The WetNet project

Abstract

The WetNet Project is an international experiment to study mechanisms for the improvement and acceleration of scientific interpretation of remote sensing data through the application of electronic networking and data services. Stimulus for the initiation of the project came during the specification of the requirements for NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). It was desirable to evaluate the utility of certain data system characteristics such as global networking for mail and data, complete archives at each primary science user site, data distribution using rewriteable optical cartridges, daily broadcasts over the networks of global browse products generated from the incoming data, and a system standard for hardware, protocols, and scientific interpretation software. The WetNet Project is so named because the data source chosen to evaluate these data system attributes was the passive microwave data from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) sensor series of the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. This seven‐channel data set has the advantages of relatively manageable size, ease of acquisition, existing interpretation algorithms, and scientific meaning for indices and measures of precipitation, atmospheric precipitable water, cloud liquid water, surface wind speed over the oceans, land classification incorporating surface moisture characteristics, and land surface temperature. As the project has progressed, many of the original data system elements have been found to be very useful to scientific researchers and have been incorporated into the evolving EOSDIS. Scientists have grown to depend upon the established networking and data services, and the project has been modified to continue to support the U.S. and international SSM/I research communities with activities such as intra‐laboratory algorithm intercomparisons, algorithm validation coordination, global data set preparation, and continued experiments in data distribution techniques. Because the data service portion of WetNet has been incorporated into the Distributed Active Archive Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, efforts are underway to make its data available to a more generalized set of users than just those who have the specific WetNet hardware and software. It is likely that the annual scientific gatherings of WetNet scientists will continue because of the scientific rapport that has grown during the development and testing of the WetNet hardware, software, and algorithm intercomparison experiments.