AIRS/AMSU CLIMCAPS: Cloud-Cleared Infrared Radiances from Aqua Satellite

Data from the AIRS and AMSU instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite, processed by the CLIMCAPS algorithm to produce cloud-cleared radiances. The dataset provides calibrated, geolocated infrared radiances for approximately 2378 spectral channels, with a horizontal resolution of 50 km and a temporal repeat cycle of about 16 days. It supports the retrieval of atmospheric profiles for temperature, water vapor, ozone, carbon monoxide, and methane, as well as cloud and surface properties.

Use Cases

• Atmospheric profile retrieval based on the 100-level temperature and moisture profile data.
• Cloud property analysis using the cloud-cleared radiance estimates.
• Climate model validation based on long-term, calibrated infrared and microwave observations.
• Radiative transfer studies based on the channel-by-channel radiance data from the grating spectrometer.

Strengths

• High spectral resolution from the AIRS grating spectrometer with approximately 2378 channels.
• Combined infrared and microwave sensor data from AIRS and AMSU for improved atmospheric sounding.
• Specific vertical resolution of 100 levels for temperature profiles between 1100 mb and 0.1 mb.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided by any source.
• The listed last update date of 2026-04-09 appears to be a future date, which creates a conflict regarding data freshness.
• Documentation gaps exist, as the license is only generically noted as 'other-license-specified'.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the AIRS and AMSU instruments on the EOS Aqua platform, processed by the CLIMCAPS algorithm.

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:56:43.154620 (Note: This is a future date, indicating a potential metadata error)

Geography

Global coverage from the polar-orbiting Aqua satellite.