How can I read AMSR-E Level 2 Soil Moisture Data?
HDF-EOS defines three different data models point, swath, and grid each of which is constructed using standard HDF data types. While all other AMSR-E Level 2 products use the swath data model, the soil moisture product is unique in using the point data model. By using the point data model, each observation in the swath may be mapped to a location in the projected grid that is used for the Level 3 data. HDF-EOS data files are supported by the HDF-EOS library, which allows data products to be created and manipulated in ways appropriate to each HDF-EOS data type without regard to the actual HDF objects underlying them. Thus, it is recommended that the HDF-EOS library be used for reading all HDF-EOS files. However, users who do not wish to download and install the HDF-EOS library may use the HDF library to read any HDF-EOS file. In addition, many commercial software packages such as IDL, ERDAS IMAGINE, and MATLAB have the HDF library built in, as well as the HDF-EOS library in the case of
