Monthly Binned Cloud Ice Water Content from Aura MLS Satellite

MLS/Aura Level 3 Monthly Binned Cloud Ice (IWC) on Assorted Grids V005 provides near-global measurements of cloud ice water content. Data is derived from radiances measured by the 240 GHz radiometer on the Aura satellite and binned monthly onto various vertical grids. The dataset is produced by the GES DISC and uses data version 5.1.

Use Cases

• Analyzing lat-lon map vs pressure group data to study the spatial distribution of cloud ice water content averages and standard deviations.
• Using lat vs pressure zonal mean data to examine meridional trends and variability in cloud ice across different atmospheric pressure levels.
• Investigating vortex average vs potential temperature data to understand cloud ice characteristics within polar atmospheric vortices.
• Comparing min and max values across the six group objects to identify extreme conditions in cloud ice water content over the monthly period.

Strengths

• Near-global spatial coverage from -82 to +82 degrees latitude.
• Data provided on multiple vertical grids including pressure and potential temperature, with a recommended useful range from 215 to 82.5 hPa.
• Each file contains six distinct group objects with statistical data fields like average, min, max, std dev, and rms.

Limitations

• Spatial resolution is coarse at 4 degrees latitude by 5 degrees longitude, limiting fine-scale analysis.
• The vertical resolution of about 3 km may be insufficient for studying thin cloud layers.
• Specific sample size, temporal coverage, and update frequency are not provided in the description.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

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

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

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