Database Description

There are a paper and three manuals describe the current database:

Liu, C., E.J.Zipser, D.J.Cecil,S.W.Nesbitt, and S. Sherwood, 2008: A cloud and precipitation feature database from 9 years of TRMM observations. J. Appl. Meteor. Climate, 47, DOI:10.1175/2008JAMC1890.1, in press.(PDF)
Liu, C., University of Utah TRMM precipitation and cloud feature database description, v1.0, 2007 (PDF).
Liu, C., New TRMM precipitation and cloud feature database description, v2.0, 2012 (PDF)
Liu, C., GPM precipitation and cloud feature database description, v1.0, 2016 (PDF)

Publications

Shepherd, J. M., S. J. Burian, M. Jin, C. Liu, and B. Johnson 2020: Two decades of urban hydroclimatological studies have yielded discovery and societal benefits, book chapter. (PDF)
Liu,N.,C. Liu, L. Hayden 2020: Climatology and detection of overshooting convection from 4 years of GPM precipitation radar and passive microwave observations, J. Geophys. Res., 125. (PDF)
Liu,N.,C. Liu, B. Chen, and E. Zipser 2020: What are the favorable largescale environments for the highest flash rate thunderstorms on Earth. J. Atmos. Sci.,77, 1583-1611. (PDF)
Adhikari, A., and C. Liu, 2019: Remote sensing properties of freezing rain events from Space. J. Geophys. Res., 124. (PDF)
Liu, N., C. Liu, and P. Tissot, 2019: A Bayesian-like approach to describe the regional variation of high-flash rate thunderstorms from thermodynamic and kinematic environment variables. J. Geophys. Res. , 124, 12507-12522. (PDF)
Ni, X., C. Liu, and E. Zipser, 2019: Ice microphysical properties near the tops of deep convective cores implied by the GPM dual frequency radar observations, J. Atmos. Sci., . (PDF)
Sodowsky, R., C. Zhang, and C. Liu, 2019: The relationship between the ITCZ and MJO initiation over the Indian ocean, J. Atmos. Sci, 76, 2275-2294, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0327.1 (PDF)
Adhikari, A., C. Liu, and L. Hayden, 2019: An approach to improve GPM Microwave imager precipitation estimated based on precipitation system size and intensity, J. Hydrometeor., Accepted. (PDF)
Liu, N., C. Liu, and T. Lavigne, 2019: The variation of the intensity, height and size of precipitation systems along with EL Nino-Southern Oscillation in the tropics and subtropics, J. Climate, 32, 4281-4297, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0766.1. (PDF)
Lavigne, T, and C. Liu, 2019: How does the trend in thunder-days related to the variation of lightning flash density? J. Geophys. Res., 124, 4955-4974. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029920. (PDF)
Adhikari, A., and C. Liu, 2019: Geographical distribution of thundersnow events and their properties from GPM Ku-Band radar, J. Geophys. Res., 124, 2031-2048. (PDF)
Feng, X., C. Liu, F. Xie, J. Lu, L. S. Chie, G. Tintera, and B. Chen, 2019: Precipitation characteristic changes due to GHG warming in a high resolution (16-km) ECMWF simulation, Q. J. Roy. Meteor., 145, 303-317. Doi:/10.1002/qj.3432. (PDF)
Hayden, L., and C. Liu, 2018: A global precipitation climatology combining cloudsat and GPM precipitation retrievals, J. Hydrometeor., 19, 1935-1952. Doi:org/10.1175/JHM-E-18-0053.1. (PDF)
Li, et al., 2018: Evolution of Precipitation Structure During November DYNAMO MJO Event:Cloud-Resolving Model Inter-comparison and Cross-Validation using Radar Observations, J. Geophys. Res., 123, 3530-3555. doi.org/10.1002/2017JD027775. (PDF)
