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LITE Level 1 Data Format Description Document

Parameter NameUnitsMinimum ValueMaximum Value BytesDescription
syncvalueunitless12345123452 Constant data value to check data extraction accuracy.
majorversionnumberunitless0101 Major version number of the LITE 1 data. It is used to identify format revisions.
minorversionnumberunitless0101 Minor version number of the LITE level 1 data. It is used to identify parameter or data revisions.
datatakeidunitless321277 Datatake (A to Z) or Snapshot ID (SS001 to SS100).
orbitnumberunitless51501 Orbit number.
idnumberunitless1000001990237434 ID number assigned to the laser shot. This value was assigned during post processing and does not correspond to the number of the actual laser shot.
gmtdaydays2532622 Day, Greenwich Mean Time.
gmthourhours0231 Hour, Greenwich Mean Time.
gmtminminutes0591 Minute, Greenwich Mean Time.
gmtsecseconds0591 Second, Greenwich Mean Time. The number of seconds is gmtsec + 0.01*gmthund.
gmthundhundredths0991 Hundredth of a second, Greenwich Mean Time. The number of seconds is gmtsec + 0.01*gmthund.
metdaydays092 Day, Mission Elapsed Time.
methourhours0231 Hour, Mission Elapsed Time.
metminminutes0591 Minute, Mission Elapsed Time.
metsecseconds0591 Second, Mission Elapsed Time. The number of seconds is metsec + 0.01*methund.
methundhundredths0991 Hundredth of a second, Mission Elapsed Time. The number of seconds is metsec + 0.01*methund.
latitudedegrees-59.059.04 Geodetic latitude of LITE footprint. Refer to: Locating the LITE Footprint to Earth Coordinates.
longitudedegrees-179.9999179.99994 Longitude of LITE footprint. Refer to: Locating the LITE Footprint to Earth Coordinates.
shuttlealtitudekm238.0276.04 Shuttle altitude. Normally, the Shuttle altitude is the measured perpendicular distance from the Shuttle to a point on the surface of the reference geoid. The Shuttle altitude in the Level 1 data is the distance as described above plus a small extension so that a right triangle with the LITE vector as the hypotenuse can be formed.

The LITE vector is a vector along the LITE laser beam that extends from the center of the Shuttle cargo bay to the surface of the reference geoid. The length is the distance from the Shuttle to the point where the LITE vector intersects the surface of the reference geoid.

Refer to: Locating the Space Shuttle to Earth Coordinates.

Refer to: Range Calculation Document for a description of how Shuttle altitude, off-nadir angle, and the LITE altitude grid are used in range calculations.

offnadirangledegrees0.053.04 Off-nadir angle. This is the angle between the LITE vector and the perpendicular from the Shuttle to the surface of the reference geoid.

Refer to: Locating the LITE Footprint to Earth Coordinates.

Refer to: Range Calculation Document for a description of how Shuttle altitude, off-nadir angle, and the LITE altitude grid are used in range calculations.

digitizerondelaymicrosecs1280.01727.04 The time delay between the 10 Hz clock pulse and the start of digitizing. The digitizer-on delay begins with the 10 Hz clock pulse, which precedes the laser firing by 200.26 microseconds for laser A and 200.28 microseconds for laser B.

Refer to the Range Calculation Document for a description of how Shuttle altitude, off-nadir angle, and the LITE altitude grid are used in range calculations.

datatakemodeunitless011 Datatake mode flag,
  • 0 = day,
  • 1 = night.
    • specialopsmodeunitless031 Special operation mode flag,
  • 0 = normal,
  • 1 = multiscatter,
  • 2 = gain change,
  • 3 = mode transition.
    • profilevalidstatusunitless0631 Profile [valid/questionable/invalid] flag,
  • 0 = valid,
  • 1 = 355 questionable,
  • 2 = 532 questionable,
  • 4 = 1064 questionable,
  • 8 = 355 invalid,
  • 16 = 532 invalid,
  • 32 = 1064 invalid.

    Profiles may be questionable due to bad ISDB/AOE data, boresight not aligned, 355 or 532 nm high voltage greater than -1000, 1064 nm high voltage greater than -399, or underflow occurred in baseline subtraction region.

