Earth Data School
About
Full catalog/M2TMNPTRB
M2TMNPTRB·v5.12.4·dataset

Air turbulence and mixing by altitude, monthly (model)

MERRA-2 tavgM_3d_trb_Np: 3d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Pressure-Level,Assimilation,Turbulence Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TMNPTRB) at GES DISC
atmosphere NASA GES_DISC Level 4 active
In plain English

What it measures. Monthly numbers describing how air mixes and stirs at 42 different heights in the atmosphere, including how easily heat and momentum spread between layers and how stable or unstable the air is.

How it's made. It comes from MERRA-2, NASA's computer model that blends decades of satellite observations into a consistent global picture, here producing monthly averages of turbulence diagnostics.

How & where you'd use it. These are specialized inputs for atmospheric scientists studying how the air mixes and how weather and climate models behave, rather than something the general public reads directly.

What's measured

ATMOSPHERE › ATMOSPHERIC WINDS › WIND DYNAMICS

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span1980-01-01 → ongoing
  • Measured byMERRA-2 (NOT APPLICABLE)
  • Processing levelLevel 4
  • Spatial extent-180, -90, 180, 90
  • 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

M2TMNPTRB (or tavgM_3d_trb_Np) is a 3-dimensional monthly mean data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of assimilations of turbulence diagnostics on 42 pressure levels, such as total scalar diffusivity, total momentum diffusivity, momentum diffusivity from Louis, and Richardson number from Louis. The information on the pressure levels can be found in the section 4.2 of the MERRA-2 File Specification document. The collection also includes variance of certain parameters. MERRA-2 is the latest version of global atmospheric reanalysis for the satellite era produced by NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS) version 5.12.4. The dataset covers the period of 1980-present with the latency of ~3 weeks after the end of a month. Data Reprocessing: Please check “Records of MERRA-2 Data Reprocessing and Service Changes” linked from the “Documentation” tab on this page. Note that a reprocessed data filename is different from the original file. MERRA-2 Mailing List: Sign up to receive information on reprocessing of data, changing of tools and services, as well as data announcements from GMAO. Contact the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov) to be added to the list. Questions: If you have a question, please read "MERRA-2 File Specification Document", “MERRA-2 Data Access – Quick Start Guide”, and FAQs linked from the ”Documentation” tab on this page. If that does not answer your question, you may 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

m2tmnptrb_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="M2TMNPTRB",
    version="5.12.4",
    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.