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Description

M2TMNXRAD (or tavgM_2d_rad_Nx) is a time-averaged 2-dimensional monthly mean data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of radiation diagnostics, such as surface albedo, cloud area fraction, in cloud optical thickness, surface incoming shortwave flux (i.e. solar radiation), surface net downward shortwave flux, and upwelling longwave flux at toa (top of atmosphere) (i.e. outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) at toa). The collection also includes variance of certain parameters.

MERRA-2 is the latest version of global atmospheric reanalysis for the satellite era produced by NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS) version 5.12.4. The dataset covers the period of 1980-present with the latency of ~3 weeks after the end of a month.

Data Reprocessing: Please check “Records of MERRA-2 Data Reprocessing and Service Changes” linked from the “Documentation” tab on this page. Note that a reprocessed data filename is different from the original file.

MERRA-2 Mailing List: Sign up to receive information on reprocessing of data, changing of tools and services, as well as data announcements from GMAO. Contact the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov) to be added to the list.

Questions: If you have a question, please read "MERRA-2 File Specification Document", “MERRA-2 Data Access – Quick Start Guide”, and FAQs linked from the ”Documentation” tab on this page. If that does not answer your question, you may post your question to the NASA Earthdata Forum (forum.earthdata.nasa.gov) or email the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov).

Version Description

The GEOS-5 model version used for processing MERRA-2

Product Summary

Platforms
MERRA-2
Instruments
NOT APPLICABLE
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1980-01-01 to Present
Data Partner
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/GESDI
Concept ID
C1276812858-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
555
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Atmospheric Radiation ,
Longwave Radiation ,
Shortwave Radiation ,
Radiative Flux ,
Radiative Forcing ,
Surface Radiative Properties ,
Albedo ,
Emissivity ,
Cloud Properties ,
Cloud Fraction ,
Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness ,
Skin Temperature ,
Skin Temperature ,
Sea Surface Skin Temperature

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

Global Modeling And Assimilation Office, & Pawson, S. (2015). MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_rad_Nx: 2d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Radiation Diagnostics V5.12.4 [Data set]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/OU3HJDS973O0 Date Accessed: 2026-05-14

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Rethinking climate, climate change, and their relationship with water Koutsoyiannis, Demetris Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Albedo, Cloud Top Pressure, Particle Size Distribution, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Atmospheric Ozone
Arctic clouds simulated by a multiscale modeling framework and comparisons with observations and conventional GCMs Li, Zhujun, Xu, KuanMan Pressure Thickness, Surface Pressure, Relative Humidity, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Mass Flux, Atmospheric Ozone, Sea Level Pressure, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Vertical Profiles, Upper Air Temperature, Air Temperature, Specific Humidity, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Altitude, Geopotential Height, Ozone Profiles, Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature
Climatological aspects of the increase of the skin cancer (melanoma) Czerwinska, Agnieszka E., Krzyscin, Janusz W. Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature
The downstream air pollution impacts of the transition from coal to natural gas in the United States Burney, Jennifer A. Tropopause, Surface Pressure, Air Temperature, Upper Air Temperature, Total Precipitable Water, Water Vapor, Cloud Height, Cloud Top Pressure, Cloud Top Temperature, Cloud Vertical Distribution, Emissivity, Sea Surface Temperature, Skin Temperature, Carbon Monoxide, Geopotential Height, Humidity, Water Vapor Profiles, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Outgoing Longwave Radiation, Methane, Atmospheric Ozone, Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Atmospheric Ozone, Reflectance, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Sulfur Dioxide, Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness
Prediction of the day-ahead clear-sky downwelling surface solar irradiances using the REST2 model and WRF-CHIMERE simulations over the Arabian Peninsula Eissa, Yehia, Naseema Beegum, S., Gherboudj, Imen, Chaouch, Naira, Al Sudairi, Jood, Jones, Russell K., Al Dobayan, Nayef, Ghedira, Hosni Geopotential Height, Altitude, Surface Temperature, Upper Air Temperature, Dew Point Temperature, Air Temperature, Cloud Top Temperature, Atmospheric Winds, Surface Winds, U/V Wind Components, Upper Level Winds, U/V Wind Components, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Atmospheric Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Cloud Top Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Specific Humidity, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Atmospheric Ozone, Oxygen Compounds, Boundary Layer Winds, Skin Temperature, Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature
Aerosol indirect effects on the nighttime Arctic Ocean surface from thin, predominantly liquid clouds Zamora, Lauren M., Kahn, Ralph A., Eckhardt, Sabine, McComiskey, Allison, Sawamura, Patricia, Moore, Richard, Stohl, Andreas Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature
Assessment of Arctic cloud cover anomalies in atmospheric reanalysis products using satellite data Liu, Yinghui, Key, Jeffrey R. Atmospheric Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature
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Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
Var_LWGABCLR Var_LWGABCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGABCLRCLN Var_LWGABCLRCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGEM Var_LWGEM W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGNT Var_LWGNT W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGNTCLR Var_LWGNTCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGNTCLRCLN Var_LWGNTCLRCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWTUP Var_LWTUP W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWTUPCLR Var_LWTUPCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWTUPCLRCLN Var_LWTUPCLRCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGDN Var_SWGDN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGDNCLR Var_SWGDNCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNT Var_SWGNT W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNTCLN Var_SWGNTCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNTCLR Var_SWGNTCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNTCLRCLN Var_SWGNTCLRCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWTDN Var_SWTDN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWTNT Var_SWTNT W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWTNTCLN Var_SWTNTCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWTNTCLR Var_SWTNTCLR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWTNTCLRCLN Var_SWTNTCLRCLN W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUHGH Var_TAUHGH 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAULOW Var_TAULOW 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUMID Var_TAUMID 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUTOT Var_TAUTOT 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TS Var_TS K K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
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