MYDFDS_MON_GLB_L3: Global Monthly Dust Storm Frequency from MODIS Aqua, 2003-2022

Monthly frequency of dust storms over land from 2003 to 2022, derived from NASA's MODIS Aqua satellite aerosol products. The data covers a global grid from 175°W to 175°E and 80°S to 80°N at a 0.1˚ x 0.1˚ spatial resolution. It provides eight separate thresholds for dust optical depth, with quality flags for different regions.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term trends in dust storm activity based on the 20-year monthly time series.
• Mapping global dust source regions and transport patterns based on the 0.1-degree gridded data.
• Studying the intensity distribution of dust events based on the eight optical depth thresholds.
• Validating atmospheric and climate models using satellite-derived dust frequency data.

Strengths

• Covers a 20-year period from 2003 to 2022, providing a substantial temporal baseline.
• Offers data at eight distinct dust optical depth thresholds (e.g., 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2) for intensity analysis.
• Provides global spatial coverage from 80°S to 80°N at a 0.1˚ x 0.1˚ resolution.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data quality flags vary by region, requiring careful application as advised in the description.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Derived from Level 2 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue aerosol products (MYD04_L2) Collection 6.1 from the Aqua satellite.

Time Range

2003 to 2022

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:21:03.862578; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global, 175°W to 175°E, 80°S to — 80°N