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Description

M2T3NVCLD (or tavg3_3d_cld_Nv) is a 3-dimensional 3-hourly time averaged data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of assimilations of cloud diagnostics at 72 model layers, such as cloud fraction for radiation, pressure thickness, in cloud cloud ice (or liquid) for radiation, and relative humidity. The data field is available every three hour starting from 01:30 UTC, e.g.: 01:30, 04:30, … , 22:30 UTC. Section 4.2 of the MERRA-2 File Specification document provides pressure values nominal for a 1000 hPa surface pressure and refers to the top edge of the layer. The lev=1 is for the top layer, and lev=72 is for the bottom (or surface) model layer.

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
C1276812926-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
16893
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Pressure Thickness ,
Surface Pressure ,
Relative Humidity ,
Cloud Liquid Water/Ice ,
Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness ,
Cloud Properties ,
Cloud Fraction ,
Cloud Mass Flux

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 tavg3_3d_cld_Nv: 3d,3-Hourly,Time-Averaged,Model-Level,Assimilation,Cloud Diagnostics V5.12.4 [Data set]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/F9353J0FAHIH Date Accessed: 2026-05-16

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Implications of reduced-complexity aerosol thermodynamics on organic aerosol mass concentration and composition over North America Serrano Damha, Camilo, Gorkowski, Kyle, Zuend, Andreas Geopotential Height, Altitude, Surface Temperature, Skin 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, Total Ozone, Precipitation Rate, Water Vapor Flux, Pressure Thickness, Relative Humidity, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness, Cloud Properties, Cloud Fraction, Cloud Mass Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Temperature, Soil Temperature, Soil Infiltration, Soil Infiltration, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Surface Soil Moisture, Root Zone Soil Moisture, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Evaporation, Surface Water, Runoff Rate, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Atmospheric Radiation, Radiative Flux, Radiative Forcing, Surface Radiative Properties, Albedo, Emissivity, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Ozone Profiles, Sea Surface Topography, Heat Flux, Water Vapor, 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, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Profiles
Towards the Optimization of TanSat-2: Assessment of a Large-Swath Methane Measurement Zhu, Sihong, Yang, Dongxu, Feng, Liang, Tian, Longfei, Liu, Yi, Cao, Junji, Wu, Kai, Cai, Zhaonan, Palmer, Paul I. Aerosols, Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Angstrom Exponent, Aerosol Particle Properties, Carbonaceous Aerosols, Dust/Ash/Smoke, Organic Particles, Sulfate Particles, Sulfur Oxides, Sulfur Compounds, Sulfate, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfur Oxides, Particulate Matter, Dimethyl Sulfide, Black Carbon, Sea Salt, PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 2.5), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 1.0), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10), 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, Pressure Thickness, Surface Pressure, Relative Humidity, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Cloud Mass Flux
Theoretical Potential of TanSat-2 to Quantify China's CH4 Emissions Zhu, Sihong, Yang, Dongxu, Feng, Liang, Tian, Longfei, Liu, Yi, Cao, Junji, Zhou, Minqiang, Cai, Zhaonan, Wu, Kai, Palmer, Paul I. Aerosols, Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Angstrom Exponent, Aerosol Particle Properties, Carbonaceous Aerosols, Dust/Ash/Smoke, Organic Particles, Sulfate Particles, Sulfur Oxides, Sulfur Compounds, Sulfate, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfur Oxides, Particulate Matter, Dimethyl Sulfide, Black Carbon, Sea Salt, PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 2.5), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 1.0), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10), 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, Pressure Thickness, Surface Pressure, Relative Humidity, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Cloud Mass Flux
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
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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
CFCU CFCU 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
CLOUD CLOUD 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
DELP DELP Pa float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
DTRAIN DTRAIN kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
INCLOUDQI INCLOUDQI kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
INCLOUDQL INCLOUDQL kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
lat lat degrees_north float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lev lev layer float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lon lon degrees_east float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
PS PS Pa float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
QI QI kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
QL QL kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
RH RH 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
TAUCLI TAUCLI 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
TAUCLW TAUCLW 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A 1 0
time time minutes since 2025-01-01 01:30:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
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