Aura Satellite Daily Binned Atmospheric Temperature Profiles

MLS/Aura Level 3 data provides daily binned temperature measurements derived from 118 and 240 GHz radiometers. Spatial coverage is near-global from -82 to +82 degrees latitude at a 4°x5° resolution, with a vertical range from 261 to 0.001 hPa. The dataset is produced by the EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) team and archived by the GES DISC.

Use Cases

• Analyzing lat-lon map vs pressure group data to study global temperature anomalies and trends in the upper atmosphere.
• Using lat vs pressure zonal mean data to model meridional circulation and heat transport patterns.
• Investigating polar vortex dynamics through the vortex average vs theta group data during winter months.
• Validating climate model outputs against the dataset's average, min, max, and standard deviation fields for temperature.
• Correlating equivalent lat vs theta zonal mean data with other atmospheric datasets to study chemical transport.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• High vertical resolution between 3 and 6 km across a broad pressure range from 261 to 0.001 hPa.
• Data includes multiple statistical fields per group: average, min, max, standard deviation, and RMS.

Limitations

• Spatial resolution is coarse at 4 degrees latitude by 5 degrees longitude.
• Data quality and interpretation require consulting the specific EOS MLS Level 2 Version 4 Quality Document.
• The useful vertical range is recommended, implying potential data quality issues outside the 261-0.001 hPa range.

Provenance

Source

EOS Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument, processed by the MLS team and archived at NASA GES DISC.

Collection Method

Derived from radiances measured by the 118 and 240 GHz radiometers, binned daily onto assorted vertical grids.

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

Near-global coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.