Daily Binned Sulfur Dioxide Mixing Ratios from Aura Satellite

MLS/Aura Level 3 data provides daily binned sulfur dioxide (SO2) mixing ratios derived from 240 GHz radiometer measurements. Spatial coverage is near-global from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at 4-degree zonal increments. The data is produced by the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) team and archived by the GES DISC.

Use Cases

• Analyze lat vs pressure zonal mean SO2 averages to track stratospheric transport patterns.
• Model SO2 distribution using equivalent latitude vs potential temperature zonal mean groups.
• Calculate seasonal variability from the vortex average vs potential temperature data fields.
• Assess data uncertainty for specific regions using the standard deviation and RMS fields within each group.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Data provides multiple statistical views per file (average, min, max, std dev, rms).
• Vertical resolution is approximately 3 km within the 215 to 10 hPa range.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and temporal coverage for individual files are not provided.
• Data usefulness is constrained to the recommended vertical range of 215 to 10 hPa.
• Requires specialized knowledge of netCDF4/HDF5 formats and MLS data quality documentation.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the 240 GHz radiometer and binned daily on zonal and vertical grids.

Time Range

Data files contain one year of data per file (specific years not stated).

Freshness

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Geography

Near-global coverage (-82 to +82 degrees latitude) at 4-degree latitude zonal increments.