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CERES Operations

Users of CERES data should be aware that the CERES instrument has three primary scan modes. The Crosstrack scan mode is the same as that used in ERBE. The Rotating Azimuth Plane (RAP or biaxial) scan mode is used by CERES to provide angular coverage for Angular Distribution Models construction. The Alongtrack scan mode is used for validation of CERES instantaneous fluxes. To determine the scan mode a CERES instrument is in on any given day, just click on the scan mode character (e.g. M, X, R) in the month of interest and it will link you to daily information. Given that multiple scan modes can occur on the same day, users of instantaneous data are advised to also check the “azimuth scan plane” flag for each data record when analyzing the data to properly identify the scan mode for each CERES footprint.

CERES Scan Modes by Month

Selection of CERES Instrument Data Depends on Science Goals

The tables below only represent the instrument operation modes and do not reflect the availability of data.

X = Crosstrack Scanning ( 90% or more of the data for the month is in Crosstrack scan mode )

R = Rotating Azimuth Plane (RAPS) Scanning ( 75% or more of the data for the month is in RAPS scan mode)

M = Mixed Scanning ( There is less than 90% Crosstrack data and less than 75% RAPS data )

L = Limited Days Available ( Less than 75% of CERES data available for the month )

” – ” = No Data Available

Notes

2023

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 R R R R R R R R R R R R
Aqua FM-3 X X M R R M R M R R R R
FM-4 R R M X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 R R R R R R R R R M X X
NOAA-20 FM-6 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2022

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 R R R R R R R R R X R R
Aqua FM-3 X X X L X X X X X X X X
FM-4 R R R L R R R R R R R R
NPP FM-5 R R R R R R R - X R R R
NOAA-20 FM-6 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2021

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X R R
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X M R R R R R
NPP FM-5 R R R R R R R R R R R R
NOAA-20 FM-6 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2020

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X L X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X L X X X X
NPP FM-5 R R R R R R R R R R R R
NOAA-20 FM-6 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2019

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X M X R R R
NOAA-20 FM-6 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2018

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X M X X X X X X X X X X
NOAA-20 FM-6 M X X X X X X X X X X X

2017

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NOAA-20 FM-6                     - -

2016

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X M X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X M X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2015

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2014

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2013

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2012

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
NPP FM-5 L X X X X X X X X X X X

2011

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X L - L
NPP FM-5                   - - -

2010

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2009

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2008

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2007

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2006

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2005

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 R X X R R X X X X X X X
Aqua FM-3 R R R X X X X X X X X X
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2004

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 R R M R R R R R R R R R
Aqua FM-3 R R R R R R R R R R R R
FM-4 X X X X X X X X X X X X

2003

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X M
FM-2 R R R R R R R R R R R M
Aqua FM-3 X R M R X X X R R R R M
FM-4 R X X X R M R X X X X X

2002

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
FM-2 R R R R R R R R R R R R
Aqua FM-3           L M M R R X X
FM-4           L X M X X R R

2001

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Terra FM-1 X R R R X X X R R R X X
FM-2 R X X X R R R X X X R R

2000

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
TRMM PFM   L X                  
Terra FM-1   L M R X X X R R R X X
FM-2   M M X R R R X X X R R

1999

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
TRMM PFM     L     L L          

1998

Satellite Instrument Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
TRMM PFM M M M M M M M M