Please note that the future functionality of the Polar Spatial Query tool (PSQ) is limited. The machine on which PSQ resides has reached its life expectancy and will no longer be available starting 2 June 2008. We do not plan to rectify the machine or the PSQ tool. Orders placed after this date will not be fulfilled.

Introduction

The PSQ (Polar Spatial Query) interface was designed to allow users to search for orbit and scene data sets by collection, parameter (channel), date, and region of interest. The main advantage of the PSQ is it searches for orbit and scene data using an orbit model, which means the search results are much more accurate. Additionally, requested data are gridded to a common grid covering the user's region of interest prior to delivery.

For more information on the capabilities of this interface, it is recommended you read the Help section.

Please note that the PSQ was designed to allow users to order spatial and/or temporal subsets of data. It is not an appropriate tool for ordering entire data sets. If you wish to order a full time series of grids generated from SSM/I or AVHRR swath data, please contact NSIDC User Services.

Registration

The PSQ requires an initial user registration. This serves two purposes:

• It ensures that we have your information on file so we can contact you if there are questions or concerns about your data request.
• It prevents you having to enter your contact information each time you make a request.

System Requirements

The PSQ also requires the Java2 plugin on most browsers. These days most browsers have the plugin installed by default. If you don't have the plugin you will be prompted to install it the first time you bring up the PSQ.

The PSQ is a large client that may take some time to download. However, once it has downloaded it should run faster. Certain operations may cause a delay, such as retrieving maps, running a search, and/or submitting a request. Therefore we recommend that you run the PSQ on the best platform you have available. We also recommend restarting your web browser before starting PSQ.

Data documentation for input data is available from the following:

SSM/I

Wentz, F. J. 1993. User's manual: SSM/I antenna temperature tapes. rev. 2. Remote Sensing Systems, Inc. Santa Rosa, CA. RSS Technical Report 120193.

AVHRR

AVHRR Polar 1 km Level 1b Data Set documentation

Data documentation for output data is available from the following:

SSM/I

DMSP SSM/I Pathfinder Daily EASE-Grid Brightness Temperatures

AVHRR

AVHRR Polar Pathfinder Twice-Daily 1.25 km EASE-Grid Composites

Grid output options