TROPESS CrIS-SNPP: Methane Vertical Profiles from Suomi-NPP Satellite

From February 1, 2021 to May 21, 2021, this dataset provides daily global vertical profiles of atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations and their uncertainties. The data are derived from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument on the Suomi-NPP satellite, processed using the NASA TROPESS project's MUSES optimal estimation algorithm. Each netCDF file contains measurements at 26 vertical levels from the surface to 0.1 hPa, with a spatial resolution of 14 km at nadir.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global methane distribution and variability based on vertical profiles from surface to 0.1 hPa
• Assessing methane retrieval uncertainties for model validation or data assimilation
• Studying short-term atmospheric methane trends during the February-May 2021 period
• Comparing satellite-derived methane concentrations with other instruments or ground-based measurements

Strengths

• Provides vertical distribution at 26 specific levels, offering detailed atmospheric structure
• Includes formal uncertainty estimates for each methane retrieval
• Has a defined high spatial resolution of 14 km (CrIS nadir FOV)
• Data is processed using a documented optimal estimation algorithm (MUSES)

Limitations

• Time coverage is limited to a short, discontinued period from 2021-02-01 to 2021-05-21
• Column names and exact data structure within netCDF files are not specified in the metadata
• Platform metadata shows a conflict on the 'last updated' date (2026 vs 2021)

Provenance

Source

NASA TRopospheric Ozone and Precursors from Earth System Sounding (TROPESS) project, Principal Investigator Kevin W. Bowman.

Collection Method

Retrieved via optimal estimation algorithm (MUSES) from measurements by the CrIS instrument on the Suomi-NPP satellite.

Time Range

2021-02-01 to 2021-05-21

Freshness

Metadata was last updated on 2026-04-09 according to two sources, but another source lists 2021-05-21.

Geography

Global