TOVSAMNJ: Global Atmospheric Profiles from NOAA-14 Satellite

TOVSAMNJ provides global 3D atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles derived from NOAA-14 satellite data using the Path A physical retrieval scheme. This method integrates a 6-hour forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle, assimilating satellite soundings with in-situ measurements like radiosondes. Derived parameters include surface temperatures, cloud properties, outgoing longwave radiation, and total ozone.

Use Cases

• Validating and initializing General Circulation Models (GCMs) based on assimilated global temperature and humidity fields.
• Analyzing cloud radiative forcing using derived cloud fraction, cloud top pressure, and outgoing longwave radiation.
• Studying surface energy budgets with land and sea surface temperature and net radiation parameters.
• Monitoring atmospheric composition through the total ozone overburden product.
• Investigating the hydrological cycle using the dataset's precipitation estimates.

Strengths

• Employs a sophisticated physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) that assimilates satellite and in-situ data.
• Provides a globally consistent 3D picture of the atmosphere at a 6-hour synoptic resolution.
• Derives multiple key geophysical parameters from a single source, including profiles, surfaces, and cloud properties.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between platforms (2004-12-31 vs. 2026-04 09), suggesting possible metadata errors.
• The retrieval is dependent on a specific hydrodynamic model and a priori data, which may introduce method-specific biases.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Physical retrieval from NOAA-14 HIRS2 and MSU sensor data, processed via the Path A scheme with Optimal Interpolation analysis.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:30:08.837924

Geography

Global