AIRS and AMSU: Trace Gases (CO2, CO, CH4, O3...); Level 3

Teaser image
AIRS and AMSU: Trace Gases (CO2, CO, CH4, O3...); Level 3
Main content

AIRS provides satellite retrieval of mid-tropospheric carbon dioxide even under cloudy conditions, without the use of a priori information from models. AIRS retrievals use cloud-cleared thermal IR radiance spectra in the 15 micron band with an accuracy better than 2 ppm. AIRS retrievals have been used to produce global maps of carbon dioxide and other trace gases including ozone, methane, and carbon monoxide.

Key Strengths

Key Strengths

Near global coverage with high horizontal and vertical resolutions and frequent sampling

Key Limitations

Key Limitations

Inconsistent sampling with latitude

Please cite data sources, following the data providers' instructions
Dataset DOIs
None
Hosted Climate Index Files
None
Usage Restrictions
None

Cite this page

Acknowledgement of any material taken from or knowledge gained from this page is appreciated:

National Center for Atmospheric Research Staff (Eds). Last modified "The Climate Data Guide: AIRS and AMSU: Trace Gases (CO2, CO, CH4, O3...); Level 3.” Retrieved from https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/airs-and-amsu-trace-gases-co2-co-ch4-o3-level-3 on 2024-03-28.


Citation of datasets is separate and should be done according to the data providers' instructions. If known to us, data citation instructions are given in the Data Access section, above.


Acknowledgement of the Climate Data Guide project is also appreciated:

Schneider, D. P., C. Deser, J. Fasullo, and K. E. Trenberth, 2013: Climate Data Guide Spurs Discovery and Understanding. Eos Trans. AGU, 94, 121–122, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013eo130001

Key Figures

Climate Data Guide Image

CO2 for February, 2012 derived from Level 3 version 5.9 AIRS and MSU retrievals. Ascending and descending nodes were combined. Top: average CO2; middle: standard deviation of observations; bottom: the observation count. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)

Climate Data Guide Image

AIRS sensitivity to carbon dioxide with altitude. Source: http://airs.jpl.nasa.gov/data/about_airs_co2_data/

Climate Data Guide Image

CO (carbon monoxide) for ascending and descending nodes of AIRS for February, 2013. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)

Climate Data Guide Image

CH4 (methane) for ascending and descending nodes of AIRS for February, 2013 at three levels: 51, 60, 67 hPa. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)

Other Information

Earth system components and main variables
Dataset collections

Years of record
None
Data time period extended
Yes, data set is extended
Timestep
Sub-daily, Daily, Monthly
Domain
Formats:
Input Data
None
Vertical Levels:
None
Missing Data Flag
Missing data present
Ocean or Land
Ocean & Land
Spatial Resolution

1x1, 2x2.5, assorted levels

Model Resolution (reanalysis)
None
Data Assimilation Method
None
Model Vintage (reanalysis)
None