About 

GOES ASOS Satellite Cloud Products (SCPs) are text products providing hourly satellite-based estimates of cloud cover at the middle (e.g. 631-400mb) and upper (above 400mb) levels of the atmosphere above Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and other ground-based weather stations. (ASOS ceilometers are limited to altitudes below 12,000 feet or ~640mb.) This cloud-cover information is included in NWS Hourly Weather Roundups and transmitted over NOAA Weather Radio. Cloud cover estimates may be CLR (clear), SCT (scattered), BKN (broken), or OVC (overcast). A percentage of Effective Cloud Amount (ECA) is provided at each location, and represents a measure of total cloud cover specified at MID or HIGH levels.

GOES ASOS SCPs supplement ground ASOS observations for Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) and other products, especially for aviation weather. The stations from which the readings are measured are usually airports, indicated by the four-letter International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) identifier . These ground stations report many weather elements in addition to cloud cover, and are limited to a maximum altitude of 12,000 feet. More on the ASOS program can be found here, with a User's Guide available here.

The ASOS SCPs are available via the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN/NOAAPort) and viewed through the AWIPS Text Workstation. The products are divided into different geographic regions, delineated by WMO headers and AWIPS IDs. The collective U.S. regions are Central, Eastern, Southern, Western and Pacific U.S; as detailed in the table below.