CERES ES-4 Data Set Guide Abstract

Data Set Description
Summary of Changes
Examples of Data
References
Contact Information
Acknowledgment

The ERBE-like Monthly Geographical Averages (ES-4) product contains a month of space and time averaged Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) data for a single scanner instrument. The ES-4 is also produced for combinations of scanner instruments. For each observed 2.5-degree spatial region, the daily average, the hourly average over the month, and the overall monthly average of shortwave and longwave fluxes at the Top-of-the-Atmosphere (TOA) from the CERES ES-9 product are spatially nested up from 2.5-degree regions to 5- and 10-degree regions, to 2.5-, 5-, and 10-degree zonal averages, and to global monthly averages. For each nested area, the albedo and net flux are given. For each region, the daily average flux is estimated from an algorithm that uses the available hourly data, scene identification data, and diurnal models. This algorithm is "like" the algorithm used for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE).

The ES-4 archival data product is created as an HDF file with nine vgroups of spatial averages:

2.5 Degree Regional
5.0 Degree Nested Regional
10.0 Degree Nested Regional
2.5 Degree Zonal
5.0 Degree Zonal
10.0 Degree Zonal
2.5 Degree Global
5.0 Degree Global
10.0 Degree Global

There are 10,368 2.5-degree regions for the ERBE-like data; therefore, there is a maximum of 10,368 records in the 2.5-degree regional data set. The second set of data is the 2.5-degree nested to 5-degree regional data, which constitutes a maximum of 2,592 records. The third set of data is the 5-degree nested to 10-degree regional data, which constitutes up to 648 records. The fourth, fifth, and sixth sets of data are the 2.5-, 5-, and 10-degree zonally averaged data which constitute 72, 36, and 18 records, respectively. The seventh, eighth, and ninth sets of data are the 2.5-, 5-, and 10-degree globally averaged data which constitutes 1 record each. Each geographic vgroup contains Monthly (Day), Monthly (Hour), Daily, and Hourly averages (see figure below) for clear-sky and total-sky parameters such as solar incidence, net radiant flux, longwave flux, shortwave flux, and albedo.

Additional information about the format and content of the ES-4 can be found in the CERES Data Products Catalog (PDF). Details concerning the science parameters and how they are calculated can be found in the CERES Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Subsystem 3.0 and in the ES-4 Collection Guide.

The CERES Data Management Team and the Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at Langley use a Sampling Strategy, a Production Strategy, and a Configuration Code (CCode) to track versions of CERES archival data products. In general, minor reprocessing changes are tracked by increasing the Configuration Code while major reprocessing changes result in a new Production Strategy. The Sampling Strategy identifies the satellite(s) and instrument(s) which acquired the data in the product.

A summary of changes made to the ES-4 HDF product is shown in the following table.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-4 Aqua Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-4 Product
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV³	024030	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV³	024029	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 processing.
Aqua-FM3_Edition2³ Aqua-FM4_Edition2³	024025	06/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	024025	05/2004	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition2³ Aqua-FM4_Edition2³	024024	02/2004	Instrument calibration updates for both FM3 and FM4 instruments. (FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	024024	02/2004	Instrument calibration updates for both FM3 and FM4 instruments.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	023022	08/2003	Release of Aqua Edition1.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-4 Terra Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-4 Product
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV³ Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV³	024030	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV³ Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV³	024029	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 processing. Linerally dropped FM2's SW channel spectral response by 0.25% from Dec03 level. Each month Jan04 to Nov04 has a 0.25%/11 drop from the preceeding month.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 processing.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	024025	05/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	024024	02/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	023023	09/2003	(FM2) Corrected SW Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
FM1+FM2_Edition1²	023022	07/2003	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2² Terra-FM2_Edition2²	023021	07/2003	(FM2) Corrected SW Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	023021	07/2003	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³ FM1+FM2_Edition2³	021020	09/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data. (FM1) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM2) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³ FM1+FM2_Edition2³	021019	08/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. (FM1) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM1) Corrected SW Channel spectral response (FM2) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	021019	08/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Recovery of missing Edition1 data. Snow map algorithm correction.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition1² Terra-FM2_Edition1² FM1+FM2_Edition1²	018016	04/2001	Applied HDF Compression.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	017015	11/2000	Release of Terra Edition1. Slope/intercept Spectral Correction code updated to apply 2nd order polynomial fits for the window channel and for shortwave cloudy cases, and to perform interpolation of unfiltered radiances. Provided new day and night spectral correction coefficients for FM1 and FM2.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-4 TRMM Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-4 Product
TRMM-PFM_Edition2³	021019	08/2002	Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data.
TRMM-PFM_Edition2³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	016014	09/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition2²	015013	04/2000	Change Spectral Correction Algorithm to use slope intercept method. Change LW TOA flux upper limit from 400 W/m2 to 450 W/m2. New structure for ES-4 HDF products. Also, changed from HDF-EOS to HDF. Modified slope intercept method (2nd (+) order curve fit) used in the Spectral Correction Algorithm. New day & night Spectral Correction Coefficients for PFM, FM1, & FM2.
TRMM-PFM_Edition2²	014012	03/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1³	009001	10/1998	Both crosstrack and rotating azimuth measurements included in monthly averages.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	008000	08/1998	Changed HDF parameter names.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	007000	06/1998	Began generating ES-4 HDF product.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-4 Terra+Aqua Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-4 Product
FM1+FM3_Edition2³ FM1+FM4_Edition2³	024025	06/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
FM1+FM3_Edition2³ FM1+FM4_Edition2³	024024	02/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
FM1+FM2+FM3+FM4_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
FM1+FM2+FM3+FM4_Edition1³	023022	08/2003	No science impact.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-4 TRMM+Terra Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-4 Product
PFM+FM1_Edition2³ PFM+FM2_Edition2³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition2³	021020	09/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data.
PFM+FM1_Edition1³ PFM+FM2_Edition1³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition1³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
PFM+FM1_Edition1³ PFM+FM2_Edition1³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition1³	017015	11/2000	New slope/intercept spectral correction coefficients for PFM. Slope/intercept Spectral Correction code updated to apply 2nd order polynomial fits for the window channel and for shortwave cloudy cases, and to perform interpolation of unfiltered radiances. Provided new day and night spectral correction coefficients for FM1 and FM2.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Software Requirements Document, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 2.0), Release 1 Version 1, November 1994.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Software Requirements Document, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Release 1 Version 1, January 1995.
Smith, G.L.; Green, R. N.; Raschke, E.; Avis, L. M.; Suttles, J. T.; Wielicki, B. A., and Davies, R.: Inversion Methods for Satellite Studies of the Earth's Radiation Budget: Development of Algorithms for the ERBE Mission. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 407-421, May 1986.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 2.0), Rel. 2.2, June 2, 1997.
ERBE Data Management System Reference Manual, Volume V(a) and V(b), Inversion, August 1987.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Rel. 2.2, June 2, 1997.
ERBE Data Management System Reference Manual, Volume VI, Daily Data Base, Monthly Time/Space Averaging, November 1986.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Data Products Catalog (PDF document) Release 3, Version 2, March 2000.
TRW DRL 64, 55067.300.008E; In-flight Measurement Analysis (Rev. E), March 1997.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, Instrument Geolocate and Calibrate Earth Radiances (Subsystem 1.0), Release 2.2, June 1997.
Brooks, D. R.; Harrison, E. F.; Minnis, P.; Suttles, J. T., and Kandel, R. S.: Development of Algorithms for Understanding the Temporal and Spatial Variability of the Earth's Radiation Balance. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 24, pp. 422-438, May 1986.
ERBE Data Management System, The Regional, Zonal, and Global Averages, S-4, User's Guides, June 1993.
Brooks, D. R. and P. Minnis, "Comparison of Longwave Diurnal Models Applied to Simulations of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment," Journal of Climate and Applied Meteorology, 23, 155-160, 1984.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Validation Plan, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Release 3.0, February 1999.

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Acknowledgment: The requested form of acknowledgment for any publication in which these data are used is:

"These data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center."

The Langley Data Center requests a reprint of any published papers or reports or a brief description of other uses (e.g., posters, oral presentations, etc.) of data that we have distributed. This will help the Data Center determine the use of data distributed, which is helpful in optimizing product development. It also helps us to keep our product related references current. To assist the Langley Data Center in providing the best service to the scientific community, we request a notification if you transmit these data to other researchers.

Reference: The CERES Team has gone to considerable trouble to remove major errors and to verify the quality and accuracy of these data. Please provide a reference to the following paper when you publish scientific results with the CERES data:

Wielicki, B. A., B. R. Barkstrom, E. F. Harrison, R. B. Lee III, G. L. Smith, and J. E. Cooper, "Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES): An Earth Observing System Experiment," Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 853-868, 1996.

Document Creation Date: July 1998
Last Date Modified: Aug 1999; Jan 2000; Feb 2000; Mar 2000; Apr 2000; Nov 2000 (Terra Edition1); Jun 2001; Jul 2002; Oct 2002; May 7, 2003; Sep 16, 2003; Jun 14, 2004; Nov 19, 2004; Mar 31, 2005
Review Date: Feb 25, 2000; Mar 17, 2000; Apr 26, 2000; Jun 2001; Jul 2002; Oct 2002; May 2003; Sep 2003; Jun 2004; Nov 2004; Mar 2005
Document ID:
Author: Science, Users, and Data Services Office, ASDC
ASDC Help Desk: Phone (757) 864-8656; E-mail larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/GUIDE/dataset_documents/cer_es4.html

	Albedo	Shortwave	Longwave
All Sky
Clear Sky

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) ERBE-like Monthly Geographic Averages (ES-4) Data Set Abstract

Table of Contents:

Data Set Description:

Summary of Changes:

Examples of Data:

References:

Contact Information:

Investigator(s) Name & Title:

Technical Contact:

Author/Data Center:

Web Page Information: