Abstract:
The Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) dataset is a NASA satellite era, 30 year (1979 - present), reanalysis using the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System, Version 5 (GEOS-5). The project, run out of NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at Goddard Space Flight Center, provides the science and application communities with a state-of-the-art global analysis with emphasis on improved estimates of the hydrological cycle over a broad range of weather and climate time scales. The MERRA products are archived and distributed by the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) through its Modeling DISC Web (MDISC) portal. Multiple data access methods and services are available for MERRA data through MDISC: (1) Mirador offers a quick, comprehensive search of MERRA and all GES DISC archived data holdings, allowing searches on keywords, location names or latitude/longitude box, and date/time, with responses within a few seconds. (2) Giovanni is a GES DISC developed Web application that provides data visualization and analysis online. Giovanni features popular visualizations such as latitude-longitude maps, animations, cross sections, profiles, time series, etc. and some basic statistical analysis functions such as scatter plots and correlation coefficient maps. Users are able to download results in several different formats, including Google Earth. (3) On-the-fly parameter subsetting of data within a spatial/temporal window is provided through a simple 'select and click' Web page. (4) MERRA data are also available via OPeNDAP, GrADS Data Server (GDS) and can be converted to netCDF 'on the fly' (5) Simple Subset Wizard. Detailed MERRA data access information is available at the MDISC portal: http://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/MDISC. New Functionality in subsetting and converting the data will be featured. These new functionalities include regridding and reformatting the data to make for easier interomparison with other model datasets. Additional functionalities that are in development will also be presented. Two new MERRA data products have been added to its extensive suite of MERRA data: a new ocean surface diagnostics product, tavg1_2d_ocn_Nx (MAT1NXOCN, MATM1NXOCN and MATUNXOCN) and a new land surface diagnostics product, tavg1_2d_mld_Nx (MST1NXMLD, MSTMNXMLD and MSTUNXMLD). These new products will be presented as well as the future products that are in processing and planned to be released to the public.