CYGNSS Level 1 Science Data Record Version 3.1

This Level 1 (L1) dataset contains the Version 3.1 geo-located Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs) calibrated into Power Received (Watts) and Bistatic Radar Cross Section (BRCS) expressed in units of m2 from the Delay Doppler Mapping Instrument aboard the CYGNSS satellite constellation. This version supersedes Version 3.0; https://doi.org/10.5067/CYGNS-L1X30. Other useful scientific and engineering measurement parameters include the DDM of Normalized Bistatic Radar Cross Section (NBRCS), the Delay Doppler Map Average (DDMA) of the NBRCS near the specular reflection point, and the Leading Edge Slope (LES) of the integrated delay waveform. The L1 dataset contains a number of other engineering and science measurement parameters, including sets of quality flags/indicators, error estimates, and bias estimates as well as a variety of orbital, spacecraft/sensor health, timekeeping, and geolocation parameters. At most, 8 netCDF data files (each file corresponding to a unique spacecraft in the CYGNSS constellation) are provided each day; under nominal conditions, there are typically 6-8 spacecraft retrieving data each day, but this can be maximized to 8 spacecraft under special circumstances in which higher than normal retrieval frequency is needed (i.e., during tropical storms and or hurricanes). Latency is approximately 6 days (or better) from the last recorded measurement time. Here is a summary of improvements the calibration and processing changes to the Version 3.1 data: The CYGNSS science antenna gain patterns have been adjusted to improve the accuracy of the ocean surface scattering cross section (a.k.a. the NBRCS) calibration. They are adjusted so that the annual average observed NBRCS matches the model-predicted average as derived from Wavewatch-3 estimates of the surface roughness with the appropriate spectral tail extension added to the roughness spectrum. The adjustment is made independently at each position in the science antenna pattern. A correction for coarse quantization effects by the on-board digital processor has also been added. This reduces the effects of radio frequency interference, which appeared as calibration biases in the v3.0 L1 NBRCS and retrieval biases in the v3.0 L2 wind speed that were persistent at certain locations.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Maintainer	Earthdata Forum
Last Updated	November 5, 2026, 06:39 (UTC)
Created	April 1, 2025, 15:18 (UTC)
Identifier	10.5067/CYGNS-L1X31
Modified	2026-11-02T22:15:58Z
Theme	{"Earth Science"}
accessLevel	public
bureauCode	{026:00}
catalog_conformsTo	https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
harvest_object_id	5cb7b6ab-a500-439a-a061-02a676d94263
harvest_source_id	b99e41c6-fe79-4c19-bbc3-9b6c8111bfac
harvest_source_title	Science Discovery Engine
license	https://www.usa.gov/government-works
programCode	{026:000}
publisher	NASA/ESSP/UMICH/CYGNSS;NASA/JPL/PODAAC
resource-type	Dataset
source_datajson_identifier	true
source_hash	5330e7a53031992dee8905474808de2f9d86b12c46ae57f6b5c546f8303fa7ed
source_schema_version	1.1
spatial	["CARTESIAN", [{"NorthBoundingCoordinate": 40.0, "WestBoundingCoordinate": -180.0, "EastBoundingCoordinate": 180.0, "SouthBoundingCoordinate": -40.0}]]