MERRA-2 M2C0NXASM: Global 2D Constant Model Parameters

NASA's MERRA-2 reanalysis provides global 2-dimensional constant model parameters, such as the fraction of lake, land, and ocean within a model grid cell. The data is produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model version 5.12.4. The collection was last updated on March 13, 2026.

Use Cases

• Initialize climate model simulations based on static land-water fractions.
• Analyze global surface type distributions for hydrological studies.
• Validate satellite-derived land cover classifications using model grid constants.
• Assess model grid cell composition for regional climate impact studies.

Strengths

• Data is produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, an authoritative source.
• Collection is part of the latest version (MERRA-2) of NASA's global atmospheric reanalysis.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• File formats include BIN and ISO, which may require specialized tools for processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Generated by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS) version 5.12.4.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 00:41:43.660109; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global