Version 3.3 Data Products from EOS MLS

In April of 2010, Earth Observing System (EOS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) began production with a newer version (version v03.30) of Level 1 and Level 2 software. Near the end of calendar 2010, MLS intends to have re-processed all of the mission data with these newer algorithms. Version 3.3 of MLS algorithms includes minor updates to Level 1 software; improvements in our Level 2 data products; and the addition of a new data product ¬ CH3Cl. Updates to Level 1 include redefining the Galactic Core for the instrument field of view. Improvements in Level 2 include O3 at higher vertical resolution with twice the resolution through the troposphere and pushed the lower useful altitude pressure from 215 to 260 hPa; H2O with removal of a kinks near the stratopause; CO with a reduced high bias; ClO with a reduced negative bias; HCl with the removal of various kinks; and CH3CN is improved. For every product we make it easier to exclude heights and geographic locations where the quality is known to be poor. Version 3.3 metadata employs eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format replacing the old Object Definition Language (ODL) format. The standard product files have been augmented with extra dimension fields to make them compatible with the newest version of HDF5-based netCDF. The Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES-DISC) serves as the data archives and distributes these products to the users community.