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Full catalog/AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_VIIRS_SNPP
AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_VIIRS_SNPP·v001·dataset

Haze, dust and smoke in the air, monthly (Suomi-NPP)

SNPP VIIRS High Resolution Level 3 monthly aerosol data, 0.1x0.1 degree grid Version 001 (AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_VIIRS_SNPP) 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 is in the air, measured as aerosol optical depth, which is essentially how much these particles dim sunlight as it passes through the atmosphere. Detailed at about 10 km globally.

How it's made. Generated by combining two algorithms (Deep Blue and Dark Target) applied to the VIIRS instrument on the Suomi-NPP satellite, then averaging the best-quality readings into a monthly grid; data run from 2012 onward.

How & where you'd use it. Helps track air pollution, smoke from fires and dust, and study how airborne particles affect climate and health.

What's measured

ATMOSPHERE › AEROSOLS › AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH/THICKNESS

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2012-03-01 → ongoing
  • Measured bySuomi-NPP (VIIRS)
  • 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 Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) operational algorithms, namely Deep Blue (DB) and Dark Target (DT), on board the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. This dataset is provided in monthly files ranging from March 2012 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_viirs_snpp_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="AER_DBDT_M10KM_L3_VIIRS_SNPP",
    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.