BUV/Nimbus-4: Compressed Ozone Profile Data from 1970-1977

The Nimbus-4 BUV Level 2 Compressed Ozone Profile Data (CPOZ) contains total ozone, reflectivities, ozone mixing ratios, and layer ozone amounts measured every 32 seconds during the daylit portion of an orbit. Mixing ratios are given at 19 pressure levels and layer amounts at 12 layers. This product is a condensed version of the original High-Density Ozone Data Product, restored from magnetic tapes and archived by NASA's GES DISC.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical ozone mixing ratios based on measurements at 19 specified pressure levels.
• Study total ozone and layer ozone amounts based on data provided for 12 atmospheric layers.
• Model atmospheric chemistry over time based on time-series data collected every 32 seconds.
• Assess instrument performance and data gaps based on the operational period from April 1970 to May 1977.
• Compare compressed data profiles with high-density originals based on the description of this product as a condensed version.

Strengths

• Provides ozone mixing ratios at 19 distinct pressure levels, from 0.3 to 100 mbar.
• Includes layer ozone amounts for 12 atmospheric layers, with bottom pressures specified.
• Data collection spans a defined operational period from April 10, 1970 to May 6, 1977.
• Original data has been restored from magnetic tapes and preserved in its original IBM binary format.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data collected after July 1972 became increasingly sparse due to a partial solar power array failure.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data measured by the BUV instrument on the Nimbus-4 satellite, originally processed on IBM 360 machines.

Time Range

April 10, 1970 to May 6, 1977

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:10:29.060978; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage from satellite orbits.