of operator-specified flight line intervals

(binary 16-bit integer) (15 for BOREAS tape)

Start of flight line interval number 1 (binary 32-bit integer)

Start of flight line interval number 2 (binary 32-bit integer)

437 - 440

441 - 444

445 - 448

Start of flight line interval number 50 (binary 32-bit integer)

End of flight line interval number 1 (binary 32-bit integer)

End of flight line interval number 2 (binary 32-bit integer)

637 - 640

641 - 9192

End of flight line interval number 50 (binary 32-bit integer)

Filler bytes

Each level-0 AOCI image from a given flight is contained in one tape file. A physical tape record of

14,820 bytes contains 10 logical records of 1,482 bytes which contain housekeeping information (50

bytes) and the image data (1,432 bytes) from the 10 AOCI spectral bands in BIL order. The bytes of

the 16-bit and 32-bit values in the housekeeping information are ordered as high-order byte first. The

detailed structure of each logical record is:

AOCI Logical Data Record Structure

Bytes 1 - 50 Housekeeping Information

1 - 2 Data Frame Status (16-bit integer)

0 implies the data are good; nonzero implies they are bad.

i0 Interpolated data

20 Repeated data

30 Zero fill data

3 - 4 Run Number (16-bit integer)

5 - 8 Scan line count (32-bit integer)

9 - 12 Panel Thumbwheel switches (32-bit integer)

Consists of 8 digits in the form YYFFFJJJ

where YY is the last two digits of the year (e.g., 94)

FFF is flight number (e.g., 120)

JJJ is day of the year (e.g., 202)

13 - 14 Blackbody #i Thermal Reference Temperature (16-bit integer)

(hundredths of degrees C)

15 - 16 Blackbody #2 Thermal Reference Temperature (16-bit integer)

(hundredths of degrees C)

17 - 18 Scan Speed (16-bit integer) (tenths of scans per second)

19 - 20 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) hours (16-bit integer)

21 - 22 Minutes of the hour (16-bit integer)

23 - 24 Tenths of seconds (16-bit integer)

25 - 26 Demagnification value * i00 (16-bit integer)

(Set to i00 to indicate unity, i.e., no demagnification)

Page 13
27 - 28 Filler (16-bit integer)

29 - 30 Gain Value (times i000) (16-bit integer)

31 - 32 Channel Number (16-bit integer)

33 - 36 Time (32-bit integer)

(7 digits in the form of hhmmsst where hh is the hour,

mm is the minutes, ss is the seconds, and t is the tenths

of a second)

37 - 38 Blackbody #i Response (16-bit integer) (Counts)

(What the sensor sees when it looks at Blackbody #i)

39 - 40 Blackbody #2 Response (16-bit integer) (Counts)

(What the sensor sees when it looks at Blackbody #2)

41 - 42 Aircraft Roll angle counts (16-bit integer)

(0.03 degrees per count or 0.06 degrees per pixel)

(Positive values indicate rotation of the aircraft in a

clockwise direction when viewed from the front;

negative values indicate counterclockwise rotation)

43 - 50 Filler bytes

Bytes 51 - 1482 Binary Image data

51 - 52 Digital count for pixel #i of the scan line (16-bit integer)

53 - 54 Image data for pixel #2 of the scan line (16-bit integer)

1481 - 1482 Image data for pixel #716 of the scan line (16-bit integer)

The CD-ROM inventory listing file consists of numerical and character fields of varying length

separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with single apostrophe marks. There are no

spaces between the fields.

9. Data Manipulations

9.1 Formulae

None.

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

None.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff processed the level-0 AOCI imagery by:

• Creating duplicate copies of the original image data tapes

• Extracting information from the tape to ASCII files on disk

• Using the extracted ASCII disk file information to inventory the images by date and location

in the online data base

9.2.2 Processing Changes

None.

9.3 Calculations

9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments

None.

Page 14
9.3.2 Calculated Variables

None.

9.4 Graphs and Plots

None.

10. Errors

10.1 Sources of Error

None given.

10.2 Quality Assessment

10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

Spectral errors could arise because of image-wide signal-to-noise ratio, saturation, cross-talk,

spikes, or response normalization caused by a change in gain.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

None given.

10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters

None given.

10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments

None given.

10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center

BORIS staff reviewed the AOCI images through software that summarized the housekeeping

information in the records of each flight line and histogrammed the image bands to gather minimum,

maximum, mean, and standard deviation values, which were then reviewed before loading the

information into the data base. No anomalous values were noted.

11. Notes

11.1 Limitations of the Data

None given.

11.2 Known Problems with the Data

To date, no discrepancies or problems have been noted in the data.

11.3 Usage Guidance

None given.

11.4 Other Relevant Information

None given.

Page 15
12. Application of the Data Set

The level-0 AOCI images could be used for studying land surface or water properties contained in the

imaged areas.

None.

13. Future Modifications and Plans

14. Software

14.1 Software Description

BORIS staff developed software and command procedures for:

• Extracting header information from level-0 AOCI images on tape and writing it to ASCII files

on disk

• Reading the ASCII disk file and logging the level-0 AOCI image products into the Oracle data

base tables

14.2 Software Access

The software is written in C and is operational on VAX 6410 and MicroVAX 3100 systems at

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The primary dependencies in the software are the tape

input/output (I/O) library and the Oracle data base utility routines.

