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Description

M2TUNXLND (or tavgU_2d_lnd_Nx) is a time-averaged 2-dimensional monthly diurnal means data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of land surface diagnostics, such as baseflow flux, runoff, surface soil wetness, root zone soil wetness, water at surface layer, water at root zone layer, and soil temperature at six layers. This data collection is the monthly mean of data fields for each hour and time-stamped with the central time of an hour starting from 00:30 UTC, e.g.: 00:30, 01:30, … , 23:30 UTC.

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
C1276812876-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
555
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
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 ,
Total Runoff ,
Average Flow ,
Average Flow ,
Precipitation ,
Snow/Ice ,
Snow Depth ,
Snow Melt ,
Snow/Ice Temperature ,
Leaf Area Index (LAI) ,
Leaf Area Index (LAI)

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 tavgU_2d_lnd_Nx: 2d,Diurnal,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Surface Diagnostics V5.12.4 [Data set]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/W0J15047CF6N Date Accessed: 2026-05-02

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Performance Evaluation and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Nine Reanalysis Liu, Yujie, Wang, Wen, Zhao, Tianqing, Huo, Zhiyuan Surface Pressure, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evapotranspiration, Surface Winds, Rain, Precipitation Rate, Snow, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Temperature, Land Surface Temperature, Snow Water Equivalent, Runoff, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Temperature, Soil Infiltration, Soil Infiltration, Surface Soil Moisture, Root Zone Soil Moisture, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Evaporation, Surface Water, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Present-Day Three-Dimensional Crustal Deformation Velocity of the Jiao, Jiashuang, Pan, Yuanjin, Ren, Ding, Zhang, Xiaohong 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, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Possibility of global gridded streamflow dataset correction: applications of large-scale watersheds with different climates Barkhordari, Hesam, Nasseri, Mohsen, Rezazadeh, Hamidreza 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, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Surface Pressure, Heat Flux, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evapotranspiration, Surface Winds, Rain, Precipitation Rate, Snow, Land Surface Temperature, Snow Water Equivalent, Runoff, Air Temperature, Specific Humidity, Wind Speed, Snow Cover
A Comprehensive Approach to Develop a Hydrological Model for the Mahmood, Rashid, Jia, Shaofeng 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, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Solid water melt dominates the increase of total groundwater storage in the Tibetan Plateau Zou, Yiguang, Kuang, Xingxing, Feng, Yuqing, Jiao, Jiu Jimmy, Liu, Junguo, Wang, Can, Fan, Linfeng, Wang, Qingjing, Chen, Jianxin, Ji, Fang, Yao, Yingying, Zheng, Chunmiao Surface Pressure, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evapotranspiration, Surface Winds, Rain, Precipitation Rate, Snow, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Temperature, Land Surface Temperature, Snow Water Equivalent, Runoff, Ground Water, Precipitation, Precipitation Amount, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Heat Budget, Soil Temperature, Soil Infiltration, Soil Infiltration, Surface Soil Moisture, Root Zone Soil Moisture, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Evaporation, Surface Water, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Quantifying SurfaceHeight Change Over a Periglacial Environment With ICESat2 Laser Altimetry Michaelides, R. J., Bryant, M. B., Siegfried, M. R., Borsa, A. A. 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, Total Runoff, Average Flow, Average Flow, Precipitation, Snow/Ice, Snow Depth, Snow Melt, Snow/Ice Temperature, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Area Index (LAI)
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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
BASEFLOW BASEFLOW kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
ECHANGE ECHANGE W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EVLAND EVLAND kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EVPINTR EVPINTR W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EVPSBLN EVPSBLN W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EVPSOIL EVPSOIL W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EVPTRNS EVPTRNS W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
FRSAT FRSAT 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
FRSNO FRSNO 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
FRUNST FRUNST 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
FRWLT FRWLT 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
GHLAND GHLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
GRN GRN 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
GWETPROF GWETPROF 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
GWETROOT GWETROOT 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
GWETTOP GWETTOP 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
LAI LAI 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
lat lat degrees_north float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
LHLAND LHLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
lon lon degrees_east float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
LWLAND LWLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PARDFLAND PARDFLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PARDRLAND PARDRLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PRECSNOLAND PRECSNOLAND kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PRECTOTLAND PRECTOTLAND kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PRMC PRMC m-3 m-3 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
QINFIL QINFIL kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
RUNOFF RUNOFF kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
RZMC RZMC m-3 m-3 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SFMC SFMC m-3 m-3 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SHLAND SHLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SMLAND SMLAND kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SNODP SNODP m float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SNOMAS SNOMAS kg m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SPLAND SPLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SPSNOW SPSNOW W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SPWATR SPWATR kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SWLAND SWLAND W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TELAND TELAND J m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
time time minutes since 2024-12-01 00:30:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
TPSNOW TPSNOW K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSAT TSAT K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL1 TSOIL1 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL2 TSOIL2 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL3 TSOIL3 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL4 TSOIL4 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL5 TSOIL5 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSOIL6 TSOIL6 K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSURF TSURF K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TUNST TUNST K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
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