DSCOVR EPIC L2 AER 03: UV Aerosol Properties from Space

DSCOVR_EPIC_L2_AER_03 provides aerosol extinction optical depth and single scattering albedo at 340, 388, and 500 nm wavelengths, derived from satellite observations. The EPICAERUV algorithm uses models for biomass burning, desert dust, and sulfate-based aerosols, reporting data at a 10 km nadir resolution. This dataset also includes the UV Aerosol Index for all sky conditions, calculated from radiances at 340 and 388 nm.

Use Cases

• Tracking biomass burning aerosol plumes based on the carbonaceous (BIO) aerosol model.
• Monitoring desert dust (DST) transport and optical properties using derived AOD and SSA.
• Analyzing global aerosol absorption above clouds via the reported absorbing aerosol optical depth.
• Studying spectral aerosol characteristics through single scattering albedo at three wavelengths.
• Mapping UV Absorbing Aerosol Index (UVAI) for all sky conditions to identify absorbing aerosol events.

Strengths

• Algorithm employs specific, validated aerosol models (BIO, DST, SLF) identical to those used by the OMI instrument.
• Provides data at a defined 10 km spatial resolution at nadir.
• Derives multiple key aerosol parameters (AOD, SSA, UVAI) from two observational wavelengths.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable across all sources.
• The listed 'last updated' date of 2026-04-10 is in the future, indicating a potential metadata error.
• Documentation and data access details are sparse, with file formats listed generically (PDF, PNG, BIN, etc.).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft's Enhanced Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC).

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-10 03:49:28.936863 (Note: This future date suggests a metadata anomaly.)

Geography

Global, from the DSCOVR satellite's Lagrange point 1 vantage point.