CERES MODIS Cloud Retrievals: Monthly Gridded Averages in ISCCP-D2like Format

Monthly and 3-hourly gridded regional mean cloud properties, derived from CERES MODIS instruments on the Terra satellite, covering the globe from pole to pole. The data product, created by NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) program, stratifies cloud properties by pressure, optical depth, and phase across 18 cloud types. Data collection for this specific nighttime Terra FM1 Edition 3A product is complete.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global cloud fraction distributions based on the 42 cloud type classifications mentioned.
• Modeling cloud radiative forcing based on gridded regional mean cloud properties.
• Comparing nighttime cloud retrievals with daytime datasets for diurnal cycle studies.
• Investigating cloud property trends over time using the monthly temporal resolution.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage from pole to pole.
• Stratifies data by 18 cloud types based on pressure, optical depth, and phase.
• Offers both monthly and 3-hourly (GMT) temporal aggregations.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes retrievals and quality are different for each separate dataset (day/night, Terra/Aqua).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Collected by the CERES-FM1 and MODIS instruments on the Terra satellite platform.

Time Range

Covers a single month per file; specific date range not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:04:57.632435; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global