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Data Formats

Format
(extension) 		Typical Size Storage of Values Primary Use Pros Cons
GeoTIFF
(.tif)		 200 KB - 1.3 MB
12 KB - 191 KB		 Integer 
(8-bit)		 GIS / Graphics retains georeferencing and allows for custom tags; easily read into most GIS and graphics packages data values are scaled (0-100) and projected for ocean color
data values are scaled between 6 - 255 for GOES-SST
GIF/PNG
(.gif/.png)		 200 - 900 KB Integer
(8-bit)		 Graphics Portable, small no georeferencing; data values are scaled (0-100)
ESRI Shapefile
(.shp/.shx/.dbf)		 15 KB - 5000 KB Double
(8-bit)		 GIS / Image Processing easily import vector data into a GIS requires multiple files and specialized readers/software
 
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