    Profiles may be invalid due to motor/wheel/filter motion aperture wheel in closed position, high voltage disabled, or the number of saturated counts in a profile are greater than 460.

    The value of this flag results from an "or" operation.

    Refer to the Profile Validity Document for instructions to unpack this parameter.

    • landwaterflagunitless011 Land/Water flag,
  • 0 = land,
  • 1 = water.
    • surfelevfootprintkm-0.098.04 Surface elevation at footprint location. The U.S. Geological Survey GTOPO30, Global 30 Arc Second Elevation Data Set, was source of global elevation data. http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/landdaac/gtopo30/gtopo30.html.
    metdataaltskm-0.556.072 Altitudes that correspond to the 18 standard pressure levels (1000, 850, 700, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 70, 50, 30, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 mb).
    mettempsKelvin0.0319.072 NMC Temperatures recorded at the 18 standard pressure levels described above.
    alttropopausekm6.017.04 NMC tropopause height.
    temptropopauseKelvin190.0238.04 NMC tropopause temperature.
    laserselectedunitless011 Laser in use flag,
  • 0 = A,
  • 1 = B.
    • baalignmentstatusunitless011 Boresight aligned flag,
  • 0 = not aligned,
  • 1 = aligned.
    • isdbstatusunitless011 ISDB validity flag,
  • 0 = invalid,
  • 1 = valid.

    Invalid means that ISDB values from a previous time were used or values in the ISDB were out of range. The profiles may be valid, but information obtained from the ISDB may be questionable.

    • badatastatusunitless011 Boresight assembly data status flag,
  • 0 = invalid,
  • 1 = valid.

    If invalid, then the profile validity is questionable.

    • aoedatastatusunitless011 Aft-optics data status flag,
  • 0 = invalid,
  • 1 = valid.

    If invalid, then information stored in the following locations were obtained from a previous AOE status report: motor motion, aperture wheel status, background monitor gain, attenuation setting, filter status, background value, high voltage enabled, high voltage, energy monitor, and PMT gain.

    • motorinmotionunitless011 Motor [no motion/motion] flag,
  • 0 = no motion,
  • 1 = motion.
    • aperwheelstatusunitless041 Aperture wheel status flag,
  • 0 = closed,
  • 1 = large,
  • 2 = annular,
  • 3 = small,
  • 4 = in motion.
    • backgroundmongainunitless011 Background monitor gain setting [day/night] flag,
  • 0 = day,
  • 1 = night.
    • surfacemode355unitless021 Surface mode configuration flag,
  • 0 = not surface mode,
  • 1 = in transition in or out of surface mode,
  • 2 = in surface mode.

    Refer to the plot showing the locations where surface mode is set.

    • dbattenuation355db0491 Attenuation setting. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    numbersatabovesurf355unitless030002 Number of saturated values above the surface.
    highestsatsample355km-5.040.04 Altitude of highest saturated sample.
    numberunderflows355unitless030002 Number of underflow occurrences in profile between -5 to 40.0 km.
    filterstatus355unitless021 Filter status [out/in/in motion] flag.
  • 0 = out,
  • 1 = in,
  • 2 = in motion.
    • calibrationstatus355unitless011 Calibration status flag,
  • 0 = estimated,
  • 1 = calculated.
    • calibrationfactor355unitlessunitlessunitless4 Calibration factor. The Level 1 System Calibration Document describes how the LITE system calibration constants were determined, discusses the variability in the system constants, and the applications of the LITE system calibration constants.
    baselinerippleremvd355unitless011 Fixed phase baseline ripple removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • oscillationremoved355unitless011 Random phase baseline oscillation removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • backgroundvalue355unitless02551 Background value.
    highvoltage355enabledunitless011 High voltage [disabled/enabled] flag,
  • 0 = disabled,
  • 1 = enabled.
    • highvoltage355volts-1718.98-318.14 Measured high voltage value. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    energymonitor355mjoules0.0201.04 Measured energy value.
    pmtgain355unitless0.05unitless4 PMT gain. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    baselinesubmethod355unitless011 Baseline method used flag,
  • 0 = slope method,
  • 1 = averaged signal method.
    • outofrangsubreg355unitless031 Out of range conditions in baseline subtraction region flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • anomalousprof355unitless011 Anomalous profile flag,
  • 0 = normal,
  • 1 = anomalous.

