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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperatures, Version 3.3 (Version Superseded)

Mean Layer Temperature - RSS

browse graphicUAT 4 Layer Channel TLT Brightness Temperature browse image
*Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.* The Atmospheric Layer Temperature Climate Data Record (CDR) dataset is a monthly analysis of the tropospheric and stratospheric data using temperature sounding microwave radiometers flown on polar-orbiting weather satellites providing an important record of upper atmosphere temperatures by merging data from the older Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) and the new Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSUs). The instruments measure the brightness temperature (Tb) for each channel and corresponds to an average temperature of the atmosphere averaged over that channel's weighting function. Global average and global anomaly maps on a 2.5 x 2.5 degree resolution are produced from each month's data from both the MSU and the AMSU for over a 31 year period (1978-2011) for each channel (layer); the Temperature Lower Troposphere (TLT); the Temperature Middle Troposphere (TMT); the Temperature Troposphere/Stratosphere (TTS) ; the Temperature Lower Stratosphere (TLS). UAT 4 Layer MW data is important to continue into the future to ensure the existence of a high-quality record of atmospheric temperatures for climate change detection and climate model verification activities. The data are available in netCDF-4 file format with variables containing standard deviation, quality flags, and projection information and will be updated monthly.
  • Cite as: Mears, Carl A., F. J. Wentz, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Date Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperature, Version 3.3. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). doi:10.7289/V5WQ01S4 [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00761
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • HTML
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
    • File Specification: The NetCDF data files comply with the Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Conventions and the NetCDF Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD).
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 (828) 271-4800
rss_msu_contacts@noaa.gov
Time Period 1978-01-01 to 2018-01-01 (time interval: 1-month)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -90
North: 90
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • Source Code Package for MLT RSS CDR
    • CDR Source Code (download)
      This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
  • Flowcharts MLT RSS CDR
  • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012-11-28
Edition Version 3.3
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Superseded - replaced by new
Data Update Frequency Not planned
Purpose This dataset provides advanced scientific researchers a high quality Climate Data Record (CDR) of Upper Atmospheric Layer Temperatures.
Use Limitations
  • *Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.*
  • See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Mears, Carl A., F. J. Wentz, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Date Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperature, Version 3.3. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). doi:10.7289/V5WQ01S4 [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Mears, Carl A.
    RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
  • Wentz, Frank J.
    RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
  • NOAA CDR Program
Originators
  • Mears, Carl A.
    RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
  • User Support
    RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
Collaborators
  • Wentz, Frank J.
    RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > microwave > Brightness Temperature
  • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > microwave > Temperature Anomalies
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • ESSA > Environmental Science Services Administration
  • NOAA-2 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-2
  • NOAA-3 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-3
  • NOAA-4 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-4
  • NOAA-5 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-5
  • NOAA-6 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-6
  • NOAA-7 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-7
  • NOAA-9 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-9
  • NOAA-11 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-11
  • NOAA-14 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-14
  • NOAA-15 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15
  • SMS > Synchronous Meteorological Satellites
  • DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
  • GOES > NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
  • GOES-7 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 7
  • GOES-8 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 8
  • GOES-9 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 9
  • TIROS-N > Television Infrared Observation Satellite-N
  • GMS > Japan Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
  • GMS-4 > Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-4
  • GMS-5 > Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5
  • METEOSAT
  • METEOSAT-5 > Meteosat Operational Programme 2 (MOP-1)
  • METEOSAT-6 > Meteosat Operational Programme 3 (MOP-1)
  • TERRA > Earth Observing System, TERRA (AM-1)
  • METOP > Meteorological Operational Satellite
  • AQUA > Earth Observing System, AQUA
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Vas > VISSR Atmospheric Sounder
  • SSMI/S > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
  • VHRR > Very High Resolution Radiometer
  • VISSR > Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer
  • AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
  • SEVIRI > Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager
  • MODIS > Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
  • AMSR > Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer
  • AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B (AMSU-B)
  • ASCAT
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords Keyword Thesaurus Title
  • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) Program
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Stratosphere
  • Vertical Location > Troposphere
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Mears, Carl A., F. J. Wentz, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Date Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperature, Version 3.3. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). doi:10.7289/V5WQ01S4 [access date].
  • See the Use Agreement for this CDR available on the CDR page.
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement The data were produced by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor
  • RSS > Remote Sensing Systems
Processing Steps
  • For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram.
Processing Documents
    • Source Code Package for MLT RSS CDR
      • CDR Source Code (download)
        This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
    • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-09-18
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov