TES/Aura L1B Spectra Special Observation Low Resolution V006

Data collection from the TES instrument aboard NASA's Aura satellite, launched July 15, 2004, is complete. The Level 1B product contains radiometrically calibrated spectral radiances, noise equivalent spectral radiances (NESR), geolocation, and quality data from special observation modes. These calibrated spectra serve as the primary input for retrieving atmospheric species profiles, temperature, and surface parameters.

Use Cases

• Retrieving atmospheric temperature profiles and surface temperature based on calibrated spectral radiances.
• Analyzing species volume mixing ratios (VMRs) like methane using the iterative radiative transfer retrieval process.
• Studying global survey patterns from nadir and limb observation sequences over 16-orbit cycles.
• Comparing pre- and post-April 24, 2005, observation strategies involving two versus three low-resolution scans.

Strengths

• Data originates from a well-documented NASA satellite mission (Aura/TES) with a known launch date of July 15, 2004.
• Describes a structured global survey with up to 4,608 retrievals per two-day cycle, providing systematic global coverage.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA EarthData indicates established importance and curation.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: no column names, row counts, or file sizes are provided for any platform entry.
• The 'last updated' metadata shows a future date (2026-04-09) on Data.gov, conflicting with the 2018 date on NASA EarthData and indicating potential metadata errors.
• Documentation is fragmented across multiple product descriptions (L1B, L2 Ancillary, L2 Temperatures, L2 Methane), requiring synthesis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard the Aura spacecraft.

Time Range

2004-07 15 to mission completion date (not specified).

Freshness

2018-01-22 23:59:59

Geography

Global, from satellite orbits.