Towards a common language in satellite data management: a new processing level nomenclature

This paper represents an attempt to standardize the terminology used in satellite data processing and utilization from raw sensor counts to end products. The proposed processing level nomenclature (PLN) and the flow structure are based on the authors' experience with the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data production and are intended to complement and enhance the PLN currently used for the Earth Observing System (EOS) datasets. The proposed four-level structure is designed considering two major groups: (1) data producers and (2) data users. The A and B levels of the structure are primarily oriented to serve the first group, consisting mostly of remote sensing specialists, whereas the C and D levels fit better the purposes of scientists in the second group (e.g. weather-climate numerical modelers) that are interested in end products but not in remote sensing methodology. A simple PLN is proposed to facilitate communication between producers and users of satellite data.