Due to the compromised data integrity with the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-17 vertically polarized 37 GHz channel (37V) of the Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sounder (SSMIS), NSIDC will be distributing data from both the F17 and F18 satellites, starting with 1 April 2016 data. Using data from the 37V channel from the F17 satellite is not recommended. Instead, you should use data from the F18 satellite’s 37V channel.
On 04/05/2016 a change in the solar panel position to shade the nitrogen tank on board the DMSP F-17 satellite was made. In doing so, the integrity of the vertically polarized 37V channel of the SSMIS was compromised. On 04/13/16 an additional change in the solar panel position was made. This change had improved the problems we were seeing in the 37V GHz channel; however, on April 20, the 37V GHz channel started to produce bad data again. Thus, a decision to use F18 data was made at that time.