Status of the Suomi NPP visible/infrared imager radiometer suite´s (VIIRS) land environmental data records (EDRs) after early evaluation of on-orbit performance

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a comprehensive multispectral imager covering the spectral range between 0.4 μm and 12.0 μm. It obtains full global coverage using a ~3000 km swath on a daily basis in 22 spectral bands at nadir spatial resolutions between 0.38 km and 0.76 km. VIIRS was launched on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 28, 2011. The instrument was activated on November 10, 2011. Shortwave scene data became available immediately after the nadir aperture doors were opened on November 21, 2011, while the thermal cooler doors were opened on Jan 18, 2012. By the following day Suomi-NPP was acquiring its first active fire detections. The seven VIIRS thermal infrared bands were considered stable starting Jan. 20, 2012. This paper provides a summary of the status of on-going data processing, archiving, and early on-orbit evaluation of the VIIRS Land Environmental Data Records (EDRs).