ModIs Dust AeroSol (MIDAS): a global fine-resolution dust optical depth data set

Abstract. Monitoring and describing the spatiotemporal variability in dust aerosols is crucial for understanding their multiple effects, related feedbacks, impacts within Earth system. This study describes development of ModIs Dust AeroSol (MIDAS) data set. MIDAS provides columnar daily optical depth (DOD) at 550 nm a global scale fine spatial resolution (0.1? × 0.1?) over 15-year period (2003–2017). new set combines quality filtered satellite aerosol (AOD) retrievals from MODIS-Aqua swath level (Collection 6.1; Level 2), along with DOD-to-AOD ratios provided by Modern-Era Retrospective analysis Research Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis to derive DOD on MODIS native grid. The uncertainties AOD MERRA-2 fraction, respect AEronet RObotic NETwork (AERONET) LIdar climatology vertical Aerosol Structure space-based lidar simulation (LIVAS), respectively, are taken into account estimation total uncertainty. fractions very good agreement those LIVAS across belt tropical Atlantic Ocean Arabian Sea; degrades North America Southern Hemisphere, where sources smaller. MIDAS, MERRA-2, DODs strongly agree when it comes annual seasonal patterns, colocated averages 0.033, 0.031, 0.029, respectively; however, deviations loading evident regionally dependent. Overall, well correlated AERONET-derived (R=0.89) only shows small positive bias (0.004 or 2.7 %). Among major areas planet, highest R values (>0.9) found sites Africa, Middle East, Asia. expands, complements, upgrades existing observational capabilities aerosols, suitable climatological studies, model evaluation, assimilation.