MOPITT Data Description

Data products

Level 0: Raw output data from the instrument supplemented by time, spacecraft position and attitude information.
Level 1 (MOP01 files): Calibrated radiances (average and difference signals) from the instrument, with location and time information.
Level 2 (MOP02 files): Retrievals.

CO mixing ratio profiles with 22 km horizontal resolution, 4 km vertical resolution, 10% precision.
CO total column with 10% precision.
CH₄ total column with 1% precision.

Level 3 (MOP03 files): Gridded global CO and CH₄ distributions: 1 deg x 1 deg, daily and monthly averages. (not available yet)

Data versions

Definitions of Beta, Provisional and Validated data products are given at: EOS Terra MOPITT Data Products

V2: Version 2 data are categorized as "BETA", indicating the data has been minimally validated and may still contain significant errors. This version is intended to enable users to gain familiarity with the parameters and the data formats.

V2 filenames have "L2V4.6.2" in them.
Retrievals of CO mixing ratio profiles and column densities are included.
Comparisons with aircraft data indicate significant biases (MOPITT CO is high), especially in the lower troposphere.

V3: Version 3 data are "VALIDATED", indicating the retrievals have been rigorously compared to independent observations. Errors are quantafiable and constrained. The data are useful for exploratory and process science studies. Users are expected to review product quality summaries before publication of results.

V3 filenames are identified with "L2V5.5.1" or higher.
Retrievals of CO mixing ratio profiles and column densities are included.
Improvements in the calibration procedure have significantly reduced the bias in MOPITT CO in comparison with correlative data. V3 also includes recovery of 2/5 of the data that could not be processed in V2 due to high noise. MODIS cloud mask is used to allow retrieval of data poleward of 65 deg.

Other data designations

Phase 1 data: Mar 2000-May 2001, All MOPITT channels operational.
Phase 2 data: Aug 2001-present, only channels 5-8 operational.

Data File Format

Data processing documents

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Last update: 10 Oct 2002, Louisa Emmons