Version 1 is the current version of the dataset.

This collection MYDFDS_MON_GLB_L3 provides level 3 monthly frequency of dust storms (FDS) over land from 175°W to 175°E and 80°S to 80°N at a spatial resolution of 0.1˚ x 0.1˚. It is derived from Level 2, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue aerosol products Collection 6.1 from Aqua (MYD04_L2). The dataset covers the monthly mean from 2003 to 2022.

The FDS is calculated as the number of days per month when the daily dust optical depth is greater than a threshold optical depth (e.g., 0.025) with two quality flags: the lowest (1) and highest (3). It is advised to use flag 1, which is of lower quality, over dust source regions, and flag 3 over remote areas or polluted regions. Eight thresholds (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2) are saved separately in eight files.

If you have any questions, please read the README document first and post your question to the NASA Earthdata Forum (forum.earthdata.nasa.gov) or email the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov).