Daily Sulfur Dioxide Mixing Ratio Measurements from Aura Satellite

MLS/Aura Level 3 data provides daily binned sulfur dioxide (SO2) mixing ratios derived from Microwave Limb Sounder radiance measurements. Spatial coverage is near-global from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4 by 5-degree resolution. The dataset is produced by the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) from the EOS Aura satellite.

Use Cases

• Analyze SO2 lat-lon map vs pressure to track volcanic plume dispersion and altitude.
• Model atmospheric chemistry using zonal mean (lat vs pressure) data for seasonal SO2 concentration studies.
• Calculate vortex average vs theta to investigate polar stratospheric sulfur dynamics.
• Assess data variability for validation using the standard deviation and RMS fields within each data group.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Data includes multiple statistical fields per group: average, min, max, standard deviation, and RMS.
• Vertical resolution is approximately 3 km across the recommended range of 215 to 10 hPa.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and temporal coverage are not provided.
• Data usefulness is constrained to the 215-10 hPa pressure range, limiting tropospheric analysis.
• Spatial resolution of 4 degrees latitude by 5 degrees longitude may be coarse for localized studies.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the 240 GHz radiometer on the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS).

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

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