Ayodeji, B., C. Liu, et al., 2018: Intra-seasonal and seasonal variability of convective properties of monsoon precipitation systems over West and Central Africa, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 1-14, doi: 10.1007/s00704-018-2692-1. (PDF)
Johnston, B., F. Xie, and C. Liu, 2018: The effects of deep convection on regional temperature structure in the tropical upper tropopasphere and lower stratosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 123, 1585-1603, doi:10.1002/2017JD027120. (PDF)
Peterson, M., W. Deierling, C. Liu, D. Mach, and C. Kalb, 2018: Retrieving Global Wilson Currents from Electrified Clouds Using Satellite Passive Microwave Observations. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 35, 1487-1503, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-18-0038.1 (PDF)
Liu, N., and C. Liu, 2018: Synoptic environments and characteristics of convection reaching the tropopause over Northeast China, Mon. Wea. Rev., 146, 745-759, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0245.1. (PDF)
Adhikari, A., C. Liu, and M. Kulie, 2018: Global distribution of snow precipitation features and their properties observed by GPM satellite, J. Climate, 31, 3731-3754. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0012.1. (PDF)
Heymsfield, A., G. Liu, N. Wood, S. Taneli, M. Poellot, and C. Liu, 2018: Toward Improving Ice Water Content and Snow-Rate Retrievals from Radars. Part II: Results from Three Wavelength Radar-Collocated In Situ Measurements and CloudSat-GPM-TRMM Radar Data, J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 365-389. (PDF)
Peterson, M., W. Deierling, C. Liu, D. Mach, C. Kalb, 2017: A TRMM/GPM assessment of the composition of Generator Current that supplies the Global Electric Circuit, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 10,025-10,049, doi:10.1002/2016JD026336 . (PDF)
Ni, X., Q. Xhang, X. Li, C. Liu, and Z. Ren, 2017: Decreased hail size in China since 1980, Nature Science Report, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11395-7. (PDF)
Lavigne, T., C. Liu, W. Deierling, and D. Mach, 2017: Relationship between the global electric circuit and electrified cloud parameters at diurnal, seasonal and interannual timescales, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 8525-8542, doi:10.1002/2016JD026442. (PDF)
Ni, X, C. Liu, D. Cecil, and Q. Zhang, 2017: On the hail detection with satellite passive microwave radiometers and radar, J. Appl. Meteor. Climate, 56, 2693-2709, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0065.1 (PDF)
Su, W., L. N. G. Loeb, L. Liang, N. Liu, and C.liu, 2017: The El Nino-Southern oscillation effect on tropical outgoing longwave radiation: A daytime versus nighttime perspective, J. Geophys. Res., 122, doi:10.1002/2017JD027002. (PDF)
Holt, L. A., M. J. Alexander, L. Coy, A. Molod, W. Putnam, S. Pawson, and C. Liu, 2017: An evaluation of gravity waves and their sources in the southern hemisphere in a 7-km global climate simulation, Q.J.Roy. Meteor., 143, 2481-2495. (PDF)
Liu, C., 2017: Severe weather in a warming climate, Nature news & views, 544, 423-424. Doi:10.1038/54422a. (PDF)
Chen, B., C. Liu, and B. Mapes, 2017:Relationships between large precipitating systems and atmospheric factors at a grid scale, J. Atmos. Sci., doi:10.1175/JAS-D-16-0049.1. (PDF)
