Earth Science Reference Handbook [ Missions: Aura ] 101

Earth Science Reference Handbook

[ Missions: Aura ]  113

Paradise, S., S. Akopyan, R. C. DeBaca, K. Croft, K. Fry, 

S. Gluck, D. Ho, B. Koffend, M. Lampel, J. McDuffie, R. 

Monarrez, H. Nair, S. Poosti, D. Shepard, I. Strickland, D. 

Tremblay, H. Yun, and J. Zong, 2006: TES ground data 

system software. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 44, 

1343–1351.

Sarkissian, E., and K. W. Bowman, 2003: Application of 

a nonuniform spectral resampling transform in Fourier-

transform spectrometry. Appl. Optics-LP, 42, 1122. 

Worden, H., R. Beer, K. Bowman, B. Fisher, M. Luo, D. 

Rider, E. Sarkissian, D. Tremblay, and J. Zong, 2006: TES 

L1  algorithms:  Interferogram  processing,  geolocation, 

radiometric and spectral calibration. IEEE Trans. Geosci. 

Remote Sens., 44, 1288–1296.

Worden,  J.,  S.  Sund-Kulawik,  M.  W.  Shephard,  S. A. 

Clough, H. Worden, K. Bowman, and A. Goldman, 2004: 

Predicted errors of Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer 

nadir retrievals from spectral window selection. J. Geo-

phys. Res., 109, D09308, 10.1029/2004JD004522. 

Worden, J. R., K. W. Bowman, and D. B. Jones, 2004: 

Two-dimensional characterization of atmospheric profile 

retrievals  from  limb  sounding  observations.  J.  Quant. 

Spectrosc. Rad. Transfer, 86, 45–71. 

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Earth Science Reference Handbook

114  [ Missions: Aura ]

Aura Data Products

The data from Aura’s four instruments are transmitted from the satellite ground stations and thence to the EOS Data and 

Operations System (EDOS). From there the raw data from HIRDLS, MLS, and OMI are sent to the Goddard Distributed 

Active Archive Center (DAAC); raw data from TES are sent to the Langley Research Center (LaRC) DAAC. Each Science 

Investigator–led Processing System (SIPS) receives data directly from the DAACs and processes it to produce scientific 

data such as profiles and column amounts of ozone and other important atmospheric species. Each instrument team monitors 

the data products to ensure that they are of high quality. The data products are then sent back to the DAACs, where they are 

archived. The DAACs are responsible for distribution of the data to scientists all over the world. Researchers, government 

agencies, and educators will have unrestricted access to the Aura data via the EOS data gateway. Data seekers can search 

for, and order data from, any of the EOS DAACs.

• Goddard DAAC: daac.gsfc.nasa.gov

• Langley DAAC: eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/

Product Name or 

Processing  Coverage 

Spatial/Temporal Characteristics

Grouping 

Level

HIRDLS

Data Set Start Date: No data released as of May 2006

Radiances 

1B 

Global 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track)

Temperature/Pressure Profile 

2 

Global for 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

altitudes of 

1.25 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

7–60 km 

twice daily [day, night]

O

3

   

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

  

 

 

7–55 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

H

2

O Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

7–55 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Aerosol Extinction Coefficient 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

(4 Channels) 

 

10–30 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

NO

2

  

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

20–55 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

CH

4

 Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

10–60 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

CFC–11 (CFCl

3

) Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

7–28 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

  

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

CFC–12 (CF

2

Cl

2

) Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

7–30 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

ClONO

2 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

17–40 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Cloud Top Height 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

7–24 km 

250 m vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Aura Data Products

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Earth Science Reference Handbook

[ Missions: Aura ]  115

Product Name or 

Processing  Coverage 

Spatial/Temporal Characteristics

Grouping 

Level

HNO

3

 Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

10–40 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

N

2

O Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

10–55 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

  

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

N

2

O

5

 Concentration 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

20–45 km 

1.25 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Geopotential Height–Gradient 

2 

Global, 

70 km horizontal resolution (along track)/

  

 

 

15–30 km 

twice daily [day, night]

MLS

Data Set Start Date: August 8, 2004

Radiances 

1B 

Global  

200 km horizontal resolution (along track),

 

