TRPSYL2CH4CRSRS: Global Satellite Methane Vertical Profiles

TROPESS CrIS-SNPP L2 Methane data provides the vertical distribution of atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations and uncertainties from the Suomi-NPP satellite. The dataset uses an optimal estimation algorithm (MUSES) to produce daily global files at 26 vertical levels from the surface to 0.1 hPa. Its coverage spans from December 2015 to May 2021, when processing for this specific methane product was discontinued.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global methane trends and variability based on daily, vertically-resolved satellite retrievals.
• Validating atmospheric chemistry and transport models using the 26-level vertical profile data.
• Studying regional methane sources and sinks leveraging the 14 km nadir spatial resolution.
• Assimilating observational data into reanalysis systems using the formal uncertainty estimates.

Strengths

• Provides vertical profiles at 26 specific pressure levels from the surface to 0.1 hPa.
• Offers a consistent global time series spanning over five years (2015-12-01 to 2021-05 21).
• Data is processed using a sophisticated optimal estimation algorithm (MUSES).

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names and dataset size are not provided.
• The last update date conflicts between sources (2026-04-09 vs. 2021-05-21), indicating potential metadata inconsistency.
• Data collection for this specific product stream ended in May 2021.

Provenance

Source

NASA TROPESS project, Principal Investigator Kevin W. Bowman, data from the CrIS instrument on Suomi-NPP.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing using an optimal estimation retrieval algorithm (MUSES).

Time Range

2015-12-01 to 2021-05-21

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:35:18.774941

Geography

Global