    A profile is flagged anomalous if it initially passed all the validity tests, but upon visual inspection appears to be invalid or questionable.

    • fillbyte1unitless001 Fill byte.
    surfacemode532unitless021 Surface mode configuration flag,
  • 0 = not surface mode,
  • 1 = in transition in or out of surface mode,
  • 2 = in surface mode.

    Refer to the plot showing the locations where surface mode is set.

    • dbattenuation532db0631 Attenuation setting. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    numbersatabovesurf532unitless030002 Number of saturated values above the surface.
    highestsatsample532km-5.040.04 Altitude of highest saturated sample.
    numberunderflows532unitless030002 Number of underflow occurrences in profile between -5 to 40.0 km.
    filterstatus532unitless021 Filter status [out/in/in motion] flag.
  • 0 = out,
  • 1 = in,
  • 2 = in motion.
    • calibrationstatus532unitless011 Calibration status flag,
  • 0 = estimated,
  • 1 = calculated.
    • calibrationfactor532unitlessunitlessunitless4 Calibration factor. The Level 1 System Calibration Document describes how the LITE system calibration constants were determined, discusses the variability in the system constants, and the applications of the LITE system calibration constants.
    baselinerippleremvd532unitless011 Fixed phase baseline ripple removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • oscillationremoved532unitless011 Random phase baseline oscillation removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • backgroundvalue532unitless02551 Background value.
    highvoltage532enabledunitless011 High voltage [disabled/enabled] flag,
  • 0 = disabled,
  • 1 = enabled.
    • highvoltage532volts-1330.93-159.24 Measured high voltage value. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    energymonitor532mjoules0.0543.64 Measured energy value.
    pmtgain532unitless0.0unitless4 PMT gain. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    baselinesubmethod532unitless011 Baseline method used flag,
  • 0 = slope method,
  • 1 = averaged signal method.
    • outofrangsubreg532unitless031 Out of range conditions in baseline subtraction region flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • anomalousprof532unitless011 Anomalous profile flag,
  • 0 = normal,
  • 1 = anomalous.

    A profile is flagged anomalous if it initially passed all the validity tests, but upon visual inspection appears to be invalid or questionable.

    • fillbyte2unitless001 Fill byte.
    surfacemode064unitless021 Surface mode configuration flag,
  • 0 = not surface mode,
  • 1 = in transition in or out of surface mode,
  • 2 = in surface mode.

    Refer to the plot showing the locations where surface mode is set.

    • dbattenuation064db0631 Attenuation setting. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    numbersatabovesurf064unitless030002 Number of saturated values above the surface.
    highestsatsample064km-5.040.04 Altitude of highest saturated sample.
    numberunderflows064unitless030002 Number of underflow occurrences in profile between -5 to 40.0 km.
    filterstatus064unitless021 Filter status [out/in/in motion] flag.
  • 0 = out,
  • 1 = in,
  • 2 = in motion.
    • calibrationstatus064unitless221 Calibration status flag,
  • 2 = not available.
    • calibrationfactor064unitless9999.09999.04 Calibration factor.The Level 1 System Calibration Document describes how the LITE system calibration constants were determined, discusses the variability in the system constants, and the applications of the LITE system calibration constants.
    baselinerippleremvd064unitless011 Fixed phase baseline ripple removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • oscillationremoved064unitless011 Random phase baseline oscillation removal flag,
  • 0 = not removed,
  • 1 = removed.
    • backgroundvalue064unitless02551 Background value.
    highvoltage064enabledunitless011 High voltage [disabled/enabled] flag,
  • 0 = disabled,
  • 1 = enabled.
    • highvoltage064volts-436.4-371.14 Measured high voltage value. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    energymonitor064mjoules0.0511.04 Measured energy value.
    apdgain064unitless75.075.04 APD gain. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    baselinesubmethod064unitless011 Baseline method used flag,
  • 1 = averaged signal method.
    • outofrangsubreg064unitless031 Out of range conditions in baseline subtraction region flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • anomalousprof064unitless011 Anomalous profile flag,
  • 0 = normal,
  • 1 = anomalous.

