Suomi NPP VIIRS calibration knowledge base for SDR data quality assurance, anomaly investigation, and EDR applications

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is one of the key instruments onboard the Suomi NPP spacecraft. To ensure the data quality of the VIIRS for all users and products, and to support the calibration/validation of the VIIRS, a calibration knowledgebase has been developed as part of the cal/val tool for the postlaunch verification and validation of VIIRS SDR and its use for data quality assurance, anomaly investigation, and EDR applications. The components of the knowledge-base include 1) event log database which keeps record of all major changes and activities in both spacecraft flight, and ground processing system, including such events as lunar maneuvers, calibration updates and anomalies in the processing systems, and instrument performance anomalies such as scan sync loss; 2) VIIRS image gallery, which has a large sample of VIIRS images for areas of interest such as hurricanes, solar eclipse; 3) validation site time series which provides long term trending at more than 30 vicarious sites worldwide; 4) daily orbital track which is used for locating data granules based on the time, location, and orbit. In addition, all VIIRS related parameters and information are also provided. The Calibration Knowledge base has become an indispensable tool for VIIRS data users. The URL for the VIIRS Calibration Knowledge Base is http://ncc.nesdis.noaa.gov.