FLASHFlux provides near real-time (7-8 days) quantification of surface radiative fluxes which are important for understanding the impact of changes to the Earth's surface and the atmospheric state on surface radiative fluxes. An operational subsystem which uses a portion of the existing CERES processing system, merges CERES and MODIS observations from Terra and Aqua platforms. Several modifications to increase processing speed. This constitutes an important step in the understanding of weather and climate processes. Timely analysis of these fluxes also helps to characterize their spatial and temporal variability on regional and global scales. Later, (6-12 months), highly accurate CERES flux estimates are made available.
Key Strengths:
- Near real-time (7-8 days) quantification of surface radiative fluxes
Key Limitations:
- Algorithms not as sophisticated as CERES-EBAF
Data Access: Please Cite data sources, following the data providers' instructions.
- L'Ecuyer, T. S. et al (2008): Impact of clouds on atmospheric heating based on the R04 CloudSat fluxes and heating rates data set. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 113, D00A15
- Stackhouse, P.W. et al (2009): New results from FLASHFlux: A case study of the observed radiative anomalies in the Arctic for 2007 and 2008 summer seasons." 16th Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Phoenix, Arizona, January, 2009