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UV Aerosol Index Data Access and Tools

NASA has UV aerosol index datasets that help researchers analyze the composition of atmosphere and detect plumes of particles floating in it. Access a range of data and tools to make the most of UV aerosol index research.

Commonly Used Aerosol Index Data at a Glance

The following table is a guide to topic-specific data and resources for accessing, visualizing, preparing/manipulating (e.g. subsetting), and analyzing data. Each observation, model, and reanalysis data has unique characteristics that should be considered when evaluating its use. 

An asterisk (*) next to an entry indicates that near real-time (NRT) data products are available through NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE). While not intended for scientific research, NRT data are good resources for monitoring ongoing or time-critical events. Learn more about the differences between NRT and standard data products.

Spatial ResolutionSpatial CoverageTemporal ResolutionTemporal CoverageSpectral ResolutionSatellite/ PlatformName (Sensor, Model, etc.)Observation, Model, or ReanalysisFile Format
13 km x 24 km,
13 x 12 km 0.25°, 1°		Global98 minutes,
32 days		2004-present1.0-0.45 nm Full Width and Half Maximum (FWHM)AuraOzone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)ObservationHDF-EOS5
50 km*Global101 minutes, Daily2018-present250-420 nm
*NRT:wavelength pairs at 340 and 378.5 nm		NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP)*Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)ObservationHDF5
7 km x 3.5 km,
5.5 km x 3.5 km		Global101.5 minutes, Daily2017-present270 nm–2.3 µm, 0.55 nmSentinel-5PTROPOMIObservationnetCDF
0.5º x 0.625°GlobalMonthly1980-presentN/AN/AMERRA-2ReanalysisnetCDF

UV Aerosol Index Datasets

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Dataset Version Platform Instrument Temporal Extent Spatial Extent Spatial Resolution Data Format
DSCOVR EPIC Level 2 EPICAERUV-Fast 01 DSCOVR EPIC 2020-09-01 to Present HDF-EOS5
DSCOVR EPIC Level 2 UV Aerosol Version 3 03 DSCOVR EPIC 2015-06-16 to Present HDF-EOS5
MERRA-2 tavg1_2d_adg_Nx: 2d,1-Hourly,Time-averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Aerosol Diagnostics (extended) 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2T1NXADG) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_adg_Nx: 2d,Monthly mean,Time-averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Aerosol Diagnostics (extended) 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TMNXADG) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
MERRA-2 tavgU_2d_adg_Nx: 2d,diurnal,Time-averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Aerosol Diagnostics (extended) 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TUNXADG) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
MISR Level 3 Component Global Aerosol Product covering a quarter (seasonal) V004 004 Terra MISR 1999-12-18 to Present

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

HDF-EOS2
MISR Level 3 Component Global Aerosol product in netCDF format covering a month V004 004 Terra MISR 1999-12-18 to Present

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

netCDF-4
MISR Level 3 FIRSTLOOK Component Global Aerosol Product covering a month V002 002 Terra MISR 1999-12-18 to 2017-10-31

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

0.5 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees HDF-EOS2
MISR Level 3 FIRSTLOOK Global Aerosol product in netCDF format covering a month V002 002 Terra MISR 1999-12-18 to Present

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

netCDF-4
OMPS-NPP L2 NM Aerosol Index swath orbital 2 Suomi-NPP OMPS 2011-11-07 to Present

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

PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-2 Regional Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Index, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 3.2 3.2 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Aerosol Optical Properties, Unified Aerosol Algorithm (UAA) Algorithm Data, version 3.1 3.1 PACE OCI 2024-03-05 to Present

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

netCDF-4
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Featured UV Aerosol Index Observation Method: Suomi NPP

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) platform collects Earth observation data to help scientists better understand climate trends and global biological productivity. Suomi NPP has two powerful instruments for gathering floating particle and UV aerosol index data: the Ozone Mapping and Profiling Suite (OMPS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging spectroRadiometer Suite (VIIRS).

Learn More About Suomi NPP
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OMPS Near Real-Time Data

Near real-time Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) data products include total column ozone, total column sulfur dioxide (SO2), vertical ozone profile swath, and aerosol index.
VIIIRS-A data in LANCE

New VIIRS Atmosphere Imagery Products in LANCE

Two new near real-time VIIRS products are available for download in NASA’s Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE) and for interactive exploration using NASA Worldview.

UV Aerosol Index Data Tools

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Tool Description Services
Panoply Panoply is a cross-platform application that plots geo-referenced and other arrays from netCDF, HDF, GRIB, and other datasets. Visualization, Customization, Reformatting, Subsetting, Comparison
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