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NLDAS Primary Forcing Data L4 Monthly 0.125 x 0.125 degree V002 (NLDAS_FORA0125_M) at GES DISC
Entry ID: GES_DISC_NLDAS_FORA0125_M_V002

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Summary

Abstract: This data set contains the monthly primary forcing data "File A" for Phase 2 of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS-2). The data are in 1/8th degree grid spacing and range from Jan 1979 to the present. The temporal resolution is monthly. The file format is WMO GRIB-1. The NLDAS-2 monthly primary forcing data were generated from the NLDAS-2 hourly primary forcing data, as monthly accumulation for total precipitation, convective precipitation, and potential evaporation, and monthly average for other variables. The convective precipitation monthly total is the hourly convective fraction multiplied by the hourly precipitation (both from the
NLDAS-2 "File A" files), and then summed over all hours of the month. Monthly period of each month is from 00Z at start of the month to 23:59Z at end of the month. The one exception to this is the first month (Jan. 1979) that starts from 00Z 02 Jan 1979, except for the monthly accumulated precipitation and convective precipitation that both start from 12Z 01 Jan 1979.

Brief description about the NLDAS-2 hourly primary forcing data can be found from the GCMD DIF for GES_DISC_NLDAS_FORA0125_H_V002 at http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/getdif.htm?GES_DISC_NLDAS_FORA0125_H_V002.

Details about the generation of the NLDAS-2 forcing datasets can be found in Xia et al. (2012).

The monthly land surface forcing fields for NLDAS-2 are grouped into two GRIB files, "File A" and "File B". "File A" is the primary (default) forcing file and contains eleven fields. The data set applies a user-defined parameter table to indicate the contents and parameter number. The following table shows a list of parameters, their Product Definition Section (PDS) IDs and units.

PDS_IDs:Short_Name:Full_Name [Unit]
61:APCPsfc:Precipitation monthly total [kg/m^2]
157:CAPE180_0mb:180-0 mb above ground Convective Available Potential Energy [J/kg]
153:CONVAPCPsfc:Convective precipitation monthly total [kg/m^2]
205:DLWRFsfc:Longwave radiation flux downwards (surface) [W/m^2]
204:DSWRFsfc:Shortwave radiation flux downwards (surface) [W/m^2]
228:PEVAPsfc:Potential evaporation monthly total [kg/m^2]
1:PRESsfc:Surface pressure [Pa]
51:SPFH2m:2-m above ground Specific humidity [kg/kg]
11:TMP2m:2-m above ground Temperature [K]
33:UGRD10m:10-m above ground Zonal wind speed [m/s]
34:VGRD10m:10-m above ground Meridional wind speed [m/s]

WGRIB or other GRIB reader is required to read the files.
For more information, please see: http://ldas.gsfc.nasa.gov/faq/#Tools

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Link: GET DATA > ECHO
Description: Refine your granule search with ECHO's next generation Earth Science discovery tool (Reverb) using information from this record.

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description: NLDAS-2 Forcing Dataset Information

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION > USER'S GUIDE
Description: README document for NLDAS Phase 2 data sets.

Geographic Coverage

N: 53.0 S: 25.0 E: -67.0 W: -125.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC/HSL)
Dataset Title: NLDAS Primary Forcing Data L4 Monthly 0.125 x 0.125 degree
Dataset Release Date: 10.01.2012
Dataset Release Place: Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
Dataset Publisher: Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)
Version: 002
Online Resource: http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/hydrology

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1979-01-01

Data Resolution
Latitude Resolution: 0.125 degree
Longitude Resolution: 0.125 degree
Temporal Resolution: monthly

Science Keywords

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE >SURFACE PRESSURE    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE >SURFACE AIR TEMPERATURE    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR >EVAPORATION    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR >HUMIDITY    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC WINDS >SURFACE WINDS    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >PRECIPITATION >RAIN    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION >LONGWAVE RADIATION    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION >SHORTWAVE RADIATION    [Definition]

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Project

EOSDIS >Earth Observing System Data Information System    [Information]

ESIP >Earth Science Information Partners Program    [Information]

NLDAS >North American Land Data Assimilation System    [Information]

CWIC >CEOS WGISS Integrated Catalog    [Information]

Quality

The data are provisional and subject to change as model improvements are implemented and new input data sets become available.

Access Constraints

None

Use Constraints

None

Keywords

Hydrology

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC/HSL)

Data Center

Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA [Information]
Data Center URL: http://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Data Center Personnel

Name: GES DISC HELP DESK SUPPORT GROUP
Phone: 301-614-5224
Fax: 301-614-5268
Email: gsfc-help-disc at lists.nasa.gov
Contact Address:
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center
Code 610.2
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
City: Greenbelt
Province or State: MD
Postal Code: 20771
Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution_Media: Online (HTTP)
Distribution_Format: GRIB
Fees: No Fee

Personnel

GES DISC HELP DESK SUPPORT GROUP
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone: 301-614-5224
Fax: 301-614-5268
Email: gsfc-help-disc at lists.nasa.gov
Contact Address:
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center
Code 610.2
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
City: Greenbelt
Province or State: MD
Postal Code: 20771
Country: USA

Publications/References

Xia, Y., K. Mitchell, M. Ek, J. Sheffield, B. Cosgrove, E. Wood, L. Luo, C. Alonge, H. Wei, J. Meng, B. Livneh, D. Lettenmaier, V. Koren, Q. Duan, K. Mo, Y. Fan, and D. Mocko, (2012), Continental-scale water and energy flux analysis and validation for the North American Land Data Assimilation System project phase 2 (NLDAS-2): 1. Intercomparison and application of model products, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D03109, doi:10.1029/2011JD016048.

Cosgrove, B. A., D. Lohmann, K. E. Mitchell, P. R. Houser, E. F. Wood, J. Schaake, A. Robock, C. Marshall, J. Sheffield, L. Luo, Q. Duan, R. T. Pinker, J. D. Tarpley, R. W. Higgins, and J. Meng (2003), Real-time and retrospective forcing in the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) project, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D22), 8842, doi:10.1029/2002JD003118.

Mahrt L., and M. Ek, 1984: The Influence of Atmospheric Stability on Potential Evaporation. J. Applied Meteorology, Vol 23, Issue 2, pp. 222–234. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0450(1984)023<0222:TIOASO>2.0.CO;2

Pinker, R. T., J. D. Tarpley, I. Laszlo, K. E. Mitchell, P. R. Houser, E. F. Wood, J. C. Schaake, A. Robock, D. Lohmann, B. A. Cosgrove, J. Sheffield, Q. Duan, L. Luo, and R. W. Higgins (2003), Surface radiation budgets in support of the GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) and the GEWEX Americas Prediction Project (GAPP), including the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) project, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D22), 8844, doi:10.1029/2002JD003301.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2012-08-15

Last DIF Revision Date: 2012-11-01

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