Data Variable, Units, and Definitions - Clouds Protocol

Variable

Units

Definition

Observation Number

integer

An identification code referencing the observer of the data

Is GLOBE Trained

1 = true
0 = false

Indicates if the observer did a GLOBE training to make observations

Is Citizen Science

1 = true
0 = false

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
0 = false

Cirrus clouds detected

Cirrocumulus

1 = true
0 = false

Cirrocumulus clouds detected

Cirrostratus

1 = true
0 = false

Cirrostratus clouds detected

Altostratus

1 = true
0 = false

Altostratus clouds detected

Altocumulus

1 = true
0 = false

Altocumulus clouds detected

Cumulus

1 = true
0 = false

Cumulus clouds detected

Nimbostratus

1 = true
0 = false

Nimbostratus clouds detected

Stratus

1 = true
0 = false

Stratus clouds detected

Stratocumulus

1 = true
0 = false

Stratocumulus clouds detected

Cumulonimbus

1 = true
0 = false

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
0 = false

Fog obscured at least 25% of the sky

Smoke

1 = true
0 = false

Smoke obscured at least 25% of the sky

Haze

1 = true
0 = false

Haze obscured at least 25% of the sky

Volcanic Ash

1 = true
0 = false

Volcanic Ash obscured at least 25% of the sky

Dust

1 = true
0 = false

Dust obscured at least 25% of the sky

Sand

1 = true
0 = false

Sand obscured at least 25% of the sky

Spray

1 = true
0 = false

Spray obscured at least 25% of the sky

Heavy Rain

1 = true
0 = false

Heavy rain obscured at least 25% of the sky

Heavy Snow

1 = true
0 = false

Heavy snow obscured at least 25% of the sky

Blowing Snow

1 = true
0 = false

Blowing snow obscured at least 25% of the sky

Surface Snow/Ice

1 = true
0 = false

Snow or ice covered the ground

Surface Standing Water

1 = true
0 = false

Body of water present in location of observation

Surface Muddy

1 = true
0 = false

Mud present on the ground

Surface Dry Ground

1 = true
0 = false

Ground reported as dry

Surface Leaves on Trees

1 = true
0 = false

More than 50% of trees have leaves

Surface Raining or Snowing

1 = true
0 = false

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)

GEO/Aqua/Terra  Satellite Match 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)