Western North American Air Mass Back Trajectories for 2004

Western North America is the focus of this 2004 dataset of backward air mass trajectories, generated using the FLEXPART Lagrangian particle dispersion model driven by ERA5 reanalysis. NASA produced this data to support source-receptor relationship analysis for gridded ozone observations spanning 1994-2021. The dataset provides global, hourly simulations at 1° x 1° resolution from the surface to 20 km altitude.

Use Cases

• Analyzing source contributions to ozone observations using gridded ozone value columns at receptor points.
• Studying seasonal or decadal changes in atmospheric transport patterns over a 15-day backward timeframe.
• Identifying source regions and vertical layers influencing pollutant concentrations downwind in Western North America.
• Supporting source contribution analyses for other atmospheric components if co-located with the defined ozone receptor scales.

Strengths

• Simulations have high temporal (hourly) and spatial (1° x 1°) resolution.
• Data covers a long observational period, with receptor locations matched to ozone data from 1994-2021.
• Model provides global coverage and vertical profiles from the surface up to 20 km altitude.
• Generated with NASA High-End Computing support, indicating high-performance model execution.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date: one states 2004-12-31, while others state 2026-03-12.

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); model data is for the year 2004.

Freshness

2026-03 12 19:50:11.405085

Geography

Global simulations with receptor locations focused on Western North America.