GPM_MERGIR: Global Merged Infrared Brightness Temperature at 4km Resolution

Globally merged (60°S-60°N) infrared brightness temperature data at 4-kilometer pixel resolution, derived from U.S., European, and Japanese geostationary satellites. The dataset provides a continuous, calibrated record from January 1998 onward, with a near-real-time latency of about 24 hours. Data have been corrected for zenith angle dependence and parallax to enable seamless merging across satellite boundaries.

Use Cases

• Tracking convective cloud development and storm evolution based on half-hourly, globally merged infrared brightness temperatures.
• Calibrating and validating climate models using a long-term, inter-calibrated satellite record dating back to 1998.
• Analyzing diurnal cycles of precipitation and cloud-top temperatures across the global tropics and mid-latitudes.
• Studying satellite data fusion techniques using a dataset corrected for parallax and zenith angle effects.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous, long-term record from January 1998 onward, offering over 25 years of data for climate studies.
• Features high-resolution (4km) global coverage (60°S-60°N) with half-hourly temporal granularity.
• Data are rigorously processed with dynamic inter-calibration, zenith angle correction, and parallax re-navigation to minimize discontinuities.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as specific column names, row counts, and exact file sizes are unavailable across all platforms.
• Data availability is delayed by about 24 hours from real-time due to international data exchange agreements.
• Spatial coverage is limited to 60°S-60°N, excluding the polar regions.

Provenance

Source

NOAA/NCEP Climate Prediction Center, processed and archived by NASA GES DISC.

Collection Method

Binary files from a weekly rotating archive are converted to CF-compliant netCDF-4 format. Data are merged from multiple geostationary satellites (GOES, METEOSAT, Himawari series).

Time Range

January 1998 to present (near-real-time with ~24h delay).

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:49:29.023182

Geography

Global coverage from 60°S to 60°N.