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    • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperatures, Version 4

    Metadata Updated: February 2, 2026

    The Atmospheric Layer Temperature Climate Data Record (CDR) dataset is a monthly analysis of the tropospheric and stratospheric data using temperature sounding microwave radiometers flown on polar-orbiting weather satellites providing an important record of upper atmosphere temperatures by merging data from the older Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) and the new Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSUs). The instruments measure the brightness temperature (Tb) for each channel and corresponds to an average temperature of the atmosphere averaged over that channel's weighting function. Global average and global anomaly maps on a 2.5 x 2.5 degree resolution are produced from each month's data from both the MSU and the AMSU for over a 31 year period (1978-2011) for each channel (layer); the Temperature Lower Troposphere (TLT); the Temperature Middle Troposphere (TMT); the Temperature Troposphere/Stratosphere (TTS) ; the Temperature Lower Stratosphere (TLS). UAT 4 Layer MW data is important to continue into the future to ensure the existence of a high-quality record of atmospheric temperatures for climate change detection and climate model verification activities. The data are available in netCDF-4 file format with variables containing standard deviation, quality flags, and projection information and will be updated monthly.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date January 30, 2026
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date February 2, 2026
    Reference Date(s) 2018 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update monthly

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    UAT 4 Layer Channel TLT Brightness Temperature browse image

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date January 30, 2026
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date February 2, 2026
    Reference Date(s) 2018 (publication)
    Responsible Party National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C01578
    Access Constraints Cite as: Mears, Carl A., F. J. Wentz, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Date Record (CDR) of Atmospheric Layer Temperature, Version 4. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). doi:10.25921/EGRF-Q723 [access date]., See the Use Agreement for this CDR available on the CDR page., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180
    Bbox North Lat 90
    Bbox South Lat -90
    Bbox West Long -180
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update monthly
    Graphic Preview Description UAT 4 Layer Channel TLT Brightness Temperature browse image
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/uat4_cdr_browseimg_ch_tlt_2012_06_v03_3.png
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 1057cde7-5910-4e00-b2c3-9bb2feef2c41
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
    Lineage The data were produced by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1978-12
    Temporal Extent End 2025-02

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