AIRS Aqua Support Retrieval Profiles for Atmospheric Research

AIRS/Aqua L2 Support Retrieval (AIRS-only) V006 provides high-resolution atmospheric profiles from the AIRS grating spectrometer aboard the EOS Aqua satellite. The dataset contains 100 vertical level profiles between 1100 and 0.016 mb, including trace gas abundances and quality assessment information, with 240 granules produced daily. It is generated by the GES DISC for researchers and algorithm developers.

Use Cases

• Generating forward radiance models using the 100-level vertical profiles.
• Examining research products such as the abundance of trace gases.
• Detailed quality assessment of atmospheric retrievals.
• Algorithm development and validation for infrared sounding.
• Analysis of atmospheric conditions from 6-minute granule data covering 30 footprints cross track by 45 lines along track.

Strengths

• Provides higher vertical resolution profiles with 100 levels between 1100 and .016 mb.
• Includes intermediate outputs like microwave-only retrievals for research.
• Offers detailed quality assessment information alongside the standard atmospheric quantities.
• Data is generated at all locations as Standard Products, with a consistent 240 granules per day.

Limitations

• Sources disagree on license: one platform lists 'other-license-specified', others list 'unknown' or 'None'.
• Key metadata such as row count, column names, and exact size are unknown across all platforms.
• The vertical information content is noted as no greater than that in the Standard Product profiles.

Provenance

Source

GES_DISC

Collection Method

Retrieval data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) grating spectrometer aboard the EOS Aqua satellite.

Time Range

Since June 2007 (due to increased radiometric noise in AMSU channel 4).

Freshness

2026-03-13 18:38:31.340885

Geography

Global coverage from the polar-orbiting EOS Aqua platform.