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Description

M2TMNPRAD (or tavgM_3d_rad_Np) is a 3-dimensional monthly mean data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of assimilations of radiation diagnostics on 42 pressure levels, such as cloud fraction for radiation, and air temperature tendency due to longwave (or shortwave). The information on the pressure levels can be found in the section 4.2 of the MERRA-2 File Specification document. The collection also includes variance of certain parameters.

MERRA-2 is the latest version of global atmospheric reanalysis for the satellite era produced by NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS) version 5.12.4. The dataset covers the period of 1980-present with the latency of ~3 weeks after the end of a month.

Data Reprocessing: Please check “Records of MERRA-2 Data Reprocessing and Service Changes” linked from the “Documentation” tab on this page. Note that a reprocessed data filename is different from the original file.

MERRA-2 Mailing List: Sign up to receive information on reprocessing of data, changing of tools and services, as well as data announcements from GMAO. Contact the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov) to be added to the list.

Questions: If you have a question, please read "MERRA-2 File Specification Document", “MERRA-2 Data Access – Quick Start Guide”, and FAQs linked from the ”Documentation” tab on this page. If that does not answer your question, you may post your question to the NASA Earthdata Forum (forum.earthdata.nasa.gov) or email the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov).

Version Description

The GEOS-5 model version used for processing MERRA-2

Product Summary

Platforms
MERRA-2
Instruments
NOT APPLICABLE
Projects
MERRA-2
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1980-01-01 to Present
Data Partner
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/GESDI
Concept ID
C1276812931-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
556
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Atmospheric Radiation ,
Temperature Tendency ,
Cloud Fraction

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, & Pawson, S. (2015). MERRA-2 tavgM_3d_rad_Np: 3d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Pressure-Level,Assimilation,Radiation Diagnostics V5.12.4 [Dataset]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/H3YGROBVBGFJ Date Accessed: 2026-06-08

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Global stratospheric methane loss from satellite observations Fu, Qiang, Dong, Cong Atmospheric Radiation, Temperature Tendency, Cloud Fraction
Vertically Varying Cloud Responses to Southern Hemisphere Jet Shifts and Liu, Xinhuiyu, Grise, Kevin M. Atmospheric Radiation, Temperature Tendency, Cloud Fraction, Atmospheric Ozone, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Vertical Profiles, Upper Air Temperature, Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, Specific Humidity, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Altitude, Geopotential Height, Ozone Profiles
Large Internal Variability Dominates over Global Warming Signal in Observed Lower Stratospheric QBO Amplitude Match, Aaron, Fueglistaler, Stephan Upper Air Temperature, Air Temperature, Temperature Tendency, Atmospheric Radiation, Cloud Fraction
Inter-relationship between subtropical Pacific sea surface temperature, Arctic sea ice concentration, and North Atlantic Oscillation in recent summers Lim, Young-Kwon, Cullather, Richard I., Nowicki, Sophie M. J., Kim, Kyu-Myong Atmospheric Ozone, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, U/V Wind Components, U/V Wind Components, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Vertical Profiles, Upper Air Temperature, Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, Specific Humidity, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Altitude, Geopotential Height, Ozone Profiles, Atmospheric Radiation, Temperature Tendency, Cloud Fraction, Heat Flux, Skin Temperature, Water Vapor, Precipitation Rate, Snow/Ice, Evaporation, Latent Heat Flux, Latent Heat Flux, Sensible Heat Flux, Diffusion, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, Wind Stress, Wind Stress, Surface Roughness, Planetary Boundary Layer Height, Ice Fraction
The 2015/16 El Nino event in context of the MERRA-2 reanalysis: A comparison of the tropical Pacific with 1982/83 and 1997/98 Lim, Young-Kwon, Kovach, Robin M., Pawson, Steven, Vernieres, Guillaume Geopotential Height, Altitude, Surface Temperature, Upper Air Temperature, Dew Point Temperature, Air Temperature, Cloud Top Temperature, Atmospheric Winds, Surface Winds, U/V Wind Components, Upper Level Winds, U/V Wind Components, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Atmospheric Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Cloud Top Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Specific Humidity, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Atmospheric Ozone, Oxygen Compounds, Boundary Layer Winds, Skin Temperature, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Processes, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Profiles, Relative Humidity, Ozone Profiles, Temperature Tendency, Heat Flux, Water Vapor, Precipitation Rate, Snow/Ice, Evaporation, Latent Heat Flux, Latent Heat Flux, Sensible Heat Flux, Diffusion, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, Wind Stress, Wind Stress, Surface Roughness, Planetary Boundary Layer Height, Ice Fraction, Atmospheric Radiation, Cloud Fraction, Albedo, Cloud Properties, Particle Size Distribution, Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness
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Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
CLOUD CLOUD 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
DTDTLWR DTDTLWR K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
DTDTLWRCLR DTDTLWRCLR K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
DTDTSWR DTDTSWR K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
DTDTSWRCLR DTDTSWRCLR K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
lat lat degrees_north float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lev lev hPa float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lon lon degrees_east float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
time time minutes since 2025-10-01 01:30:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Var_CLOUD Var_CLOUD 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_DTDTLWR Var_DTDTLWR K s-1 K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_DTDTLWRCLR Var_DTDTLWRCLR K s-1 K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_DTDTSWR Var_DTDTSWR K s-1 K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_DTDTSWRCLR Var_DTDTSWRCLR K s-1 K s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
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