Chen, B., C. Liu, and B. Mapes, 2017:Relationships between large precipitating systems and atmospheric factors at a grid scale, J. Atmos. Sci., doi:10.1175/JAS-D-16-0049.1. (PDF)
Peterson, M., W. Deierling, C. Liu, D. Mach, C. Kalb, 2017:The properties of optical lightning flashes and the clouds they illuminate, J. Geophys. Res., 122,.423-442, doi:10.1002/2016JD025312. (PDF)
Ni, X., C. Liu, Q. Zhang, D. Cecil, 2016: Properties of hail storms over China and the United States from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 12031-12044, DOI: 10.1002/2016JD025600 (PDF)
Kalb, C., W. Deierling, A. Baumgaertner, M. Peterson, C. Liu, and D. Mach, 2016: Parameterizing total storm conduction currents in the community earth system model, J. Geophy. Res., 121, doi:10.1002/2016JD025376.. (PDF)
Liu, N., and C. Liu, 2016: Global distribution of deep convection reaching tropopause in one-year GPM observations, J. Geophys. Res.,121, doi:10.1002/2015JD024430. (PDF)
Chen, B., and C. Liu, 2016: Warm organized rain systems over the tropical eastern pacific, J. Climate, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0177.1. (PDF)
Peterson, M., C. Liu, D. Mach, W. Deierling, and C. Kalb, 2015: A method of estimating electric fields above electrified clouds from passive microwave observations J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.32, 1429-1446. (PDF)
Liu, C. and E. Zipser,2015:The global distribution of largest, deepest, and most intense precipitation systems, Geophys. Res. Lett 42, doi:10.1002/2015GL063776. (PDF)
Hamada, A., T. N. Takayabu, C.Liu, and E. J. Zipser, 2015: Robust differences in rainfall characteristics and related environments between extreme rainfall and extreme convective events extracted from TRMM PR measurements Nature comm 6:6213. (PDF)
Liu, C., S. Shige, T. Takayabu, and E. J. Zipser, 2015: latent heating contribution from precipitation systems with different sizes, depths, and intensities in tropics, large scale circulations in reanalysis datasets J. climate 28, 186-203. (PDF)
Liu, C., and E. Zipser, 2014: Differences between the surface precipitation estimates from the TRMM precipitation radar and passive microwave radiometer version 7 products J. Hydrometeor. ,15, 2157-2175. (PDF)
Yokoyama, C., E. J. Zipser, C. Liu, 2014: TRMM-observed shallow vs. deep convection in the eastern pacific related to large scale circulations in reanalysis datasets J. climate. 27, 5575-5592.. (PDF)
Wall, C., E. J. Zipser, C. Liu, 2014:An investigation of the aerosol indirect effect on convective intensity using satellite observations, J. Atmos. Sci. , 71, 430-447. (PDF)
Wall, C., C. Liu, and E. Zipser, 2013: A climatology of tropical congestus using CloudSat, J. Geophys. Res. doi :10.1002/jgrd.50455. (PDF)
Peterson, M., and C. Liu, 2013: >Characteristics of lightning flashes with exceptional illuminated areas, durations, and optical powers and surrounding storm properties in the tropics and inner subtropics, J. Geophys. Res. 118, 1-14. (PDF)
Zhou, Y., W. K. M. Lau, and C. Liu, 2013: Rain characteristics and large scale environments of precipitation objects with extreme rain volumes from TRMM observations, J. Geophys. Res. 117, 9673-9689. (PDF)
Liu, C., and E. Zipser, 2013: Regional variation of morphology of the organized convection in the tropics and subtropics J. Geophys. Res. 118, 453-466. (PDF)
