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Full catalog/SPL1A_RO_METADATA_003
SPL1A_RO_METADATA_003·v3·dataset

Helper info for SMAP raw radar files

SMAP_L1A_RADAR_RECEIVE_ONLY_METADATA_V003
land NASA ASF Level 1 active
In plain English

What it measures. Companion metadata for SMAP's raw receive-only radar files; it describes and documents those data rather than containing the radar measurements themselves.

How it's made. Generated alongside the SMAP Level 1A receive-only radar product as its accompanying metadata.

How & where you'd use it. A behind-the-scenes helper file used by data systems and processing tools to handle the raw SMAP radar product; not something general users open on its own.

What's measured

SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING › PLATFORM CHARACTERISTICS › ORBITAL CHARACTERISTICSSPECTRAL/ENGINEERING › RADAR › RADAR IMAGERYSPECTRAL/ENGINEERING › RADAR › SIGMA NAUGHT

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2015-02-12 → ongoing
  • Measured bySMAP (SAR)
  • Processing levelLevel 1
  • Spatial extent-180, -90, 180, 90
  • StatusACTIVE

What you can do with it

  • Track deforestation, fire scars and land-cover change
  • Monitor crop and vegetation health (NDVI/EVI)
  • Map how built-up vs. green an area is over time
Official description

SMAP Level 1A Radar Receive Only Product Metadata Version 3

Get the data

spl1a_ro_metadata_003_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="SPL1A_RO_METADATA_003",
    version="3",
    bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9),  # your area (W,S,E,N)
    temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"),       # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results)   # stream straight from ASF
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.