Using Cloud Resources to Examine the Sampling Differences Among Boundary Layer Height Data Archived at the GES DISC

The GES DISC hosts a number of datasets that contain variables that measure properties of the planetary boundary layer. The archive currently includes three different types of measurements of the boundary layer height from a nadir sounder (AIRS), GPS RO instruments (COSMIC and TerraSAR-X), and a reanalysis product (MERRA-2). Previous studies have shown that there are seasonal and spatial differences among these different types of measurements. In order to understand the differences in observation and processing methodologies it is necessary to examine the Level 2 measurements used to create these climatologies. In the past, this type of investigation would have required the download of large amounts of Level 2 data. However, since these data products are now available in the cloud, users can analyze the Level 2 products more easily. We demonstrate GES DISC services that can help to examine sampling differences between Level 2 and reanalysis products without having to download any data.