The NASA MEaSUREs-2006 Science Datasets Distributed at GES DISC

The NASA Making Earth System data records for Use in Research Environments program's 2006 (MEaSUREs-2006) solicitation aimed to select projects providing Earth science data products and services highly motivated by NASA's Earth science objectives and contributing to advancing NASA Earth system 'missions to measurements' concept. As a result, thirty projects were awarded for funding in October 2007. Through the successful MEaSUREs-2006, NASA has continued its commitment in extending the understanding of the Earth system using consistent records, i.e., particularly focusing on the creation of Earth System Data Records (ESDRs), including Climate Data Records. An ESDR is defined as 'a unified and coherent set of observations of a given parameter of the Earth system, which is optimized to meet specific requirements for addressing science questions'. The Goddard Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) is responsible for managing data distribution and providing user services for seven of the MEaSUREs-2006 projects. These seven projects created long-term (varying from seven years to longer than thirty years) of global and satellite-based (single- or multi-sensor, or hybrid with assimilation) products. These MEaSUREs science data are diverse and represent (1) total ozone column and ozone vertical profiles; (2) ozone chemistry and related trace gases for the stratosphere; (3) aerosol data records over land and ocean; (4) Earth surface and atmosphere reflectivity; (5) water vapor climate record using cloud classification; (6) air-sea turbulent fluxes; and (7) the major components (storages and fluxes) of the terrestrial water cycle. Each of the seven science data products will be presented in a systematic manner from project introduction, data description to science application. The six currently available products have worldwide attracted many users since their official releases (the earliest issued in October 2010). Useful and interesting info on data usages and user domain distributions resulted from a significant metrics analysis will also be presented at the meeting.