Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The MERRA-2 Aerosol Reanalysis, 1980 Onward. Part I: System Description and Data Assimilation Evaluation

C. A. Randles Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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A. M. da Silva Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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V. Buchard Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research/Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland

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P. R. Colarco Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Lab, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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A. Darmenov Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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R. Govindaraju Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland

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A. Smirnov Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland
NASA Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland

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B. Holben NASA Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland

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R. Ferrare NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

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J. Hair NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

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Y. Shinozuka Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Petaluma, California
NASA Ames Research Center Cooperative for Research in Earth Science and Technology, Moffett Field, California

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C. J. Flynn Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2017
Collections:
Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0609.1
Page(s):
6823–6850
Restricted access

Abstract

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), updates NASA’s previous satellite-era (1980 onward) reanalysis system to include additional observations and improvements to the Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5), Earth system model. As a major step toward a full Integrated Earth Systems Analysis (IESA), in addition to meteorological observations, MERRA-2 now includes assimilation of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from various ground- and space-based remote sensing platforms. Here, in the first of a pair of studies, the MERRA-2 aerosol assimilation is documented, including a description of the prognostic model (GEOS-5 coupled to the GOCART aerosol module), aerosol emissions, and the quality control of ingested observations. Initial validation and evaluation of the analyzed AOD fields are provided using independent observations from ground, aircraft, and shipborne instruments. The positive impact of the AOD assimilation on simulated aerosols is demonstrated by comparing MERRA-2 aerosol fields to an identical control simulation that does not include AOD assimilation. After showing the AOD evaluation, this paper takes a first look at aerosol–climate interactions by examining the shortwave, clear-sky aerosol direct radiative effect. The companion paper (Part II) evaluates and validates available MERRA-2 aerosol properties not directly impacted by the AOD assimilation (e.g., aerosol vertical distribution and absorption). Importantly, while highlighting the skill of the MERRA-2 aerosol assimilation products, both studies point out caveats that must be considered when using this new reanalysis product for future studies of aerosols and their interactions with weather and climate.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0609.s1.

Current affiliation: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, New Jersey.

© 2017 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: C. A. Randles, cynema@alum.mit.edu

Abstract

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), updates NASA’s previous satellite-era (1980 onward) reanalysis system to include additional observations and improvements to the Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5), Earth system model. As a major step toward a full Integrated Earth Systems Analysis (IESA), in addition to meteorological observations, MERRA-2 now includes assimilation of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from various ground- and space-based remote sensing platforms. Here, in the first of a pair of studies, the MERRA-2 aerosol assimilation is documented, including a description of the prognostic model (GEOS-5 coupled to the GOCART aerosol module), aerosol emissions, and the quality control of ingested observations. Initial validation and evaluation of the analyzed AOD fields are provided using independent observations from ground, aircraft, and shipborne instruments. The positive impact of the AOD assimilation on simulated aerosols is demonstrated by comparing MERRA-2 aerosol fields to an identical control simulation that does not include AOD assimilation. After showing the AOD evaluation, this paper takes a first look at aerosol–climate interactions by examining the shortwave, clear-sky aerosol direct radiative effect. The companion paper (Part II) evaluates and validates available MERRA-2 aerosol properties not directly impacted by the AOD assimilation (e.g., aerosol vertical distribution and absorption). Importantly, while highlighting the skill of the MERRA-2 aerosol assimilation products, both studies point out caveats that must be considered when using this new reanalysis product for future studies of aerosols and their interactions with weather and climate.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0609.s1.

Current affiliation: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, New Jersey.

© 2017 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: C. A. Randles, cynema@alum.mit.edu

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