Daily Binned Cloud Ice Water Content from Aura MLS Satellite

ML3DZIWC contains daily binned cloud ice water content derived from radiances measured by the 240 GHz radiometer on NASA's Aura Microwave Limb Sounder. The data provides near-global coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree zonal increments, with a useful vertical range from 215 to 82.5 hPa. It is produced by the GES DISC and archived in netCDF4 format, with each file containing one year of data.

Use Cases

• Analyze lat vs pressure zonal mean IWC averages to study global cloud ice distribution patterns.
• Investigate vortex average vs potential temperature data to understand polar stratospheric cloud dynamics.
• Use the provided standard deviation and RMS fields within each group object to quantify measurement uncertainty in climate models.
• Correlate equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean data with atmospheric dynamics and transport processes.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Data is binned on multiple vertical grids (pressure, potential temperature, equivalent latitude) providing complementary views.
• Each data group includes statistical measures (average, min, max, std dev, rms) for analysis.

Limitations

• Vertical resolution is limited to about 3 km, which may not resolve fine-scale cloud structures.
• The recommended useful vertical range is confined to 215-82.5 hPa, excluding lower and upper atmospheric layers.
• Specific row counts and temporal coverage for individual files are not provided in the description.

Provenance

Source

NASA Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument, processed by GES DISC.

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the 240 GHz radiometer, binned daily on zonal and assorted vertical grids.

Time Range

Data files contain one year of data per file; specific years are not stated.

Geography

Near-global, -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree latitude zonal increments.