Liu, C., and E. Zipser, 2013: Why does radar reflectivity tend to increase downward toward the ocean surface, but decrease downward toward the land surface J. Geophys. Res. 118, 135-148. (PDF)
Liu, C., D. Cecil, and E. J. Zipser, 2012: Relationships between lightning flash rates and radar reflectivity vertical structures in thunderstorms over the tropics and subtropics. J. Geophys. Res.116,doi:10.1029/2011JD017123. (PDF)
Liu, C., D.J.Cecil, and E.J.Zipser, 2011: Relationship between lightning flash rates and passive microwave brightness temperatures at 85 and 37 GHz over the tropics and subtropics. J. Geophys. Res.116, D23108, doi:10.1029/2011JD016463. (PDF)
Peterson, M., and C. Liu, 2011: Global statistics of lightning in anvil and stratiform regions over tropics and subtropics observed by TRMM. J. Geophys. Res.116, D23201, doi:10.1029/2011JD015908. (PDF)
Wall, C.L., E.J.Zipser, and C.Liu, 2011: A regional climatology of monsoonal precipitation in the southwestern U.S. using TRMM. J. Hydrometeor.,12, doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-11-031.1 (PDF)
Liu, C., 2011: Rainfall contribution from precipitation systems with different sizesm intensities and durations. J. Hydrometeor.,12, 394-412. (PDF)
Jiang, H., C. Liu, and E. J. Zipser, 2011: A TRMM-based tropical cyclone cloud and precipitation feature database J. Appl. Meteor. Climat., 50, 1255-1274. (PDF)
Xu, W., and E.J.Zipser, 2011: Diurnal variations of precipitation, deep convection, and lightning over and east of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. J. Climate. , 24, 448-465. doi:10.1175/2010JCLI3719.1. (PDF)
Liu, C., E. Williams, E. J. Zipser, and G. Burns, 2010: Diurnal variations of global thunderstorms and electrified shower clouds and their contribution to the global electrical circuit J. Atmos. Sci., 67, 309-323. (PDF)
Xu, W., E. J. Zipser, C. Liu, and J. Jiang, 2010: On the relationships between lightning frequency and thundercloud parameters of regional precipitation systems J. Geophys. Res. ,115, D12203, doi:10.1029/2009JD013385 (PDF)
Gopalan, K., N.-Y. Wang, R. Ferraro, and C. Liu, 2010: Status of version 7 of the TRMM 2a12 land precipitation algorithm J. Tech. , 27, 1343-1354. (PDF)
Liu, C., and E. J. Zipser, 2009: Implication of the day vs. night differences of water vapor, carbon monoxide and thin cloud observations near tropical tropopause, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D09303, doi:10.1029/2008JD011524 (PDF)
Liu, C., and E.J.Zipser, 2009: "Warm rain" in the tropics: Seasonal and regional distribution based on 9 years of TRMM data. J. Climate, in press, early online release July 2008.  DOI: 10.1175/2008JCLI2641.1 (PDF)
Liu, C., E.J.Zipser, G.G. Mace, and S. Benson, 2008: Implications of the differences between daytime and nighttime CloudSat observations over the tropics. J. Geophys. Res., 113, 113, D00A04, doi:10.1029/2008JD009783. (PDF)
Zhang, Y., S. A. Klein, C. Liu, B. Tian, R. T. Marchand, J. M. Haynes, R. B. McCoy, Y. Zhang, and T. P. Ackerman, On the diurnal cycle of deep convection, high-level cloud and upper troposphere water vapor in the Multi-scale Modeling Framework, J. Geophys. Res., accepted, 2008. (PDF)
Liu, C., E.J.Zipser, D.J.Cecil,S.W.Nesbitt, and S. Sherwood, 2008: A cloud and precipitation feature database from 9 years of TRMM observations. J. Appl. Meteor. Climate, 47, DOI:10.1175/2008JAMC1890.1, in press.(PDF)
