NOAA-20 Satellite Sulfur Dioxide Total Column Measurements

OMPS-N20 NM PCA SO2 Step 1 Total Column 1-Orbit L2 Swath 17x13km NRT provides global sulfur dioxide (SO2) column amounts from the OMPS Nadir-Mapper sensor on the NOAA-20 satellite. The dataset uses a principal component analysis algorithm to retrieve SO2 at multiple plume heights, from the boundary layer to the lower stratosphere. Data is provided in near-real-time with about 14 orbits per day, offering global daylight coverage.

Use Cases

• Tracking volcanic eruption plumes and their atmospheric dispersion using SO2 column amounts at different altitudes.
• Monitoring regional anthropogenic SO2 pollution from industrial sources over time.
• Analyzing the vertical distribution of SO2 in the troposphere and stratosphere from the provided plume height retrievals.
• Studying global SO2 transport patterns using the satellite's daily, near-global spatial coverage.

Strengths

• Provides retrievals for five distinct atmospheric layers, enabling vertical plume analysis.
• Offers high temporal frequency with approximately 14 global daylight orbits per day.
• Spatial resolution improved from 17x17 km to 17x13 km at nadir after February 13, 2019.

Limitations

• Specific column names and dataset size are not documented across any source.
• Sources conflict on license information, with one specifying 'other-license-specified' and another listing 'None'.
• Data is limited to daylight portions of orbits, missing nocturnal measurements.

Provenance

Source

OMINRT (likely Ozone Mapping and Profiling Suite - Nadir-Mapper Real-Time), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Collection Method

Retrieved via the principal component analysis (PCA) spectral fitting algorithm applied to measurements from the OMPS Nadir-Mapper sensor on the NOAA-20 satellite.

Time Range

Coverage begins with NOAA-20 satellite operations; specific start date not provided. Data is updated in near-real-time.

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:56:40.977796

Geography

Global spatial coverage from -90 to 90 degrees latitude.