TOVSAMTN: Global Atmospheric Temperature and Moisture Profiles from TIROS-N

TOVSAMTN contains Level 3 geophysical parameters derived from the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) aboard the TIROS-N satellite using the Path A physical retrieval method. The dataset provides global, three-dimensional fields of atmospheric temperature and moisture structure, along with derived surface temperatures, cloud properties, radiation, and ozone. It is produced by the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA/GSFC through a 6-hour forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle that assimilates satellite and in-situ data.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles based on the 3D structure derived from HIRS2/MSU data.
• Studying cloud properties and their radiative impact based on cloud fraction, cloud top height, and outgoing longwave radiation fields.
• Investigating surface energy budgets based on land/sea surface temperature and net radiation parameters.
• Assessing historical data assimilation methods based on the described Path A forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle.
• Monitoring total ozone overburden and precipitation estimates on a global scale.

Strengths

• Derived from a well-documented physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) designated as the Path A scheme by the TOVS Pathfinder Science Working Group.
• Assimilates multiple data sources, including satellite soundings from 20-channel HIRS2 and 4-channel MSU instruments, plus in-situ radiosonde and ship reports.
• Provides a globally consistent, 3D representation of atmospheric state through an interactive 6-hour synoptic cycle.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing or conflicting: row/size counts are unknown, and last updated dates conflict between 1979-12-31 and 2026-04-09.
• The retrieval method is described as hydrodynamic model- and a priori data-dependent, which may introduce specific biases.
• Column names are not provided, limiting precise understanding of the data structure.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Physical retrieval algorithm (Path A) using data from TIROS-N satellite's HIRS2 and MSU instruments, assimilated with in-situ measurements via an Optimal Interpolation scheme.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-09 21:41:41.807934 (conflicts with an earlier date of 1979-12-31)

Geography

Global