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MLS

Microwave Limb Sounder

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Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) experiments measure naturally-occurring microwave thermal emission from the limb (edge) of Earth's atmosphere to remotely sense vertical profiles of atmospheric gases, temperature, pressure, and cloud ice. The overall objective of these experiments is to provide information that will help improve our understanding of Earth's atmosphere and global change.

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UPDATED - Aura MLS v4 Production Ending in May 2024

The science team for the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on NASA's Aura satellite is finalizing new “Version 6” (V6) data processing algorithms and software. We anticipate releasing V6 MLS data in summer 2024, once its quality has been assessed and documented. Reprocessing of the entire (19-year-to-date) MLS record with the V6 software will take approximately two years, completing in mid-2026. During that time, we will continue to process incoming MLS data with the current V5 algorithms and software, thus ensuring uninterrupted availability of a uniform MLS dataset encompassing the full mission lifetime. However, to maximize the computing resources available for V6 reprocessing, we will cease processing the incoming data with the older V4 algorithms and software. The last V4 data generated will be for May 31, 2024.

Recent Publications

  1. Zhang, J., D. Kinnison, Y. Zhu, X. Wang, S. Tilmes, K. , and W. Randel, "Chemistry Contribution to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion After the Unprecedented Water‐Rich Hunga Tonga Eruption," Geophys. Res. Lett. 51, 7, doi:10.1029/2023gl105762, 2024.
  2. Ploeger, F., T. Birner, E. Charlesworth, P. Konopka, and R. , "Moist bias in the Pacific upper troposphere and lower stratosphere UTLS in climate models affects regional circulation patterns," Atmos. Chem. Phys. 24, 3, 2033-2043, doi:10.5194/acp-24-2033-2024, 2024.
  3. Song, B., and I. Song, "Coupling of Long‐Term Trends of Zonal Winds Between the Mesopause and Stratosphere in Southern Winter," Geophys. Res. Lett. 51, 4, doi:10.1029/2023gl107014, in press.
  4. Bekker, S.Z., and J.A. Korsunskaya, "Influence of the Neutral Atmosphere Model on the Correctness of Simulation the Electron and Ion Concentrations in the Lower Ionosphere," Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 128, 12, doi:10.1029/2023ja032007, 2023.
  5. Hocke, K., "Influence of Sudden Stratospheric Warmings on the Migrating Diurnal Tide in the Equatorial Middle Atmosphere Observed by Aura/Microwave Limb Sounder," Atmosphere 14, 12, 1743, doi:10.3390/atmos14121743, 2023.