MYDFDS_SDV_GLB_L3: Global Dust Storm Frequency Variability

2003 to 2022 climatological monthly standard deviations of dust storm frequency over land are provided. The dataset is derived from MODIS Aqua Deep Blue aerosol products and measures variability in the number of days per month dust optical depth exceeds eight intensity thresholds. It covers a global grid from 175°W to 175°E and 80°S to 80°N at a 0.1˚ x 0.1˚ resolution.

Use Cases

• Analyzing interannual variability in dust storm frequency based on the 20-year climatology
• Mapping regional dust activity intensity using the eight separate optical depth threshold files
• Assessing data quality for different regions by applying the recommended quality flags (1 for source regions, 3 for remote/polluted areas)
• Studying the spatial distribution of dust storm variability on a global 0.1-degree grid

Strengths

• Provides a 20-year climatological baseline (2003-2022) for dust storm frequency variability
• Offers eight distinct intensity thresholds (0.025 to 2) for analyzing dust events of varying severity
• Includes specific quality flag guidance for different geographic regions (dust sources vs. remote areas)
• Has a high spatial resolution of 0.1˚ x 0.1˚ over a near-global land area

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown from the provided metadata
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between sources (2026-04-09 vs. 2022-12-31)
• The dataset is limited to land areas and does not cover oceans

Provenance

Source

GES_DISC

Collection Method

Derived from Level 2 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue aerosol products Collection 6.1 from Aqua (MYD04_L2)

Time Range

2003 to 2022

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:49:04.586560

Geography

Land areas from 175°W to 175°E and 80°S to 80°N