Welcome to the NUCAPS github page! Here we have code examples for working with NUCAPS and related datasets. NUCAPS data can be order from NOAA CLASS or access via the NOAA NODD Program via the Registry of Open Data on AWS. All NUCAPS data users are welcome to contribute code examples! If you are new to NUCAPS, I recommend using this tutorial as a starting point. To learn more about all the variables available in NUCAPS, check out this README.

Satellite soundings measure vertical profiles of the atmosphere, so that scientists and weather forecasters can see the temperature, humidity, and trace gas concentrations at different pressure levels/heights. Soundings are different from other visible and infrared satellite imagery, which cannot “see” through clouds and can only make one image. Research applications include short-term severe weather prediction, studying fire weather, and monitoring the long range transport of smoke.

NUCAPS is an algorithms that converts the raw satellite signal to meaningful data. NUCAPS is primarily used for real-time processing of satellite soundings; the data are released to the public up to 30 mins after an overpass through direct broadcast.

To learn more about NUCAPS, view some of the available quick guides, peer-reviewed papers, or read the ATBD for the most detailed explanation. Contact the NUCAPS science team if you require further assistance.

Disclaimer: Many of these scripts are by-products of our day-to-day activities using NUCAPS. There may be errors, incomplete thoughts, work in progress, etc. So, use at your own risk. We are sharing these in the spirit of open science and to help others improve their understanding of NUCAPS and other satellite datasets. If you are using the code without extensively changing it, please acknowledge the original code authors.