GOME-2 instruments on three MetOp satellites provide global atmospheric water vapor total column measurements using solar backscatter spectroscopy in the 614-683.2 nm range. DLR generates these operational level 2 products via the UPAS processor for the EUMETSAT AC-SAF. Near-real-time data is available within two hours of satellite sensing.
Use Cases
- Model global atmospheric humidity patterns using the total H2O column data.
- Analyze trends in water vapor concentration over time from the multi-satellite MetOp-A, -B, and -C record.
- Validate climate and weather forecast models with the near-real-time total column product.
- Correlate water vapor distributions with cloud properties retrieved from the same GOME-2 measurements.
- Study atmospheric pollutant transport by integrating H2O data with other trace gas retrievals.
Strengths
- Data is available in near-real-time, within two hours of satellite sensing.
- Provides continuity from previous instruments (GOME/ERS-2, SCIAMACHY/Envisat) for long-term monitoring.
- Global spatial coverage from three operational satellites launched in 2006, 2012, and 2018.
Limitations
- Specific row count, temporal range, and spatial resolution are unknown from the provided description.
- Data quality and coverage may be affected by cloud conditions which interfere with the solar backscatter measurement method.
Provenance
- Source
- DLR (German Aerospace Center) for the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Atmospheric Chemistry Monitoring (AC-SAF).
- Collection Method
- Retrieved from GOME-2 solar backscattered measurements using the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) method in the GDP 4.x algorithm.
- Time Range
- Operational data from MetOp-A (launched 2006), MetOp-B (2012), and MetOp-C (2018). Exact start date and current status unknown.
- Freshness
- Near-real-time (two-hour latency). Update frequency is tied to satellite overpasses.
- Geography
- Global.