HDF5 for NPP sensor and environmental data records

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the next generation of low earth orbiting environmental satellites. The JPSS and the National Polar- orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) satellites are sun-synchronous polar orbiters with a period of approximately once every 100 minutes. Together with the Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS), the system will provide global monitoring environmental conditions by collecting, disseminating, and processing data about the Earth´s weather, atmosphere, oceans, land, and near-space environment with precision and detail never before achieved by operational weather satellites. This volume of data will allow scientists and forecasters to monitor and predict weather patterns with greater speed and accuracy.