MOPITT Satellite Carbon Monoxide Monthly Gridded Data

MOP03NM_9 provides monthly gridded means of carbon monoxide (CO) profiles and total column retrievals from the MOPITT instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. The dataset, funded by the Canadian Space Agency and launched in 1999, uses near-infrared radiances and includes averaging kernels for retrieval analysis. Data collection is ongoing, offering a long-term record for atmospheric studies.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global trends in atmospheric carbon monoxide concentrations over time.
• Validating and improving chemical transport models using gridded CO profile and total column data.
• Studying seasonal and interannual variability of pollution and biomass burning emissions.
• Assimilating satellite-observed CO levels into air quality forecasting systems.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous data record from the Terra satellite launch on December 18, 1999.
• Includes gridded averaging kernels, which are essential for proper retrieval analysis and model comparison.
• Funded and constructed by a consortium led by the Canadian Space Agency, indicating institutional support.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2026-03-12 on Data.gov vs. 2025-02-01 on NASA Earthdata).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with instrument funding and construction by the Canadian Space Agency.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the MOPITT instrument on the Terra spacecraft, using near-infrared (NIR) channel retrievals.

Time Range

From December 18, 1999, onward (ongoing).

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:32:37.198378

Geography

Global coverage from a sun-synchronous polar orbit.