Li, Y., E.J.Zipser, S.K.Krueger, and M.A.Zulauf, 2008: Cloud-resolving modeling of deep convection observed during KWAJEX, Part I: Comparison to TRMM satellite and ground-based radar observations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 136, in press.(PDF)
Liu, C., and E.J.Zipser, 2008: Diurnal cycles of precipitation, clouds, and lightning in the triopics from 9 years of TRMM observations. Geophys. Res. Letters, 35, L04819, doi:10.1029/2007GL032437.(PDF)
Liu, C., E.Zipser, T.Garrett, J.Jiang, and H.Su, 2007: How do the water vapor and carbon monoxide "tape recorders" start near the tropical tropopause? Geophys. Res. Letters., , 34, L09804, doi:10.1029/2006GL029234(PDF).
Liu, C., E,J,Zipser, and S.W.Nesbitt, 2007: Global distribution of tropical deep convection: Differences using infrared and radar as the primary data source. J. Climate, 20, 489-503, DOI:10.1175/JCLI4023.1(PDF).
Salio, P., M.Nicolini, and E.J.Zipser, 2007: Mesoscale convective systems over Southeastern South America and their relationship with the South American Low Level Jet. Mon. Wea. Rev. 135, 1290-1309(PDF).
Zipser, E.J., D.J.Cecil, C.Liu, S.W.Nesbitt. and D.P.Yorty, 2006: Where are the most intense thunderstorms on earth? Bull, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87, 1057-1071(PDF).
Mace, G.G., M. Deng, B. Soden, and E.J.Zipser, 2006: On the association of tropical cirrus in the 10-15 km layer with deep convective source regions; an observational study combining millimeter radar data and satellite-derived trajectories. J. Atmos. Sci., 63 (2), 480-503(PDF).
Liu, C. and E.J. Zipser, 2005: Global distribution of convection penetrating the tropicaL tropopause. J.Geophys. Res.-Atm, 110, in review.(PDF)
Cecil, D.J., S.J.Goodman, D.J.Boccippio, E.J.ZIpser, and S.W.Nesbitt, 2005: Three years of TRMM precipitation features. Part 1: Radar, radiometric, and lightning characteristics. Mon Wea. Rev., 133, 543-566.(PDF)
Nesbitt, S.W., E.J. Zipser, and C.D. Kummerow, 2004: An examination of Version-5 rainfall estimates from the TRMM Microwave Imager, Precipitation Radar, and rain gauges on global, regional, and storm scales. J. Appl. Meteor., 43, 1016-1036.(PDF)
Nesbitt, S.W., and E.J.Zipser, 2003: The diurnal cycle of rainfall and convective intensity according to three years of TRMM measurements. J. Climate, 16 (10), 1456-1475.(PDF)
E.J.Zipser, 2003: Some views on "hot towers" after 50 years of tropical field programs and two years of trmm data. Meteorological Monographs, 29 49-49.(PDF)
Cecil, D.J., E.J. Zipser, and S.W.Nesbitt, 2002: Reflectivity, ice scattering, and lightning characteristics of hurricane eyewalls and rainbands. Part I: Quantitative description. Mon Wea. Rev.,130, 769-784.(PDF)
Cecil, D.J., E.J. Zipser, and S.W.Nesbitt, 2002: Reflectivity, ice scattering, and lightning characteristics of hurricane eyewalls and rainbands. Part II: Intercomparison of observations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130, 785-801.(PDF)
Toracinta, E.R., E.J. Zipser, D.J. Cecil, and S.W.Nesbitt, 2002: Radar, passive microwave, and lightning characteristics of precipitating systems in the tropics. Mon Wea. Rev., 130, 802-824.(PDF)
Nesbitt, S.W., E. J. Zipser, and D.J. Cecil, 2000: A census of precipitation features in the tropics using TRMM: Radar, ice scattering, and lightning observations. J. Climate, 13 (23), 4087-4106(PDF).

