High Mountain Asia MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth Monthly Means

Global monthly mean aerosol data from the MODIS instruments aboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites. The dataset provides aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom exponent (AE) parameters at a 1-degree spatial resolution. It is produced by the NSIDC_CPRD organization, with the most recent authoritative update noted in March 2019.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term trends in aerosol loading over the High Mountain Asia region using the monthly mean AOD values.
• Studying the particle size characteristics of atmospheric aerosols via the Angstrom exponent (AE) parameter.
• Validating and calibrating regional climate models with satellite-derived, gridded aerosol optical depth data.
• Investigating seasonal and interannual variability of atmospheric particulates from the time-series of monthly composites.

Strengths

• Provides data from two major satellite platforms (Aqua and Terra), offering complementary observational times.
• Offers a consistent, long-term monthly time series suitable for trend analysis in atmospheric composition.
• Data is processed to Level 3, indicating it is gridded and averaged, facilitating large-scale spatial analysis.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable from all provided sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date: NASA EarthData lists March 2019, while Data.gov lists March 2026, casting doubt on data currency and maintenance.
• The spatial resolution of 1 degree is coarse, limiting analysis of aerosol features at local or regional scales.

Provenance

Source

NSIDC_CPRD, utilizing MODIS instruments on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed to monthly mean Level 3 gridded products.

Freshness

2019-03-31 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Global coverage with a specific focus or application for High Mountain Asia.