Skip to main content

Commonly Used Aerosol Optical Depth Datasets

View a list of datasets that are popular with users working in aerosol optical depth research.

Access topic-specific data and resources for accessing, visualizing, preparing/manipulating (e.g. subsetting), and analyzing aerosol optical depth (AOD) data. Each observation, model, and reanalysis data has unique characteristics that should be considered when evaluating its use. 

An asterisk (*) next to an entry indicates that near real-time (NRT) data products are available through NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE). While not intended for scientific research, NRT data are good resources for monitoring ongoing or time-critical events. Learn more about the difference between near real-time versus standard products.

Spatial ResolutionSpatial CoverageTemporal ResolutionTemporal CoverageSpectral ResolutionSatellite/ PlatformName (Instrument, Model, etc.)Observation, Model, or ReanalysisFile Format
250 m, 500 m, 1 km, 10 km, 3 kmGlobalDaily, 8-day, 16-day, monthly, quarterly, yearly2000 (Terra)/2002 (Aqua)-present36 spectral bands ranging in wavelength from 0.4 µm to 14.4 µmTerra/Aqua*Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)ObservationHDF-EOS
6 km, 1°Global*6-minute,
Daily,
Monthly
2012-present0.600-0.680 µm, 3.55-3.93 µm, 10.5-12.4 µmNASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) and NOAA-20Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS): Deep BlueObservationHDF5, HDF-EOS5
6 kmGlobal<-minute2012-present0.600-0.680 µm, 3.55-3.93 µm, 10.5-12.4 µmNASA/NOAA Suomi NPP Dark Target*Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS): Dark TargetObservationnetCDF4
0.25°, 13 km x 24 kmGlobal*~98 minutes,
Daily
2004-present1.0-0.45 nm Full Width and Half Maximum (FWHM)Aura*Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)ObservationHDF-EOS5
10 kmGlobal12-24 per day2017-present10 channels from 317-779 nmDeep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR)EPICObservationHDF5
0.5° x 0.625°Global1-hourly, monthly1980-near presentN/AN/AMERRA-2ReanalysisnetCDF
N/AVariesSub-hourlyVaries by siteN/AGround-basedAERONETObservationASCII
Point measurementsGlobalPeriodic flights occurred during each deployment2016-2018variesAirborne Field CampaignAtmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) campaign with varying instrumentsObservationnetCDF