Aura MLS

CH3OH

Contact: Michelle Santee

Methanol (CH3OH) is one of the most abundant organic gases in the atmosphere (exceeded only by methane). It plays a key role in the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. The primary sources of atmospheric methanol are the growth and decay of plants and biomass burning.

How it is part of MLS Science Objectives

As a biomass burning product, CH3OH, especially when used in conjunction with other pollution markers measured by MLS, will help determine the extent to which fire emissions affect the composition of the upper troposphere / lower stratosphere.

How EOS MLS measures CH3OH

The standard methanol product is taken from the 640 GHz retrieval.

CH3OH Information from the Spectroscopy Database

Quick Product Information for data version v5

This product should not be used without consulting the MLS team

  • Swath Name: CH3OH
  • DAAC Short Name: ML2CH3OH

Download Aura MLS CH3OH v5 data

Latest Publications (CH3OH)

  1. Pumphrey, H., M. Schwartz, M. Santee, G. Kablick III, M. Fromm and N. Livesey
    Microwave Limb Sounder MLS observations of biomass burning products in the stratosphere from Canadian forest fires in August 2017
    Atmos. Chem. Phys. doi:10.5194/acp-21-16645-2021, 2021
  2. Schwartz, M., M. Santee, H. Pumphrey, G. Manney, A. Lambert, N. Livesey, L. Millán, J. Neu, W. Read and F. Werner
    Australian New Year's PyroCb Impact on Stratospheric Composition
    Geophys. Res. Lett. doi:10.1029/2020gl090831, 2020
  3. Santee, M.L., G.L. Manney, N.J. Livesey, M.J. Schwartz, J.L. Neu and W.G. Read
    A comprehensive overview of the climatological composition of the Asian summer monsoon anticyclone based on 10 years of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder measurements
    Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres doi:10.1002/2016jd026408, 2017