OML1BRVG: Global Satellite Spectral Radiance in Visible Light

Global observations from the Aura satellite's Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) provide geolocated spectral radiance data in the visible wavelength range of 349 to 504 nm. Each orbit's daylit portion yields approximately 14 files per day, with each file containing radiances for 60 ground pixels across a ~2600 km swath at 751 spectral channels. The data is stored in netCDF format and supports analysis of Earth's reflected sunlight.

Use Cases

• Calibrating atmospheric models based on spectral radiance measurements across 751 channels.
• Mapping trace gas concentrations using visible wavelength absorption features.
• Analyzing aerosol optical properties from Earthshine radiance across a 2600 km swath.
• Studying surface albedo variations from geolocated, nadir-calibrated pixel data (13 km x 24 km).

Strengths

• Provides high spectral resolution with 751 channels in the 349-504 nm range.
• Offers consistent global spatial coverage with 60 ground pixels per swath and ~14 orbital files daily.
• Data is structured in the standardized, self-describing netCDF format.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: column names, row counts, and exact file sizes are unspecified across all sources.
• Product availability is intermittent, as data collection is occasionally switched to zoom-mode or calibration measurements.
• Source platforms show a conflict in the 'last updated' date (2026-03-12 vs. 2026-04-09), indicating potential metadata inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with lead algorithm science from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).

Collection Method

Collected by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aboard the Aura satellite in global measurement mode.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:29:01.248669

Geography

Global