TOVSADND: Global Atmospheric Profiles from NOAA-12 Satellite

TOVS Pathfinder Path A data from NOAA-12's HIRS2 and MSU instruments produce a 3D global temperature-moisture structure every 6 hours. The physical retrieval method, based on Susskind et al. (1984) and Chahine's technique, assimilates satellite soundings with in-situ reports via an Optimal Interpolation analysis. Derived parameters include surface temperatures, cloud properties, ozone burden, and precipitation estimates.

Use Cases

• Validating and initializing General Circulation Models based on the 6-hour forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle.
• Analyzing global cloud fraction and cloud top height for climate feedback studies.
• Monitoring total ozone overburden and outgoing longwave radiation for atmospheric chemistry research.
• Assimilating land and sea surface temperature profiles into reanalysis projects.
• Studying the 3-dimensional temperature-moisture structure of the atmosphere for synoptic weather analysis.

Strengths

• Employs a well-documented physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) and assimilates in-situ measurements like radiosondes.
• Provides a globally comprehensive 3D atmospheric structure derived from 20-channel HIRS2 and 4-channel MSU instruments.
• Data is produced through a consistent 6-hour synoptic cycle, enabling time-series analysis of atmospheric processes.

Limitations

• Metadata conflicts exist: last updated dates are reported as both 1994-07-01 and 2026-04-09, indicating potential archival status or metadata errors.
• Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided in any source, limiting technical assessment.
• The dataset's license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

Satellite Data Utilization Office, Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/GSFC

Collection Method

Physical retrieval from NOAA-12 satellite TOVS (HIRS2/MSU) data, assimilated with in-situ measurements using an Optimal Interpolation scheme.

Time Range

Coverage includes the operational period of NOAA-12; specific start and end dates are not provided.

Freshness

2026-04 09 21:30:24.952493 (most recent update reported, though conflicting with an earlier date)

Geography

Global