Daily Zonal Nitric Acid Mixing Ratios from Aura MLS Satellite

August 2004 to present daily binned nitric acid (HNO3) mixing ratio data from the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). The dataset provides near-global coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree increments, with a useful vertical range from 215 to 1.47 hPa. It is produced by the GES DISC and derived from radiances measured by the satellite's 240 GHz and 190 GHz radiometers.

Use Cases

• Analyze lat vs pressure zonal mean HNO3 averages to study global stratospheric distribution and seasonal cycles.
• Use equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean data to investigate tracer transport and polar vortex chemistry.
• Model HNO3 trends over time by leveraging the time-series data spanning from 2004 to present.
• Compare vortex average vs potential temperature data to examine chemical processing inside the Antarctic or Arctic vortex.
• Assess atmospheric variability by analyzing the standard deviation and RMS fields within each data group.

Strengths

• Continuous data coverage from August 2, 2004 to the present day.
• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Provides multiple statistical views per grid (average, min, max, std dev, rms).
• Vertical resolution between approximately 3 and 5 km within the recommended range.

Limitations

• Vertical coverage is limited to pressures between 215 and 1.47 hPa, excluding the troposphere and upper mesosphere.
• Spatial resolution is coarse at 4-degree latitude zonal increments.
• Data quality and interpretation require consulting the specific MLS Level 2 Quality Document.

Provenance

Source

GES DISC (Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center).

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) 240 GHz and 190 GHz radiometers.

Time Range

August 2, -2004 to present.

Freshness

Updated to current, indicating ongoing data collection.

Geography

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