Creating Satellite Data Products in the Cloud: SatCORPS Global Cloud Composites

Real time satellite observations and real time derived cloud products are becoming an important tool for both science as well as business ventures. The SatCORPS group leverages public and private cloud-based sources of satellite observations to create its Global Cloud Composite product in near real-time. This dataset allows others access to cloud information that can be accessed directly from the cloud.

In this work, we describe the software algorithms and software infrastructure that we have created to create and distribute this product through our hybrid cloud and on-premises system that leverages the strengths and weaknesses of each platform.

We will also describe the GCC product itself in terms of the scientific parameters available, resolution and temporal availability.
Finally, we will also describe our web-based tools including our Geographic Information System that can be used for visualization and analysis. The products from the processing can be geospatially-service enabled as ArcGIS Image Services and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Mapping/Coverage Services for visualization and analysis via a web mapping application and common geospatial software.

The SatCORPS Global Composite Cloud product provides sophisticated global cloud products with very low latency which we see that as filling a rapidly growing need in the research, modelling and business community.
We present a detailed description of the SatCORPS GCC product in terms of the capabilities and research benefits as well as the delivery architecture in AWS. We take the discussion further and describe the web tools that the SatCORPS group has developed that allow users to access and use the GIS data that it creates.