OCO-3: Space-Based Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Meteorological Soundings

OCO-3, deployed to the International Space Station in May 2019, is NASA's first mission designed for space-based atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements with the precision to characterize its buildup. The dataset incorporates Level 2 meteorological parameters interpolated from a global assimilation model for each satellite sounding. It uses three high-resolution spectrometers and a Bayesian retrieval algorithm for the O2 A-band to estimate surface pressure and albedo while screening for clouds and aerosols.

Use Cases

• Characterizing global carbon dioxide sources and sinks based on high-resolution spectrometer measurements.
• Cloud and aerosol screening for atmospheric retrievals using the Oxygen-A Band algorithm.
• Estimating surface pressure and albedo via fast Bayesian retrieval on O2 A-band spectra.
• Validating and improving global carbon cycle models with space-based CO2 concentration data.

Strengths

• Data is from a dedicated NASA satellite mission (OCO-3) designed for high-precision CO2 measurement.
• Utilizes three independently calibrated spectrometers for coincident measurements at specific near-infrared wavelengths.
• Implements a primary cloud-screening tool (O2 A-band algorithm) with a heritage from GOSAT and OCO-2 simulations.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided in any source.
• The 'last updated' date of 2026-04-09 is inconsistent, suggesting a placeholder or future date.
• Documentation gaps exist regarding the specific global assimilation model used for interpolation.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Measurements from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) instrument on the International Space Station, processed to Level 2 with meteorological parameter interpolation.

Time Range

Coverage begins after instrument deployment in May 2019.

Freshness

2026-04 09 23:19:50.475238 (This date appears inconsistent and may be a placeholder)

Geography

Global, from the orbit of the International Space Station.