References

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Awaka, J., T. Iguchi, and K. Okamoto, 1998: "Early results on rain type classification by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar", Proc. 8th URSI Commission F Open Symp., Aveiro, Portugal, pp.143-146.
DeMoss, J. D. , and K. P. Bowman, 2007: Changes in TRMM rainfall due to the orbit boost estimated from buoy rain gauge data, J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech., 24, 1598-1607.
Cecil, D. J., S. J. Goodman, D. J. Boccippio, E. J. Zipser and S. W. Nesbitt, 2005: Three years of TRMM precipitation features. Part I: radar, radiometric, and lightning characteristics, Mon. Wea. Rev. 133, 543-566.
Chen, S., R. A. Houze Jr., and B. E. Mapes, 1996: Multiscale variability of deep convection in relation to large-scale circulation in TOGA COARE, J. Atmos. Sci., 53, 1380-1409.
Cifelli, R., S. R. Nesbitt, S. A. Rutledge, W. A. Petersen, and S. Yuter, 2007: Radar characteristics of precipitation features in the EPIC and TEPPS regions of the east Pacific, Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 1576-1595.
Dessler, A. E., The effect of deep, tropical convection on the tropical tropopause layer, J. Geophys. Res., 107, doi:10.1029/2001JD000511, 2002.
Ferraro, R. R., E. A. Smith, W. Berg, and G. J. Huffman, A screening methodology for passive microwave precipitation retrieval algorithms, J. Atmos. Sci., 55, 1583-1600, 1998.
Geerts, B., 1998: Mesoscale Convective Systems in the Southeast United States during 1994-95: A Survey. Wea. Forecasting, 13, 860-869.
Geerts,B., and T. Dejene, 2005: Regional and diurnal variability of the vertical structure of precipitation systems in Africa based on spaceborne radar data. J. Climat., 18, 893-916.
Huffman, G., R. Adler, M. Morrissey, D. Bolvin, S. Cuttis, R. Joyce, B. McGavock and J.Susskind, 2001: Global precipitation at one degree resolution from multi satellite observations. J. Hydrometeor., 2, 36-50.
Iguchi, T., T. Kozu., R. Meneghini, J. Awaka, and K. Okamoto, 2000: Rain-profiling algorithm for the TRMM precipitation radar. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 2038-2052.
Joyce, R., and P. A. Arkin, 1997: Improved estimates of tropical and subtropical precipitation using the GOES Precipitation Index. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 10, 997-1011.
Kalnay, E., M. Kanamitsu, R. Kistler, W. Collins, D. Deaven, L. Gandin, M. Iredell, S. Saha, G. White, J. Woollen, Y. Zhu, A. Leetmaa, B. Reynolds, M. Chelliah, W. Ebisuzaki, W. Higgins, J. Janowiak, K. C. Mo, C. Ropelewski, J. Wang, R. Jenne, and D. Joseph, 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40 year reanalysis project, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437-471.
Kelley, O. A., J. Stout, and J. B. Halverson, Tall precipitation cells in tropical cyclones eyewalls are associated with tropical cyclone intensification. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L24112, doi:10.1029/2004GL021616, 2004.
Kelley O. A., J. Stout, J. B. Halverson, Hurricane intensification detected by continuously monitoring tall precipitation in the eyewall, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L20819, doi:10.1029/2005GL023583, 2005.
Kistler, R., E. Kalnay, W. Collins, S. Saha, G. White, J. Woollen, M. Chelliah, W. bisuzaki, M. Kanamitsu, V. Kousky, H. Dool, R. Jenne and M. Fiorino, 2001: The NCEP-NCAR 5-year reanalysis: monthly means CD-ROM and documentation. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 82, 247-267.
Kummerow, C., W. Barnes, T. Kozu, J. Shiue, and Joanne Simpson, 1998: The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Sensor Package. J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech., 15, 809�C817.
Kummerow, C., Y. Hong, W. S. Olson, S. Yang, R. F. Adler, J. McCollum, R. Ferraro, G. Petty, D.-B. Shin, and T. T. Wilheit. 2001: The Evolution of the Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF) for rainfall estimation from passive microwave sensors. J. Appl. Meteor., 40, 1801-1820.
Liu, C., and E. J. Zipser, 2005: Global distribution of convection penetrating the tropical tropopause, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2005JD00006063.
Liu, C., E. Zipser, and S. W. Nesbitt, 2007: Global distribution of tropical deep convection: Different perspectives using infrared and radar as the primary data source,J. Climate, 20, 489-503.
Liu, C., University of Utah TRMM precipitation and cloud feature database description, v1.0, http://www.met.utah.edu/trmm/TRMM_database_description_v1.0.pdf, 2007.
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Nesbitt, S. W., E. J. Zipser, and D. J. Cecil, 2000: A census of precipitation features in the tropics using TRMM: radar, ice scattering, and lightning observations. J. Climate., 13, 4087-4106.
--------, and E. J. Zipser, 2003: The diurnal cycle of rainfall and convective intensity according to three years of TRMM measurements. J. Climate., 16, 1456-1475.
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Software list

Read_pf_level1_hdf.pro
This program reads Level-1 UU TRMM data.
Usage:
IDL > read_pf_level1_hdf,'1Z99.19980101.537.6.HDF',f
Here f is a structure storing all the level-1 variables.

Read_pf_level2_hdf.pro
This program reads all old definition Level-2 products, including the combined monthly data.
Usage:
IDL> read_pf_level2_hdf,'199801.level2.v6.HDF',f,o,i
Here f is a structure with all the variables of old

Read_sds.pro
This program reads all the science data from HDF-4 format file and save into a structure. This program can be used to access level-2 products with new definitions and all level-3 products.
Usage example:
IDL> read_sds,'example.HDF',f ; f is a structure variable with all the parameters

Show_sds.pro
This program list all the science data variables from HDF-4 format file.
Usage:
IDL> show_sds,'example.HDF'

Read_sds_one.pro
This program reads in one variable from HDF-4 format file
Usage:
IDL> read_sds_one,'example.HDF','var1',var