TOVSAMNG: Global Atmospheric Temperature and Moisture Grids from NOAA-10

Monthly, pentad, and daily global grids of atmospheric parameters derived from NOAA-10 satellite data using a physical retrieval method. The dataset contains 3D temperature-moisture profiles, surface temperatures, cloud properties, ozone, and precipitation estimates, processed by NASA's Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres. Data is stored in HDF format with six files representing different averaging periods.

Use Cases

• Modeling global 3D atmospheric temperature structure based on satellite-derived profiles
• Analyzing sea and land surface temperature trends from the retrieved surface parameters
• Studying cloud fraction and cloud top height for climate feedback analysis
• Estimating total ozone overburden and precipitation for atmospheric composition studies
• Assimilating satellite soundings with in-situ measurements for weather forecast validation

Strengths

• Derived from 20-channel HIRS2 and 4-channel MSU instruments on polar-orbiting satellites
• Uses a documented physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) and Path A assimilation cycle
• Provides six distinct averaging periods (daily, 5-day, monthly) for temporal analysis
• Processed by NASA's Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres, an authoritative source

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• The retrieval method is dependent on a hydrodynamic model and a priori data

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Goddard Space Flight Center

Collection Method

Physical retrieval from TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) data aboard NOAA-10, assimilated with in-situ measurements via Optimal Interpolation.

Time Range

Monthly, pentad (5-day), and daily averages. Specific date range is not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-05 20:02:04.390020; freshness should be verified

Geography

Global fields