ACTIVATE-MODIS-MERRA2: Merged Satellite and Reanalysis Data for Marine Clouds

ACTIVATE-MODIS-MERRA2 is a merged CERES MODIS and MERRA-2 dataset produced by the SatCORPS group at NASA Langley Research Center. It provides pixel-level geostationary cloud products to support the ACTIVATE field campaign, which studied aerosol-cloud-meteorology interactions over the western North Atlantic. The dataset is derived from 150 coordinated aircraft flights conducted across six deployments from 2020 to 2022.

Use Cases

• Analyzing aerosol-cloud interactions using merged satellite and atmospheric reanalysis data.
• Studying the radiative effects of marine boundary layer clouds that cover more than 45% of the ocean surface.
• Validating climate model parameterizations for shallow cumulus cloud regimes.
• Classifying air masses using trace gas and aerosol measurements referenced in the campaign description.

Strengths

• Derived from a substantial field campaign with 150 coordinated research flights.
• Merges data from two established sources: CERES MODIS satellite observations and MERRA-2 atmospheric reanalysis.
• Focuses on a scientifically critical region, the western North Atlantic, sampled under a broad range of conditions.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2026-03-13 on Data.gov vs. 2022-06-30 on NASA Earthdata).
• Dataset size and row counts are unknown.

Provenance

Source

SatCORPS group at NASA Langley Research Center, produced for the ACTIVATE (Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western Atlantic Experiment) campaign.

Collection Method

Merging of pixel-level geostationary cloud products from CERES MODIS and MERRA-2 reanalysis, informed by in-situ and remote sensing aircraft measurements.

Time Range

2020 to 2022 (campaign deployment period)

Freshness

2026-03-13 (from Data.gov, though this may be a metadata update)

Geography

Western North Atlantic Ocean