OML1BRVG: Aura OMI VIS Radiance Swath Data

Each 200 MB file contains geo-located spectral radiances from the 349 to 504 nm wavelength range for the day-lit portion of one orbit, approximately 60 minutes of data. The Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) collects this data in a standard global mode observing 60 ground pixels across its swath, with pixel sizes of 13 km x 24 km at nadir. Files are stored in HDF-EOS format, with radiance and precision stored as a 16-bit mantissa and 8-bit exponent.

Use Cases

• Calibrating higher-level atmospheric trace gas products based on the VIS detector's spectral radiances.
• Analyzing spatial patterns of reflected solar radiation across the instrument's 60-pixel swath.
• Investigating instrument performance and signal-to-noise using the stored mantissa and exponent precision data.
• Studying specific monthly anomalies using the one-day-per-month spatial zoom measurements with 13 x 12 km nadir pixels.

Strengths

• Provides specific, calibrated spectral radiance data for the 349-504 nm visible wavelength range.
• Offers a consistent daily temporal resolution with approximately 14 orbits per day.
• Includes specialized monthly measurement modes (dark measurements and spatial zoom) for instrument calibration and higher-resolution studies.

Limitations

• Column names and a complete data schema are not provided in the available metadata, hindering precise understanding of the data structure.
• The 'last updated' metadata field shows a future date (2026-04-09), indicating a potential metadata error or conflict.
• Data volume is significant (~200 MB per file), which may require substantial storage and computational resources for time-series analysis.

Provenance

Source

NASA Aura satellite Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), processed by GES DISC.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the OMI VIS detector in global measurement mode.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-09 23:17:49.810062

Geography

Global coverage from the Aura satellite's sun-synchronous orbit.