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Description

M2IUNPANA (or instU_3d_ana_Np) is an instantaneous 3-dimensional monthly diurnal means data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of analyzed meteorological fields at 42 pressure levels, such as temperature, wind components, specific humidity, ozone mixing ratio, and geopotential height. It is the monthly mean of data fields every six hour starting from 00:00 UTC, e.g.: 00:00, 06:00, … , 18:00 UTC. The information on the pressure levels can be found in the section 4.2 of the MERRA-2 File Specification document.

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
C1276812907-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
555
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Geopotential Height ,
Atmospheric Ozone ,
Sea Level Pressure ,
Surface Pressure ,
Upper Air Temperature ,
Vertical Profiles ,
Air Temperature ,
Specific Humidity ,
U/V Wind Components ,
U/V Wind Components ,
Ozone Profiles

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 instU_3d_ana_Np: 3d,Diurnal,Instantaneous,Pressure-Level,Analysis,Analyzed Meteorological Fields V5.12.4 [Data set]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/TRD91YO9S6E7 Date Accessed: 2026-05-17

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Detection of dilution due to turbulent mixing vs. precipitation scavenging effects on biomass burning aerosol concentrations using stable water isotope ratios ... Henze, Dean, Noone, David, Toohey, Darin Geopotential Height, Atmospheric Ozone, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Upper Air Temperature, Vertical Profiles, Air Temperature, Specific Humidity, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Ozone Profiles, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Precipitation, Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux
Validation of INSAT3D and INSAT3DR Temperature Profile Retrievals Using GroundBased, Satellite, and Reanalysis Data Gopikrishnan, G. S., Kuttippurath, J., Thapliyal, P. K., Shukla, M. V. 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, Sea Level Pressure, Vertical Profiles, Specific Humidity, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Ozone Profiles
Rising Planetary Boundary Layer Height over the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula in a Warming Climate Zhou, Liming, Tian, Yuhong, Wei, Nan, Ho, Shu-peng, Li, Jing Geopotential Height, Atmospheric Ozone, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Upper Air Temperature, Vertical Profiles, Air Temperature, Specific Humidity, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Ozone Profiles, Heat Flux, Skin Temperature, Water Vapor, Precipitation Rate, Snow/Ice, Evaporation, Latent Heat Flux, Latent Heat Flux, Sensible Heat Flux, Diffusion, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, Wind Stress, Wind Stress, Surface Roughness, Planetary Boundary Layer Height, Ice Fraction, Altitude, Surface Temperature, Dew Point Temperature, Cloud Top Temperature, Atmospheric Winds, Surface Winds, Upper Level Winds, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Atmospheric Pressure, Cloud Top Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Oxygen Compounds, Boundary Layer Winds
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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
H H m float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
lat lat degrees_north float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lev lev hPa float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lon lon degrees_east float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
O3 O3 kg/kg float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PS PS Pa float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
QV QV kg/kg float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SLP SLP Pa float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
T T K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
time time minutes since 2024-12-01 00:00:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
U U m/s float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
V V m/s float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
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