This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.
Hi Danny, I apologize for our slow replies to your emails. As Jeff noted in a previous email, we have been involved in both moving our offices and in the week-long, triennial Unidata User's Workshop. re: we asked why can't UAH supply the data you need? > John Mecikalski is unable to provide the data because UAH's contract with > NOAA (for research purposes they can use their data for free), UAH is not > technically allowed to share raw imagery data. The data you have suggested you need from the THREDDS server on motherlode.ucar.edu is made available by the U.S. National Weather Service in the NOAAPort Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) that was created to supply data to U.S. forecast offices. We relay this data in our Internet Data Distribution system (IDD) in a variety of real-time feeds mainly to universities, not commercial entities. The data in the NOAAPort SBN has no NOAA redistribution restrictions ** except for WMO Resolution 40 restrictions which are specified by countries in which those products originate **. Since WMO Resolution 40 explicitly allows for redistribution of products for education, and since participants in the IDD are typically universities, we typically do not have to worry about WMO Resolution 40 restrictions. There are satellite image sectors created from GOES East and West that are created for/provided to university IDD participants that are also available from motherlode.ucar.edu, but they are not have the full resolution/coverage that one would get from direct satellite ingest from the GOES platforms, so you may not be interested in them. re: > I hope that the Hebrew University can still get the UNIDATA for our > objectives, as stated in the previous message. We would not have _any_ hesitation if your intended use of the data was for academic purposes at your university. Your stated use of the data, however, is for eventual commercialization. This makes our position difficult since we are funded by the National Science Foundation to help universities access and use data, not the private sector. Our recommendation is that you re-investigate access to the satellite imagery available in the NOAAPort SBN/Unidata IDD at UAH. We would be happy to help the appropriate contact at UAH (John Mecikalski?) get this setup. Cheers, Tom -- **************************************************************************** Unidata User Support UCAR Unidata Program (303) 497-8642 P.O. Box 3000 address@hidden Boulder, CO 80307 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unidata HomePage http://www.unidata.ucar.edu **************************************************************************** Ticket Details =================== Ticket ID: PAO-814465 Department: Support IDD Priority: High Status: Closed