15. Data Access

The level-0 AOCI images are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System

(EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

15.1 Contact Information

For BOREAS data and documentation please contact:

ORNL DAAC User Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box 2008 MS-6407

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6407

Phone: (423) 241-3952

Fax: (423) 574-4665

E-mail: ornldaac@ornl.gov or ornl@eos.nasa.gov

15.2 Data Center Identification

Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics

http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/.

15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data

Users may obtain data directly through the ORNL DAAC online search and order system

[http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/] and the anonymous FTP site [ftp://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/data/] or by

contacting User Services by electronic mail, telephone, fax, letter, or personal visit using the contact

information in Section 15.1.

Page 16
15.4 Data Center Status/Plans

The ORNL DAAC is the primary source for BOREAS field measurement, image, GIS, and

hardcopy data products. The BOREAS CD-ROM and data referenced or listed in inventories on the

CD-ROM are available from the ORNL DAAC.

16. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

The BOREAS level-0 AOCI data can be made available on 8-ram, Digital Archive Tape (DAT), or

9-track tapes at 1600 or 6250 Bytes Per Inch (BPI).

16.2 Film Products

None.

16.3 Other Products

Although the image inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-0 AOCI

images are not. See Section 15 for information about how to obtain the data.

17. References

17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation

Airborne Instrumentation Research Project - Flight Summary Report Series. 1994. NASA Ames

Research Center. Airborne Missions and Applications Division, Moffett Field, California, 94035.

NASA. 1990. ER-2 Earth Resources Aircraft Experimenter's Handbook. National Aeronautics and

Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J. Nickeson,

A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. 2000. Collected Data of The

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. NASA. CD-ROM.

Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version

1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94).

Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version

1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994

Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996

Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 96).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den Hartog, J. Cihlar, M.G. Ryan, B.

Goodison, P. Crill, K.J. Ranson, D. Lettenmaier, and D.E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal

ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year.

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 76(9): 1549-1577.

Page 17
Sellers,P.J.,F.G.Hall, R.D.Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi,J. Berry, M. Ryan,K.J. Ranson,P.M.

Crill, D.P.Lettenmaier,H. Margolis,J.Cihlar, J.Newcomer,D. Fitzjarrald,P.G.Jarvis,S.T.

Gower,D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison,D.E.Wickland, andF.E.Guertin.1997.BOREAS

in 1997:ExperimentOverview,ScientificResultsandFutureDirections.Journalof Geophysical

Research102(D24):28,731-28,770.

17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation

None.

None.

18. Glossary of Terms

AOCI

ARC

ASCII

BIL

BOREAS

BORIS

BPI

CCT

CD-ROM

DAAC

DAT

EOS

EOSDIS

FOV

fPAR

GIS

GMT

GSFC

IFOV

I/O

LAI

NAD83

NASA

NIST

NSA

ORNL

PANP

SRF

SSA

gm

URL

19. List of Acronyms

- Airborne Ocean Color Imager

- Ames Research Center

- American Standard Code for Information Interchange

- Band Interleaved by Line

- BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

- BOREAS Information System

- Bytes Per Inch

- Computer Compatible Tape

- Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

- Distributed Active Archive Center

- Digital Archive Tape

- Earth Observing System

- EOS Data and Information System

- Field-Of-View

- fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation

- Geographic Information System

- Greenwich Mean Time

- Goddard Space Flight Center

- Instantaneous Field-of-View

- Input/Output

- Leaf Area Index

- North American Datum of 1983

- National Aeronautics and Space Administration

- National Institute of Standards and Technology

- Northern Study Area

- Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Prince Albert National Park

- Spectral Response Function

- Southern Study Area

- micrometers

- Uniform Resource Locator

Page 18
20. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Date

Written: 05-Nov- 1996

Last Updated: 05-Feb- 1999

20.2 Document Review Dates

BORIS Review: 20-May- 1997

Science Review: 20-May- 1997

20.3 Document ID

20.4 Citation

When using these data, please include the following acknowledgement as well as citations of

relevent papers in Section 17.2: The BOREAS level-0 AOCI data were collected and processed from

the original aircraft tapes by personnel of the High Altitude Aircraft Branch at NASA ARC. Their

contributions to providing this data set are greatly appreciated.

Also, cite the BOREAS CD-ROM set as:

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J.

Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. Collected Data of

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

20.5 Document Curator

20.6 Document URL

Page 19
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE FormApproved

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of informationis estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

September 2000 Technical Memorandum

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Technical Report Series on the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format 923

6. AUTHOR(S) RTOP: 923-462-33-01

Jeffrey A. Newcomer and Roseanne Dominguez

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546-0001

8. PEFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

2000-03136-0

10. SPONSORING / MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

TM--2000-209891

Vol. 81

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

J.A. Newcomer: Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland;

R. Dominguez: ATAC, Inc., NASAAmes Research Center, Moffett Field, California

12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Unclassifie_Unlimited

Subject Category: 43

Report available from the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information,

7121 Standard Drive, Hanover, MD 21076-1320. (301) 621-0390.

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

The level-0 AOCI imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was collected to provide

spatially extensive information about radiant energy over the primary BOREAS study areas. The

AOCI was the only remote sensing instrument flown with wavelength bands specific to the investigation of various aquatic parameters such as chlorophyll content and turbidity. Only one flight of the

AOCI instrument was made onboard the ER-2 aircraft on 21-Jul-1994 over the SSA.

14. SUBJECT TERMS

BOREAS, remote sensing science, AOCI imagery.

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF REPORT

Unclassified

NSN 7540-01-280-5500

18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF THIS PAGE

Unclassified

19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified

15. NUMBER OF PAGES

19

16. PRICE CODE

20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

UL

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Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18

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