Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 (MERRA-2)

A monthly time-averaged 2-dimensional data collection of atmospheric aerosol parameters is provided in the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). Global model and data assimilations that incorporate satellite-based observations are used to predict monthly aerosol parameters such as column mass density and surface-level mass concentrations of aerosol components, total extinction (and scattering), and aerosol optical thickness, at 550 nm.