Basic Information
MLS measures geopotential height (GPH) on fixed pressure surfaces.
GPH is a vertical scale like elevation, but the length of the "meter stick" varies with
the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration, g, and so is a function of latitude
and height. GPH is commonly used in meteorological calculations because it simplifies
certain equations. Where the density contribution of water vapor to air can be neglected,
the GPH difference between two pressure surfaces is proportional to the temperature of the
slab between them, so a temperature profile and GPH on a reference pressure surface are
sufficient to determine a GPH profile. GPH contours on pressure surfaces are stream functions
for geostrophic wind.
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Map of GPH
Map from 2005d264
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How it is part of MLS Science Objectives
Changes in general circulation of the atmosphere associated with climate change will be reflected
in GPH gradients. Determination of the height of MLS pressure surfaces is also an important intermediate step in
understanding all of the other retrieved fields.
How EOS MLS measures GPH
The standard product for GPH is formed from the retrieval of a reference geopotential height for the 100 hPa surface and a hydrostatic integration of the standard product temperature profiles.
In simulations of GPH retrievals, biases in the troposphere and stratosphere are less than 50 m except in the uppermost stratosphere (1.47-1.0 hPa), where they are less than 150 m.
(map from 2005d264)
Quick Product Information for data version v3.3
- Swath Name: GPH
- Vertical Resolution: varies
- Useful Range: 261-0.001 hPa
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- DAAC Short Name: ML2GPH
- Precision: varies; +/- 30 to 100m based on height
- Quality Threshold: 0.65
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Publications related to the MLS GPH data product
2011
- Lee, J.N., "Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of the Polar Middle Atmosphere: Dynamics and Transport of CO and H2O", vol doi:10.1029/2010JD014608, num 116, 2011. Reprint Preprint
- Limpasuven, V., "Mesoscale simulations of gravity waves during the 2008-2009 major stratospheric sudden warming", vol doi:10.1029/2010HD015190, num 116, 2011. Preprint
- McDonald, A.J., "Properties of the quasi 16 day wave derived form EOS MLS observations", vol doi:10.1029/2010JD014719, num 116, 2011. Reprint Preprint
- Wu, L., "Regional simulations of deep convection and biomass burning over South America: 1. Model evaluations using multiple satellite data sets", vol doi:10.1029/2011JD016105, num 116, 2011. Reprint Preprint
2009
- Lee, J.N., "Aura Microwave Limb Sounder observations of the Northern Annular
Mode: From the mesosphere to the upper troposphere", vol doi:10.1029/2009GL040678, num 36, 2009. Preprint
- Manney, G.L., "Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of Dynamics and Transport During the Record-breaking 2009 Arctic Stratospheric Major Warming", vol doi:10.1029/2009GL038586, num 36, 2009. Reprint Preprint
2008
- Manney, G.L., "The evolution of the stratopause during the 2006 major warming: Satellite Data and Assimilated Meteorological Analyses", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD009097, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
- Sandford, D.J., "The Wintertime two-day wave the the Polar Stratosphere, Mesosphere and lower Thermosphere", num 8, 2008. Reprint Preprint
- Schwartz, M.J., "Characterization of MJO-Related Upper-Tropospheric Hydrological Processes Using MLS", vol doi:10.1029/2008GL033675, num 35, 2008. Reprint Preprint
- Schwartz, M.J., "Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Temperature and Geopotential Height Measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008783, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
2006
- Cofield, R.E., "Design and field-of-view calibration of 114-660 GHz optics of the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder", num 44, pgs. no. 5, 2006. Preprint
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