S'COOL: Using the Database

As explained elsewhere, processing the CERES satellite data takes some time. Now that the FLASHFlux project has started, data will often be processed within a week. As they are processed, FLASHFlux and CERES data corresponding to S'COOL observations are added to the S'COOL Observation database, and participating schools will get an automated email with a direct link to the comparison. You can also access the S'COOL and satellite correspondences in two ways.

1. Interactive Access to the S'COOL Observation Database

Choosing one of the links below will lead to a page where you can specify a search.

Search My Own S'COOL Observations

Search All S'COOL Observations

You can get up to 1000 S'COOL reports using this interactive search feature.
Note the new option to return only ground observations with matching satellite data! You may want to visit an FAQ with some common questions about comparing the ground observation report to the satellite retrieval.

2. Download an Excel File

If your goal is to analyze lots of matching data, this is the easier route.
To download these files, DO NOT CLICK on the link. On a Macintosh, hold down the option key and then click. On a PC, hold down the Control key and then click. Once you have the file on your computer, open Excel (or similar spreadsheet application) and open the file from within the program.

Year	TRMM	Terra	Aqua	Both Terra and Aqua
1998	39 rows; 12 kb
1999	129 rows; 32 kb
2000	87 rows; 20 kb	1160 rows; 376 kb
2001	40 rows; 12 kb	2979 rows; 932 kb
2002		3921 rows; 1.2 mb	583 rows; 192 kb	158 rows; 52 kb
2003		4000 rows; 1.2 mb	1360 rows; 440 kb	106 rows; 36 kb
2004		4133 rows; 1.2 mb	1630 rows; 536 kb	256 rows; 84 kb
2005		4930 rows; 1.5 mb	1911 rows; 640 kb	252 rows; 84 kb
2006		3926 rows; 1.3 mb	1625 rows; 548 kb	170 rows; 60 kb
2007		4057 rows; 1.4 mb	2385 rows; 812 kb	238 rows; 80 kb
2008		2807 rows; 976 kb	1764 rows; 612 kb	84 rows; 32 kb
2009		2302 rows; 796 kb	1862 rows; 660 kb	136 rows; 48 kb
2010		2111 rows; 728 kb	1786 rows; 608 kb	180 rows; 64 kb
2011		2831 rows; 876 kb	2482 rows; 872 kb	114 rows; 40 kb
2012		2628 rows; 923 kb	2973 rows 1.1 mb	99 rows 32 kb
2013		updated daily	updated daily	updated daily

For additional details about what is in these files, please review the data description file. Note that some items, such as cloud type, have already been decoded in the above files.

Data Analysis

Ideas

You may want to explore a Data Analysis Tutorial [PPT] that has some ideas for how to approach the data analysis.

We also have two Excel files which you can use as a starting point for analysis:

1. Excel file with 4 simple ideas (2.3 MB)
2. Excel file with 1 more involved idea (2.9 MB)

Reports on comparisons

A poster analyzing S'COOL correspondences was presented at the 2008 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in Dec. 2008. You can view the poster, and also hear Stephanie talk about her experience in a You Tube video.

Earlier, an analysis of these correspondences was prepared for the 13th Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography of the American Meteorological Society and was presented in Norfolk, VA on Sept. 23rd, 2004. You can see the abstract of this paper or view the paper itself (pdf; 2.3 Mb). You can also see the Power point slides presented at the meeting. The presentation was recorded by AMS, and you can find that here (if you can get the WebEx system to work). My apologies for the quality of the audio. That's my soft-spoken voice. - Lin H. Chambers
An Excel file with 9172 S'COOL and CERES correspondences as of August, 2004, that was used in this analysis is also available The file includes some explanations of the data. Examples are also available to give you ideas and tools for analysis.

Excel file with 9172 rows (5.6 Mb file!)

Exploring Satellite Imagery

Your observation records include a direct link to the corresponding MODIS satellite image. You can also explore near real-time and archival MODIS satellite imagery from around the world on the MODIS Rapid Response website. We have created a guide for S'COOL participants to help you use this site.

The links given above utilize features which may require additional software beyond a traditional web browser. You may encounter errors if you do not have the correct plug-in. Please click here for external links to download required plug-ins.