 

 

for altitudes of 

~0.3–3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

0–90 km 

twice daily [day, night]

Temperature 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

5–90 km 

2–3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Geopotential Height 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

5–90 km 

2–3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Cloud Ice Content 

2 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution, 

 

 

 

 

5–20 km 

2–3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

 

H

2

O Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution, 

 

 

 

 

5–90 km 

2–3 km vertical resolution/  

 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Relative Humidity 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(with respect to ice) 

 

5–90 km 

2–3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

N

2

O Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

15–60 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

CO Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(stratosphere and above) 

 

15–90 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

CO Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(upper troposphere) 

 

8–15 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

O

3

 Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(stratosphere and above)  

 

15–80 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

O

3

 Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(upper troposphere) 

 

8–15 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

Aura Data Products

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Earth Science Reference Handbook

116  [ Missions: Aura ]

Product Name or 

Processing  Coverage 

Spatial/Temporal Characteristics

Grouping 

Level

MLS

OH Concentration  

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(upper stratosphere) 

 

30–90 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/   

 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

OH Concentration  

2, 3 

Global, 

10° lat. resolution, monthly zonal mean,

(lower stratosphere) 

 

18–30 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

HO

2

 Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

10° lat. resolution, monthly zonal mean,

  

 

 

20–60 km 

5 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

BrO Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

10° lat. resolution, monthly zonal mean, 

 

 

 

20–60 km 

5 km vertical resolution/   

 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

ClO Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

  

 

 

15–50 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

HCl Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

15–60 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

HOCl Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

10° lat. resolution, monthly zonal mean,

 

 

 

20–50 km 

5 km vertical resolution/

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

HNO

3

 Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

  

 

 

10–50 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/ 

 

 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

 

 

 

HCN Concentration 

2, 3 

Global, 

horizontal resolution: 5° lat. for weekly

 

 

 

25–65 km 

zonal mean, 200 km for 30–40 km, ~3 km

 

 

 

 

vertical resolution/twice daily [day, night]

SO

2

 Concentration 

2 

Global, 

200 km horizontal resolution,

(following large  

 

10–30 km 

~3 km vertical resolution/

volcanic eruptions) 

 

 

twice daily [day, night]

OMI

Data Set Start Date: August 17, 2004

Radiances 

1B 

Global  

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily 

Total Ozone 

2 

Global—total  

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

Ozone Profile 

2 

Global, for altitudes  13 km × 48 km horizontal resolution, 

 

 

 

of 15–45 km 

6 km vertical resolution/daily

Surface UVB flux 

2 

Global—Earth’s 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

surface

Cloud Scattering Layer Pressure  2 

Global 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

Aerosol Optical Thickness 

2 

Global—total 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

Aerosol Single Scatterer Albedo 

2 

Global 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

SO

2

  

2 

Global—total  

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

Aura Data Products

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Earth Science Reference Handbook

[ Missions: Aura ]  117

Product Name or 

Processing  Coverage 

Spatial/Temporal Characteristics

Grouping 

Level

NO

2 

 

2 

Global—total 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

 

 

 

and tropospheric

 

 

 

column

HCHO 

2 

Global—total  

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

BrO  

2 

Global—total 

13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

atmospheric column

OClO 

2 

Antarctic Polar Vortex  13 km × 24 km horizontal resolution/daily

 

 

 

region—slant column 

TES

Data Set Start Date: August 22, 2004

Level 1B Radiance, 

1B 

Global 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution/

(IR spectra in selected 

 

 

every 16 days (compiled over 

bands 3.2–15.4 µm) 

 

 

alternate days)

CH

4

 Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

for altitudes of 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

0–34 km 

(compiled over alternate days)

CO Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

HNO

3

 Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled alternate days)

NO

2

 Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

O

3

 Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

H

2

O Mixing Ratio 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

Temperature Profile 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

Land–Surface Temperature 

2 

Global, 

5.3 km × 8.3 km horizontal resolution,

 

 

 

0–34 km 

2–6 km vertical resolution/every 16 days

 

 

 

 

(compiled over alternate days)

Aura Data Products