MLS Derived SSU Equivalent Brightness Temperature Data

This dataset utilizes Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) monthly mean temperature data to extend the Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) data record, which provided stratospheric brightness temperature data from 1979-2006, to the present day. The MLS input data comprises of quality cleared MLS profiles gridded into a 2.5° latitude band zonal, monthly mean. The data is then processed via the weighting functions as described in Randel et. Al., 2016, (DOI: 10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0629.1) to calculate the deep-layer channel temperature brightness from the higher-resolution MLS layers to the lower vertical resolution channels of the SSU instrument.

The final product comprises of these brightness temperatures in a 2.5° latitude band zonal, monthly mean and deseasonalized temperature anomalies. This includes both SSU data from the time period prior to MLS data availability (November 1978 – August 2004), a combined window where both datasets overlap (August 2004 – May 2006), and a MLS-only range after the end of SSU data availability (May 2006 onward).