<p>It is far too complex a process to estimate surface irradiances utilising satellite data. No software takes just satellite images as input and gives out irradiances. </p>

<p>I am pasting link to an article that describes algorithm to convert geostationary satellite measurements to surface reaching solar irradiance. </p>

<p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009308" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gadhavi et al., 2008; doi: 10.1029/2007JD009308</a></p>

<p>To summarise following are most important aspects in estimating surface radiation budget. </p>

<ul>
<li>Calibration constants to convert photon counts measured by satellite sensor to radiance</li>
<li>Parameterisation scheme to convert narrow band satellite radiances to broadband radiances. </li>
<li>surface optical characteristics as function of wavelength, sun elevation and season</li>
<li>Geophysical parameters like cloud amount, aerosol amount, ozone, etc. (Essentially these are the real satellite input in whole process). </li>
<li>Radiative transfer model to estimate irradiances using inputs received from satellite and other sources.</li>
</ul>

<p>There are few web-site where one can directly get final output of irradiance values. See following link. 
<a href="https://data.noaa.gov/dataset/surface-radiation-budget-surfrad-network-1-hour-observations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://data.noaa.gov/dataset/surface-radiation-budget-surfrad-network-1-hour-observations</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T09:53:25.517Z
2017-12-15T08:45:23.067Z
2017-12-15T08:45:23.067Z
Harish
<p>I have GOES 15 satellite image data (GVAR_IMG) for a project that I am working on.  The files are end in .BAND_01, .BAND_02, etc. </p>

<p>I use the <a href="https://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/panoply/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Panoply tool</a> to view these files, but am looking for an online tool or software to convert this data into solar irradiance values.</p>

<meteorology><software><solar-terrestrial-physics><weather-satellites><geospatial>
Convert satellite image data (GOES 15) into solar irradiance values?
Karuna
# Convert satellite image data (GOES 15) into solar irradiance values?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-25)

I have GOES 15 satellite image data (GVAR\_IMG) for a project that I am working on. The files are end in .BAND\_01, .BAND\_02, etc.

I use the [Panoply tool](https://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/panoply/) to view these files, but am looking for an online tool or software to convert this data into solar irradiance values.

**Tags:** meteorology, software, solar-terrestrial-physics, weather-satellites, geospatial


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-26. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

It is far too complex a process to estimate surface irradiances utilising satellite data. No software takes just satellite images as input and gives out irradiances.

I am pasting link to an article that describes algorithm to convert geostationary satellite measurements to surface reaching solar irradiance.

[Gadhavi et al., 2008; doi: 10.1029/2007JD009308](http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009308)

To summarise following are most important aspects in estimating surface radiation budget.

* Calibration constants to convert photon counts measured by satellite sensor to radiance
* Parameterisation scheme to convert narrow band satellite radiances to broadband radiances.
* surface optical characteristics as function of wavelength, sun elevation and season
* Geophysical parameters like cloud amount, aerosol amount, ozone, etc. (Essentially these are the real satellite input in whole process).
* Radiative transfer model to estimate irradiances using inputs received from satellite and other sources.

There are few web-site where one can directly get final output of irradiance values. See following link.
<https://data.noaa.gov/dataset/surface-radiation-budget-surfrad-network-1-hour-observations>


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