FLASHFlux: Low-Latency Satellite Radiative Flux and Cloud Data from Aqua MODIS

FLASHFlux data are processed with a latency of less than 5 days from observation for quick-look purposes. This product provides Top-of-Atmosphere and parameterized surface radiative fluxes, combined with cloud information from the MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite. The data are produced by the CERES project, a key component of NASA's Earth Observing System, but are not intended for climate-quality studies due to relaxed calibration for rapid release.

Use Cases

• Monitor near-real-time Earth's energy budget based on Top-of-Atmosphere flux measurements.
• Analyze cloud radiative effects based on combined CERES footprint and MODIS scene data.
• Parameterize surface radiative fluxes for quick-look applications using the Langley algorithms.
• Study short-term atmospheric phenomena based on data combined with GEOS-5 meteorological assimilation.

Strengths

• Data are released with low latency, specifically less than 5 days from observation.
• Product combines measurements from CERES instruments with high-resolution scene data from MODIS.
• Data are produced by NASA's CERES project, a follow-up to the successful ERBE mission.

Limitations

• The product is explicitly not intended to achieve climate data quality, with calibration accuracy relaxed for speed.
• 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 (NASA), CERES project.

Collection Method

Satellite measurements from CERES instrument FM3 on the Aqua spacecraft, combined with MODIS imager data and GEOS-5 ADAS meteorological information.

Time Range

Data collection is stated to be in progress; specific temporal coverage is not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:59:08.015047; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage from the Aqua satellite in polar orbit.