Western North America 1998 Atmospheric Back Trajectory Data

Western North America back trajectory data for 1998, generated using the FLEXPART Lagrangian particle dispersion model driven by ERA5 reanalysis. This dataset provides 15-day backward simulations from receptor locations matching gridded ozone observations, offering hourly global coverage at a 1° x 1° spatial resolution from the surface to 20 km altitude. The product was created with support from NASA's Atmospheric Composition Campaign Data Analysis and Modeling program and the NASA High-End Computing Program.

Use Cases

• Analyzing source-receptor relationships for tropospheric ozone observations from 1994-2021.
• Identifying geographic and vertical layer contributions to ozone levels at different diurnal, seasonal, or decadal scales.
• Supporting source attribution studies for other atmospheric components co-located with the defined ozone receptor sites.
• Modeling global air mass transport pathways over a 15-day period at high temporal and spatial resolution.

Strengths

• Simulations provide global coverage at high resolution: hourly temporal and 1° x 1° spatial.
• Data covers a vertical range from the surface up to 20 km above ground level.
• Model is driven by the ERA5 reanalysis, a widely used and validated meteorological dataset.
• Dataset supports analysis across nearly three decades of ozone observations (1994-2021) for the receptor locations.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column names, and dataset size are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates: one platform lists 2026-03-12, while another lists 1998-12 31.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

FLEXPART Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model simulations driven by ERA5 reanalysis data.

Time Range

1994-2021 (for matched ozone observations); simulation year is 1998.

Freshness

2026-03-12 19:53:33.629075

Geography

Global simulations with receptor locations focused on Western North America (WNA).