CERES ERBE-like Instantaneous Top-of-Atmosphere Flux Estimates from Terra FM1

CERES FM1 instrument on the Terra satellite provides instantaneous top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) flux estimates for total, shortwave, and window channels. Data collection is ongoing, with measurements recorded every 0.01 second and converted to fluxes using ERBE-like Angular Distribution Models. This product is part of the Earth Observing System (EOS) program, a follow-on to the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE).

Use Cases

• Model Earth's radiative energy budget based on instantaneous TOA flux estimates.
• Analyze shortwave and longwave radiation patterns based on filtered and unfiltered radiance channels.
• Validate climate models using ERBE-like scene identification and angular geometry data.
• Study diurnal cycles of atmospheric radiation based on 24-hour instantaneous data.

Strengths

• Data collection is ongoing, providing continuous measurements.
• Uses ERBE-like Angular Distribution Models (ADMs), a proven methodology.
• Includes scene identification and angular geometry alongside flux estimates.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected using the CERES-FM1 instrument on the Terra platform.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:59:24.685468; freshness should be verified.