Solar Mesosphere Explorer NO2 Volume Mixing Ratio Profiles from 1982 to 1986

Nitrogen dioxide volume mixing ratios are provided at 8 pressure levels between 24 and 40 km altitude. Data coverage spans from pole to pole at 5-degree increments and includes both orbit-track and monthly-averaged records. The dataset was produced by SCIOPS from the Solar Mesosphere Explorer satellite's visible spectrometer measurements between 1982 and 1986.

Use Cases

• Analyze latitudinal gradients of nitrogen dioxide volume mixing ratios using the pole-to-pole coverage at 5-degree increments.
• Study vertical profiles of atmospheric composition by examining data across the 8 specified pressure levels between 24 and 40 km.
• Investigate temporal trends and seasonal cycles by comparing orbit-track data with monthly-averaged records from 1982 to 1986.
• Validate atmospheric chemistry models using in-situ volume mixing ratio measurements derived from spectral radiance between 312 and 647 nm.

Strengths

• Data covers a 5-year time period from 1982 through 1986.
• Provides global spatial coverage from pole to pole at 5-degree latitude increments.
• Includes vertical profile information at 8 distinct pressure levels between 24 and 40 km altitude.

Limitations

• Data is historical, with the last update in December 1986, limiting analysis of recent atmospheric conditions.
• The specific row count and total data volume are unknown.
• The original data format (tape) may present accessibility challenges for modern analysis.

Provenance

Source

Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) satellite visible spectrometer.

Collection Method

Derived from radiance measurements in the 312 to 647 nm spectral interval.

Time Range

1982 through 1986

Geography

Global coverage from pole to pole.