    A profile is flagged anomalous if it initially passed all the validity tests, but upon visual inspection appears to be invalid or questionable.

    • fillbyte3unitless001 Fill byte.
    timeedsinthourhours0231 Hour, EDS Interrupt time.
    timeedsintminminutes0591 Minute, EDS Interrupt time.
    timeedsintsecseconds0591 Second, EDS Interrupt time.
    timeedsinthundhundredths0991 Hundredth of second, EDS Interrupt time.
    level0fileidnumberunitless001 Level 0 directory number.
    level0fileidletterunitless001 Level 0 file letter.
    reserved1unitless006 Reserved for user to define.
    highvoltage355cmdvolts-1719.6-1072.24 Commanded high voltage value. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    highvoltage532cmdvolts-1336.1-1067.24 Commanded high voltage value. The relationship between attenuation, high voltage, and gain are presented in the Level 1 Gain Calculation Document.
    reserved2unitless004 Reserved for user to define.
    b0_355unitless-0.234094.914 Baseline subtraction value for 355 channel.
    b0_532unitless-0.384094.824 Baseline subtraction value for 532 channel.
    b0_064unitless-0.874096.034 Baseline subtraction value for 1064 channel.
    outofrng355abv40unitless031 355 channel overflow/underflow above 40 km flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • outofrng532abv40unitless031 532 channel overflow/underflow above 40 km flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • outofrng064abv40unitless031 1064 channel overflow/underflow above 40 km flag,
  • 0 = none,
  • 1 = underflow,
  • 2 = overflow,
  • 3 = underflow and overflow.
    • outofrange355unitless01375 Packed byte array identifying which elements in the Level 1 lidar profile were out of range before Level 1 processing was performed. Unpacking this parameter yields a 3000 element array filled with values of zero or one indicating whether the preprocessed count values were in or out of range, respectively. The grid locations of this array correspond to the grid locations of the Level 1 altitude array.
    outofrange532unitless01375 Packed byte array identifying which elements in the Level 1 lidar profile were out of range before Level 1 processing was performed. Unpacking this parameter yields a 3000 element array filled with values of zero or one indicating whether the preprocessed count values were in or out of range, respectively. The grid locations of this array correspond to the grid locations of the Level 1 altitude array.
    outofrange1064unitless01375 Packed byte array identifying which elements in the Level 1 lidar profile were out of range before Level 1 processing was performed. Unpacking this parameter yields a 3000 element array filled with values of zero or one indicating whether the preprocessed count values were in or out of range, respectively. The grid locations of this array correspond to the grid locations of the Level 1 altitude array.
    top355unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the highest altitude of the first valid 355 nm profile value.
    bot355unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the lowest altitude of the last valid 355 nm profile value.
    top532unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the highest altitude where the first valid 532 nm profile value begins.
    bot532unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the lowest altitude of the last valid 532 nm profile value.
    top064unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the highest altitude of the first valid 1064 nm profile value.
    bot064unitless029992 Index value of the altitude array corresponding to the lowest altitude of the last valid 1064 nm profile value.
    profile355counts-4044.214095.1512000 LITE level 1 profile for 355 nm wavelength. Level 1 profiles are formed by:
  • removing the fixed phase and random phase oscillations,
  • performing offset subtraction,
  • registering the lidar profiles to a uniform grid from -4.985 to 40.0 km with a 15 m vertical resolution, and
  • supplying a calibration factor.

    Fill values = 9999.0

    • profile532counts-2028.024095.4912000 LITE level 1 profile for 532 nm wavelength. Level 1 profiles are formed by:
  • removing the fixed phase and random phase oscillations,
  • performing offset subtraction,
  • registering the lidar profiles to a uniform grid from -4.985 to 40.0 km with a 15 m vertical resolution, and
  • supplying a calibration factor.

    Fill values = 9999.0

    • profile1064counts-4094.584095.8512000 LITE level 1 profile for 1064 nm wavelength. Level 1 profiles are formed by:
  • removing the fixed phase and random phase oscillations,
  • performing offset subtraction, and
  • registering the lidar profiles to a uniform grid from -4.985 to 40.0 km with a 15 m vertical resolution.
  • A calibration factor is not supplied for the 1064 nm wavelength profiles.

    Fill values = 9999.0