MERRA 3-dimensional fields
“sanity check” plots
GEOS-5 and MERRA data fields are plotted side by side @ date and time 2005/07/01,
regridded to 4 x 5 resolution. The first data time in the file is shown.
All GEOS-5 raw data fields have native resolution 0.5º x 0.666º x 72 vertical levels and are
6-hour time averages (center times 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, 18:00 GMT).
Some MERRA raw data fields (Fv grid) have native resolution 1º x 1.25º x 72 vertical levels
and are 3-hour time averages (center times: 01:30, 04:30, 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30,
19:30, 22:30 GMT).
Other MERRA data fields (Cp grid) have
native resolution 1.25º x 1.25º x 42 pressure levels, and are 3-hour time averages (center
times 01:30, 04:30, … 22:30). For these fields it is necessary to apply a P → hybrid level
interpolation before regridding horizontally to 4º x 5º.
The MERRA CMFMC field (cloud mass flux, Fe grid) has native resolution 1º x 1.25º x 73
level edges. The data is defined at the edges between vertical levels instead of at level
centers.
NOTE: All plots are zonal means.
GEOS-5 vs. MERRA data averaging times
GEOS-5 and MERRA time-averaged data are saved for GEOS-Chem according to the
chart below. The red boxes show the bins for the time averaging, plus the timestamp
used to identify each time bin.
GEOS-5 A6
00:00
(6h time-averages)
06:00
12:00
18:00
01:30
04:30
07:30
10:30
13:30
16:30
19:30
22:30
01:30
04:30
07:30
10:30
13:30
16:30
19:30
22:30
GEOS-5 A3
(3h time-averages)
MERRA A3
(3h time-averages)
MERRA A1
(1h time averages,
centered on
00:30, 01:30 ... 23:30)
21
00
03
06
09
12
15
18
21
00 GMT
CLOUD (3-D cloud fraction); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
NOTE: Regridded horizontally with Hongyu Liu's algorithm
CMFMC (conv. cloud mass flux); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 73 level edges x 3hr avg
DQIDTMST (ice tendency/moist physics); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
DQLDTMST (liquid tendency/moist physics); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
DQVDTMST (vapor tendency/moist physics); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
MOISTQ = DQIDTMST + DQLDTMST + DQVDTMST = tendency of specific humidity
DTRAIN (detrainment mass flux); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 3hr avg
OMEGA (vertical pressure velocity); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x instantaneous
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
TAUCLI (ice cloud optical depth); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
NOTE: Regridded horizontally with Hongyu Liu's algorithm
TAUCLW (liquid cloud optical depth); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
NOTE: Regridded horizontally with Hongyu Liu's algorithm
OPTDEPTH = TAUCLI + TAUCLW (total optical depth)
NOTE: Regridded horizontally with Hongyu Liu's algorithm
PV (Ertel potential vorticity); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x instantaneous
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
QI (cloud ice mixing ratio); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
QL (cloud liquid H2O mixing ratio); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
QV (specific humidity); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
RH (specific humidity); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x instantaneous
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
T (air temperature); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
U (eastward component of wind); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
V (northward component of wind); Regridded from 1º x 1.25º x 72L x 3hr avg
The following MERRA fields were not saved in the GEOS-5 archive
for GEOS-Chem.
Chris Holmes requested that these fields be added because they
may be useful in improving our wet deposition scheme.
All of these fields are on the MERRA “Cp” grid, and thus require P →
hybrid interpolation.
DQRCU (precip prod rate: convective); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
DQRLSAN (precip prod rate: LS + anvils); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
PFICU (down flux of ice precip: convective); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
PFILSAN (down flux of ice precip: LS + anvils); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
PFLCU (down flux of liquid precip: convective); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
PFLLSAN (down flux of liquid precip: LS + anvils); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
REEVAPCN (evap of precip'ing condensate: conv); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary
REEVAPLS (evap of precip'ing condensate: LS+anvils); Regridded from 1.25º x 1.25º x 42P x 3hr avg
NOTE: P → hybrid interpolation necessary