MOPITT Satellite Daily Gridded Carbon Monoxide Beta Data

MOP03N_109 provides daily mean-gridded carbon monoxide (CO) profile and total column retrievals from near-infrared radiances measured by the MOPITT instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. This is a non-validated beta product subject to recalibration, containing gridded averaging kernels alongside the retrievals. Data collection is ongoing, originating from an instrument launched in 1999 and funded by the Canadian Space Agency.

Use Cases

• Validating and improving atmospheric chemistry models using gridded CO profile and total column data.
• Analyzing long-term trends in global tropospheric carbon monoxide pollution from a continuous satellite record.
• Assimilating observational data into air quality forecasting systems using the provided averaging kernels.
• Studying spatial and temporal patterns of pollution sources and transport from daily global coverage.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous global record from a satellite instrument launched in December 1999, offering over two decades of potential data.
• Includes gridded averaging kernels for each retrieval, which are critical for proper data assimilation and uncertainty analysis.
• Represents a multi-platform dataset hosted by authoritative sources like NASA and Data.gov, indicating established importance.

Limitations

• Explicitly labeled as a non-validated beta product subject to recalibration, meaning accuracy is not guaranteed and may change.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with Data.gov reporting 2026-03-12 and NASA Earthdata reporting 2025-02-01.
• Specific technical details like row count, file size, and precise column structure are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); instrument funded by the Canadian Space Agency.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the MOPITT instrument on the Terra spacecraft, with data processed into daily gridded Level 3 products.

Time Range

From December 18, 1999 (launch date) onward, with data collection ongoing.

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:33:16.105732 (from Data.gov, though this conflicts with NASA's date)

Geography

Global coverage from a sun-synchronous polar orbit.