Description

TES Level 2 data contain retrieved species (or temperature) profiles at the observation targets and the estimated errors. The geolocation, quality and some other data (e.g., surface characteristics for nadir observations) are also provided. L2 modeled spectra are evaluated using radiative transfer modeling algorithms. The process, referred to as retrieval, compares observed spectra to the modeled spectra and iteratively updates the atmospheric parameters.L2 standard product files include information for one molecular species (or temperature) for an entire global survey or special observation run. A global survey consists of a maximum of 16 consecutive orbits. Nadir and limb observations are in separate L2 files, and a single ancillary file is composed of data that are common to both nadir and limb files.A Nadir sequence with in the TES Global Survey is two low resolution scans overthe same ground locations. The Nadir standard product consists of four files,where each file is composed of the Global Survey Nadir observations from one offour focal planes for a single orbit, i.e. 72 orbit sequences. The GlobalSurvey Nadir observations currently only use a single set of filter mix.A Limb sequence within the TES Global Survey is three high-resolutionscans over the same limb locations. The Limb standard product willconsist of four files, where each file will be composed of the GlobalSurvey Limb observations from one of four focal planes for a singleorbit, i.e. 72 orbit sequences. The Global Survey Limb observationsuse a repeating sequence of filter wheel positions.Special Observations can only be scheduled during the 9 or 10 orbit gaps in the Global Surveys, and are conducted in any of three basic modes: stare, transect, step-and-stare. The mode used depends on the science requirement. See http://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/instrument/specialobservations/ for details.A Global Survey consists of observations along 16 consecutive orbits at the start of a two day cycle, over which 4,608 retrievals are performed (1,152 nadir retrievals and 1,152 retrievals in time ordered sequence for each limb observation). Each observation is the input for retrievals of species Volume Mixing Ratios (VMR), temperature profiles, surface temperature and other data parameters with associated pressure levels, precision, total error, vertical resolution, total column density and other diagnostic quantities.Each TES Level 2 standard product reports information in a swath format conforming to the HDF-EOS Aura File FormatGuidelines. Each Swath object is bounded by the number ofobservations in a global survey and a predefined set of pressurelevels representing slices through the atmosphere. Each standardproduct can have a variable number of observations depending upon theGlobal Survey configuration and whether averaging is employed. Also missing or bad retrievals are not reported.Each limb observation Limb 1, Limb 2 and Limb 3, are processed independently. Thus each limb standard product consists of three sets where each set consist of 1,152observations. For TES, the swath object represents one of thesesets. Thus each limb standard product consists of three swath objects,one for each observation, Limb 1, Limb 2, and Limb 3.The organization of data within the Swath object is based on asuperset of the UARS pressure levels used to report concentrations of trace atmospheric gases. The reporting grid is the same pressure grid used for modeling. There are 87 reporting levels from 1211.53 hPa, which allows for very high surface pressure conditions, to 0.1 hPa, about 65 km. In addition, the products will report values directly at the surface when possible or at the observed cloud top level. Thus in the Standard Product files each observation can potentially contain estimates for the concentration of a particular molecule at 88different pressure levels within the atmosphere. However, for most retrieved profiles, the highest pressure levels are not observed due to asurface at lower pressure or cloud obscuration. For pressure levels corresponding to altitudes below the cloud top or surface, where measurements were not possible, a fill value will be applied.Details of the format of this product can be found in the TESData Products Specifications (DPS) which is available from the LaRC ASDC site:http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/project/tes/DPSTo minimize the duplication of information between the individualspecies standard products, data fields common to each species (such as spacecraft coordinates, emissivities, and other data fields) have been collected into a separate standard product, termed the TES L2 Ancillary Data product (ESDT short name: TL2ANC). Users of this product should also obtain the Ancillary Data product.

DOI

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Resources and Documentation

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Earthdata Forum

DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

TES Level 2 Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

HDFView Overview and Download

PROJECT HOME PAGE

TES project home page

VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

• NASA EOS ATB Documents: TES

DATA CITATION POLICY

• How to cite ASDC data

DATA QUALITY

• Aura-TES L2 Products: Version 2 Data Quality Description
• Aura-TES L2 Products: Version 5 Data Quality Description
• Aura-TES L2 Products: Version 6 Data Quality Description

PROCESSING HISTORY

• TES Level 2 Versioning - Level 2 Standard and Special Observation Products

PRODUCTION HISTORY

• Report of TES Level 2 Global Survey Products Available from the ASDC

PUBLICATIONS

• TES Publications

READ-ME

• Basic IDL Tools for extraction information from TES L2 HDF Product files

USER'S GUIDE

• TES Level 2 (L2) Data User's Guide (Up to & including Version 8 data)

Keywords

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