[Qgis-user] To Insert in QGIS Desktop v.3.28.15 a Plugin to read and convert satellite data- AVHRR L1B LAC 1km from NOAA-9, as available from NOAA CLASS website satellite

[Amal Kar]

Dear Dr. Johannes Kroger,
Thanks for your email message.
I am attaching in the NEXT MAIL a representative AVHRR LAC data file from
the NOAA CLASS for your inspection:
(NSS.LHRR.NJ.D00081.S1113.E1120.B2692222.GC). The file is of ~26 mb size
(because it contains data for only two wavelength bands (infrared bands 4 &
5 for emissivity calculation) as requested by me.
Normally, the full data size of AVHRR LAC is ~60 mb, containing data at 1
km pixel for following bands: Band 1 & 2 (red and near-infrared bands,
respectively, for vegetation greenness analysis); Band 3 (shortwave
infrared band for detecting fire and cloud, especially in nighttime); Bands
4 & 5 (thermal infrared bands for temperature and emissivity studies). The
full LAC data also contains data from a HRPT band (high resolution picture
transmission band). Data is supplied in 8 bit, 10 bit or 16 bit.
The attached file is of ~26 mb size (because it contains data for only two
wavelength bands (infrared bands 4 & 5 for emissivity calculation) as
requested by me for download. Presumably the data is in 8 bit (as
requested).
All the LAC data from NOAA CLASS are in old binary format, and needs to be
converted using an old python programme: "Satpy" for conversion to GeoTiff
format. Running the Satpy programme presupposes the availability of python
in the computer.
Alternately, the GDAL library of QGIS is said to contain the necessary
driver to open the LAC data. Unfortunately, none of my LAC data gets
recognised by GDAL of QGIS. For such cases the available information from
Google Search says the following:

"You can force GDAL to translate it via the built-in QGIS processing tools:

·        *Use the Command Line:* Open the *OSGeo4W Shell* (Windows) or
Terminal (Mac/Linux) and run the following command to convert it to a
standard GeoTIFF format:

bash

gdal_translate -of GTiff input_noaa9_file output_filename.tif

·        *Use QGIS UI:* Go to *Raster* > *Conversion* > *Translate (Convert
Format)...*, choose your input file, select *GeoTIFF* as the output format,
and run the process."
*This is where I am stuck up. *
I have absolutely no knowledge of computer programming. I simply do not
know how to open the OSGeo4W Shell, or where it exists in QGIS.
I am also unable to run the Command Line script.
If it is possible to integrate the above commands into GDAL of QGIS (ver.
3. 28.15) that allows me to Click open GDAL>Raster conversion>Translate
(convert format), and then in the opened window's Input Layer put the
above-mentioned LAC data (NSS.LHRR.NJ.D00081.S1113.E1120.B2692222.GC) as a
single file, or a number of such files for Batch Processing for conversion
to GeoTiff format, it will be of immense help.
PLEASE see the LAC data being sent in the next mail, and KINDLY see if QGIS
can be trained to open such files without any command line interface for
conversion into GeoTiff format.
Once i am able to use the QGIS for batch conversion of the raw LAC data, i
shall be able to use the data for a comparison with the daily MODIS 1 km
data from the year 2000.
Your kind help will be immensely appreciated.
I had requested NOAA CLASS to provide the LAC data in GeoTiff format, which
they surely can. Unfortunately, they are not accepting any requests.
With Kind Regards,
Amal Kar.
Please see the next mail to donload the representative LAC data.

On Mon, 31 Aug 2026 at 12:55, Johannes Kröger (WhereGroup) via QGIS-User <
qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org> wrote:

> Dear Dr. Amal Kar,
>
> that looks like the output of a LLM and should be treated accordingly with
> suspicion.
>
> The "gdal_translate -of GTiff input_noaa9_file output_filename.tif" line
> is for a shell or terminal. You can try it in the OSGeo4W Shell.
>
> Best share a link to one of the source files in the exact data and file
> format you want to read. Otherwise other people can only guess.
>
> Cheers, Hannes
> On 8/29/26 18:42, Amal Kar via QGIS-User wrote:
>
> Dear Sir,
> I have to read and convert in my QGIS Desktop (v.3.28.15) a large number
> of old AVHRR LAC (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer, Local Area
> Coverage) data in 1-km pixel that i downloaded from NOAA-CLASS website (
> https://www.class.noaa.gov/).
> The data is not automatically read by QGIS (in my v.3.28.15 version or in
> the latest version that i also tried). The plugin that enables QGIS to read
> the files is a python script.
> I learn from Google Search the following:
>  " *Troubleshooting & Format Conversion*
>
> If your specific file does not render immediately due to missing header
> extensions or metadata formatting from the NOAA CLASS Archive
> <https://www.class.noaa.gov/>, you can force GDAL to translate it via the
> built-in QGIS processing tools:
>
> ·        *Use the Command Line:* Open the *OSGeo4W Shell* (Windows) or
> Terminal (Mac/Linux) and run the following command to convert it to a
> standard GeoTIFF format:
>
> bash
>
> gdal_translate -of GTiff input_noaa9_file output_filename.tif
>
> ·      *Use QGIS UI:* Go to *Raster* > *Conversion* > *Translate (Convert
> Format)...*, choose your input file, select *GeoTIFF* as the output
> format, and run the process."
>
> Unfortunately, I do not know how to add the above python script in GDAL
> and make QGIS read the files automatically as and when these are mentioned
> in the "GDAL>Raster conversion" tool of QGIS (either as a single file or as
> batch files).
> It will be immensely helpful if you kindly add the script to QGIS to
> permanently allow this beautiful user-friendly GIS software to read and
> convert the NOAA-9 AVHRR L1B LAC data from the NOAA CLASS website. Their
> website is not providing any help. Initially it automatically diverted the
> request to an "Expert" and then became silent; presently it does not accept
> any request.
> The AVHRR daily LAC data at 1 km pixel from 1981 onwards is immensely
> helpful for time-series analysis of environmental changes, when compared
> with the daily MODIS data at 1 km pixel that is available from year 2000.
> Your kind help in inserting the python script in our QGIS will immensely
> help in reading and analysing the old AVHRR LAC satellite data in
> comparison to the present MODIS satellite data.
> With Kind Regards,
> Amal Kar.
> --
> Dr. Amal Kar
> Former Principal Scientist and Head, Division of Natural Resources &
> Environment,
> Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003, India
> A-1/6, Baitalik Housing Society, KMDA Housing Complex,
> Baghajatin (Near Hiland Park),
> KOLKATA 700 094, India
> Email: akarcaz50 at gmail.com
>
>
>
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-- 
Dr. Amal Kar
Former Principal Scientist and Head, Division of Natural Resources &
Environment,
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003, India
A-1/6, Baitalik Housing Society, KMDA Housing Complex,
Baghajatin (Near Hiland Park),
KOLKATA 700 094, India
Email: akarcaz50 at gmail.com
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