H3ZFCCFC11: Global CFC-11 Atmospheric Profiles from HIRDLS/Aura

HIRDLS/Aura satellite data provides a 3-year global record of Chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11) concentrations, processed into zonal Fourier coefficients for spatial reconstruction. Its 121 pressure levels and 1-degree latitude bands offer a detailed 3D view of this ozone-depleting substance from 316 to 17.8 hPa. Coefficients for ascending, descending, and combined orbit nodes allow users to compute atmospheric values at any longitude.

Use Cases

• Modeling global CFC-11 transport based on zonal Fourier coefficients that reconstruct longitudinal variation.
• Analyzing stratospheric tracer dynamics using data on 121 pressure levels with ~1 km vertical resolution.
• Studying diurnal cycles by comparing separate daytime (ascending) and nighttime (descending) orbit node data fields.
• Validating climate and chemistry models against satellite-derived, Kalman-filtered estimates of CFC-11 concentrations.

Strengths

• Provides a complete ~3-year mission record with high vertical resolution (24 levels per decade).
• Covers a broad latitudinal range from -64 to 80 degrees at 121 specific pressure levels.
• Coefficient representation allows for spatial reconstruction, increasing data utility.
• Hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), indicating importance and curation.

Limitations

• Column names and precise row counts are unspecified across all sources, limiting immediate analysis.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (2008 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about data currency.
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), from the HIRDLS instrument on the Aura satellite.

Collection Method

Coefficients computed from HIRDLS Level 2 profiles using a Kalman filter approach with forward and backward passes in time.

Time Range

The entire HIRDLS mission, approximately 3 years (exact dates not specified).

Freshness

Last updated dates conflict: 2008-03-17 on NASA Earthdata vs. 2026-04-10 on Data.gov.

Geography

Global, with zonal coverage from 64°S to 80°N latitude.