CERES SYN1deg: 3-Hourly Satellite Radiative Fluxes and Cloud Properties

CER_SYN1deg-3Hour_Terra-MODIS_Edition4A is a NASA CERES and GEO-enhanced data product providing top-of-atmosphere, within-atmosphere, and surface radiative fluxes alongside cloud and aerosol properties. It offers parameters on a three-hourly temporal resolution and 1-degree regional spatial scales, computed using the Langley Fu-Liou radiative transfer model with inputs from MODIS, geostationary satellites, and GMAO atmospheric profiles. Data collection for this product is complete.

Use Cases

• Modeling Earth's radiative energy budget based on computed TOA, in-atmosphere, and surface fluxes.
• Analyzing cloud property variability based on MODIS and geostationary-derived cloud parameters.
• Studying aerosol impacts on atmospheric radiation based on parameters for pristine and aerosol-free conditions.
• Investigating diurnal cycles of solar and thermal radiation based on three-hourly temporal resolution.
• Validating climate models using spatially consistent, CERES-calibrated flux data across 1-degree regional grids.

Strengths

• Provides fluxes for clear-sky, all-sky, pristine, and all-sky without aerosol conditions, enabling comparative analysis.
• Uses a normalization technique to ensure consistency between geostationary and CERES top-of-atmosphere fluxes.
• Offers parameters on a three-hourly temporal resolution, capturing diurnal variability.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected using Imaging Radiometers on Geostationary Satellites and CERES Flight Models 1 & 2, CERES Scanner, and MODIS on Terra.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:31:04.429639; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage on a 1-degree regional spatial scale.