Several internal and external variable auxiliary data records (VIADR and VEADRs) will be added, as well as a few fields corresponding to the Level 1b section of the Measurement Data Record (MDR). The Level 2 soil moisture section of the MDR remains unchanged.

The associated new format version is 11.0.

File sizes corresponding to the new format are slightly higher - from 7 to 9 MB per orbit for ASCA_SMO_ and from 25 to 36 MB per orbit for ASCA_SMR_.

Note that there are no changes to the ASCAT Level 2 soil moisture BUFR product formats.

Test data files to validate the necessary updates in users' reading software can be found on our FTP server. Further details on the new format can be inspected in detail in the ASCAT Level 2 Soil Moisture Product Format Specification document.

Please contact Helpdesk if you require further support in the use of this new format.

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