TOVSA5TN: TIROS-N TOVS Path A Atmospheric Retrievals

From 1979 onward, this dataset provides Level 3 geophysical parameters derived from TIROS-N satellite data using the Path A physical retrieval method. It uses HIRS2 and MSU instruments to produce global fields of atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, plus derived quantities like surface temperature, cloud properties, and ozone. The data is generated through a 6-hour forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle that assimilates satellite retrievals with in-situ measurements.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global 3D temperature-moisture structure based on HIRS2/MSU satellite retrievals.
• Monitoring land and sea surface temperature trends derived from infrared and microwave sounder data.
• Studying cloud fraction and cloud top height for climate and weather model validation.
• Estimating total ozone overburden and outgoing longwave radiation for atmospheric chemistry and energy balance studies.
• Assessing precipitation estimates generated through the Path A forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle.

Strengths

• Derived from a well-documented physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) used by NASA's TOVS Pathfinder Science Working Group.
• Integrates data from two key instruments: the 20-channel HIRS2 and the 4-channel MSU aboard NOAA polar orbiting satellites.
• Assimilates satellite retrievals with in-situ measurements like radiosonde and ship reports using an Optimal Interpolation scheme.
• Available on multiple platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating established curation and accessibility.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: no column names, row counts, or specific file sizes are provided.
• There is a conflict in temporal coverage: one source lists a last update of 2026-04-09, while another suggests data originates from 1979-06-30.
• The license is ambiguously specified as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms for reuse.

Provenance

Source

Satellite Data Utilization Office of the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA/GSFC.

Collection Method

Physical retrieval algorithm based on the iterative relaxation technique of Chahine (1968), using data from TIROS-N satellite instruments.

Time Range

1979 onward

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:42:31.325421

Geography

Global