Daily Global Nitrous Oxide Mixing Ratios from Aura Satellite

MLS/Aura satellite provides daily binned measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O) mixing ratios across vertical atmospheric grids. Spatial coverage is near-global from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4 by 5-degree resolution, with data derived from 640 GHz and 190 GHz radiometers. The dataset is produced by the GES DISC and uses version 5.1 of the EOS MLS processing algorithm.

Use Cases

• Analyze lat-lon map vs pressure group data to track global N2O concentration trends over time.
• Use lat vs pressure zonal mean data to study hemispheric and seasonal variability in nitrous oxide.
• Model stratospheric transport processes using the equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean fields.
• Correlate vortex average vs potential temperature data with polar atmospheric dynamics.
• Validate chemical climate models by comparing against the provided average, min, max, and standard deviation statistics for each grid group.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Provides multiple data views across six group objects, including zonal means and vortex averages.
• Each data group includes statistical fields like average, min, max, standard deviation, and RMS.

Limitations

• The recommended useful vertical range is limited to 68.1 to 0.464 hPa.
• Instrument change from 640 GHz to 190 GHz radiometer in 2013 may introduce consistency considerations.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and temporal coverage dates are not provided.

Provenance

Source

GES_DISC (NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center).

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) aboard the EOS Aura satellite.

Time Range

null

Freshness

null

Geography

Near-global (-82 to +82 degrees latitude).