Aura MLS Daily Zonal Mean Geopotential Height Profiles

August 2004 to present daily binned geopotential height data from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). The dataset provides near-global coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree increments, with vertical profiles between 261 and 0.001 hPa. It is produced by the MLS science team and archived by NASA's GES DISC.

Use Cases

• Analyzing lat vs pressure zonal mean group to study the seasonal evolution of geopotential height fields across pressure levels.
• Using the lat vs potential temperature zonal mean group to investigate isentropic distributions of geopotential height for dynamical studies.
• Examining the equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean group for vortex-centered analyses of stratospheric polar processes.
• Leveraging the vortex average vs potential temperature group data to monitor and model polar vortex stability and breakdown events.
• Applying statistical fields (average, min, max, std dev, rms) within each group to quantify uncertainty and variability in geopotential height estimates.

Strengths

• Continuous temporal coverage from August 2, 2004, to the present.
• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Vertical resolution varies between approximately 3.6 and 6 km across the profile.
• Data is provided with statistical measures (average, min, max, std dev, rms) for uncertainty assessment.

Limitations

• Spatial resolution is limited to 4-degree latitude zonal increments, missing finer-scale features.
• The recommended useful vertical range is constrained, excluding data above 261 hPa and below 0.001 hPa.
• Data interpretation requires consulting the specific EOS MLS Level 2 Version 4 Quality Document chapters.

Provenance

Source

NASA Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument, processed by the MLS science team.

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the 118 and 240 GHz radiometers, binned daily onto zonal and assorted vertical grids.

Time Range

August 2, 2004 to present.

Freshness

Updated with current data; product is ongoing.

Geography

Near-global: -82 to +82 degrees latitude.