Question about MERRA

[Mike Bosilovich]

I think Arlindo's comment on the use of MERRA or any reanalysis
precipitation is spot on. I wanted to add that there is a lot of information
on the MERRA web site about variables and how it is shaping both in climate
and weather. This includes a frequently asked questions list, that can only
grow if questions are asked!

http://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/merra/

I also want to call out the File Specification document, which includes
information on the grid and frequency of data, as well as the variable lists
and discussion on the budgets. It is searchable PDF, so all the variables
about a key word could be found. There are more than 300 variables across a
dozen data collections.

http://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/merra/file_specifications.php

There is also an email for questions on MERRA that reaches model and data
site developers, which helps because sometimes folks are out of town or not
always available to respond.

merra-questions at listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov

Have a great weekend!!

Mike

On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:11 AM, Arlindo da Silva <
arlindo.dasilva at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 5:13 PM, Thiago Veloso <thi_veloso at yahoo.com.br>wrote:
>
>>   Accordingly to this website (
>> http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/daac-bin/DataHoldings.pl), there is no
>> precipitation dataset on the listings.
>>
>>
> MERRA's emphasis is on the hydrological cycle, therefore precipitation is a
> key parameter. If you have the opengrads bundle start
>
> % merra
>
> then click on the [Monthly]/[Surface Fluxes] and select any of the
> precipitation variables.
>
>
>>   However, I'd recommend you to look for precipitation data on GPCP, TRMM
>> or CMORPH programs.
>>
>>
> Precipitation from reanalyses are model derived parameters. Although MERRA
> precipitation has been evaluated against GPCP and other datasets, this is
> not a direct measurement. It is most useful in the context of the other
> climate parameters provided by MERRA.
>
>    Arlindo
>
>
>
>
>>   Best regards,
>>
>>   Thiago.
>>
>> --- On *Wed, 27/1/10, Diego Souza <dsouza at CPTEC.INPE.BR>* wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: Diego Souza <dsouza at CPTEC.INPE.BR>
>> Subject: Question about MERRA
>>
>> To: GRADSUSR at LIST.CINECA.IT
>> Date: Wednesday, 27 January, 2010, 15:04
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I would like kown if have precipitation data in the MERRA datasets.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> _________________________________________
>>
>> Diego Oliveira de Souza
>> Grupo de Estudos Ambientais Integrados (GEAI)
>> Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE
>> Cachoeira Paulista - SP
>> Fone: (12) 31869512
>> Cel: (12) 91219668
>> _________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Arlindo da Silva
> dasilva at alum.mit.edu
>
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