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Full catalog/AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_MODIS_TERRA
AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_MODIS_TERRA·v001·dataset

Haze, dust and smoke in the air, monthly (Terra MODIS, 0.1 deg)

TERRA MODIS High Resolution Level 3 monthly aerosol data, 0.1x0.1 degree grid Version 001 (AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_MODIS_TERRA) at GES DISC
atmosphere NASA GES_DISC Level 3 active
In plain English

What it measures. Monthly maps of how much haze, dust, and smoke are floating in the air, measured as how much these tiny airborne particles dim the sunlight passing through the atmosphere.

How it's made. Produced by combining two methods of reading the MODIS instrument's measurements aboard NASA's Terra satellite, then averaging the best-quality results onto a fine global grid each month.

How & where you'd use it. Useful for tracking air quality, dust storms, wildfire smoke, and how airborne particles affect climate and health.

What's measured

ATMOSPHERE › AEROSOLS › AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH/THICKNESS

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2000-02-01 → ongoing
  • Measured byTerra (MODIS)
  • Processing levelLevel 3
  • Spatial extent-179.95, -89.95, 179.95, 89.95
  • StatusACTIVE

What you can do with it

  • Map air pollutants — NO₂, aerosols, ozone
  • Track greenhouse gases and Earth's energy budget
  • Feed weather and air-quality analysis
Official description

This High-Resolution (0.1 x 0.1 degree) Level 3 monthly Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) product is generated by combining two Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) operational algorithms, namely Deep Blue (DB) and Dark Target (DT), on board the TERRA satellite. This dataset is provided in monthly files ranging from February 2000 to the present. The spatial coverage is global and the dataset is gridded at 0.1 x 0.1 degree spatial resolution. The data are generated using Level 2 AOD retrieved using DT and DB algorithms. The product provides multiple options for using data either from DT or DB or combined. Depending on user need and application, they can choose one or more relevant parameter. The pixels with highest quality as recommended by science teams are only considered in these averaging. In addition to averaged AOD at 0.1 x 0.1 degree resolution, standard deviation and number of pixels averaged from each algorithm are also provided. Average sensor zenith angle is also provided for additional filtering of the data. If you have any questions, please read the README document first and 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).

Get the data

aer_dbdt_m10km_l3_modis_terra_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_MODIS_TERRA",
    version="001",
    bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9),  # your area (W,S,E,N)
    temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"),       # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results)   # stream straight from GES_DISC
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.