Daily Zonal Hydrogen Cyanide Mixing Ratios from Aura Satellite

MLS/Aura satellite data provides daily binned measurements of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) mixing ratios in the atmosphere. The dataset offers near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree increments, with a useful vertical range from 21.5 to 0.1 hPa. It is produced by the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument and archived by the GES DISC.

Use Cases

• Analyze lat vs pressure zonal mean HCN concentrations to study the vertical and meridional transport of pollution from biomass burning.
• Use the equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean group to investigate trace gas behavior relative to dynamical features like the polar vortex.
• Apply statistical fields (average, min, max, std dev, rms) within each data group to quantify uncertainty and variability in HCN measurements for model validation.
• Examine vortex average vs potential temperature data to understand HCN distribution and evolution within polar vortices.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Data is binned onto consistent 4-degree latitude zonal grids for straightforward analysis.
• Vertical resolution is between 8 and 12 km within the recommended 21.5 to 0.1 hPa range.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and temporal coverage for individual files are not provided in the description.
• Data is provided as yearly files in netCDF4 format, which may require specialized libraries for access and analysis.
• The useful vertical range is limited to 21.5 to 0.1 hPa, excluding the lower troposphere.

Provenance

Source

EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument, archived at NASA GES DISC.

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured primarily by the 190 GHz radiometer, processed to Level 3 daily binned products.

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 zonal increments.