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Description

This TELLUS_GRFO_L3_CSR_RL06.2_OCN_v04 dataset produced by the the Center for Space Research (CSR) GRACE-FO program derives the ocean bottom pressure (OBP) anomaly using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellite data. GRACE-FO was launched on 22 May 2018, and extends the original GRACE mission (2002 – 2017) and expands its legacy of scientific achievements in tracking earth surface mass changes.

The RL06.2 v04 monthly ocean mass grids contain water mass anomalies given as equivalent water thickness derived from GRACE-FO time-variable gravity observations during the specified timespan, and relative to the specified time-mean reference period. The Equivalent water thickness represents sea floor pressure changes due to the integral effect of ocean and atmosphere processes, including global mean ocean bottom pressure changes (mean ocean mass and mean atmosphere mass over the global oceans). A glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) correction has been applied, and standard corrections for geocenter (degree-1), C20 (degree-20) and C30 (degree-30) are incorporated. Post-processing filters have been applied to reduce correlated errors.

Version 04 (v04) of the ocean bottom pressure data uses updated and consistent C20 and Geocenter corrections (i.e., Technical Notes TN-14 and TN-13), as well as an ellipsoidal correction to account for the non-spherical shape of the Earth when mapping gravity anomalies to surface mass change. This RL06.2 is an updated release version of the previous RL06.1. The difference is only in the handling of GPS data set during Level-2 processing. GPS handling for RL06.2 was re-assessed due to steady degradation in low degrees during late 2022 and 2023 in RL06.1. Data grids are provided in ASCII/netCDF/GeoTIFF formats. For the RL06 version and beyond, all GRACE products in ASCII format have adopted the YAML encoding header, which is in full compliance with the PODAAC metadata best practices.

Product Summary

Platforms
GRACE-FO
Projects
GRACE-FO
Spatial Extent

N: 89.5 S: -89.5 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
1 Decimal Degrees x 1 Decimal Degrees
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2018-05-22
Data Partner
GRACE Tellus, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/GRACE-TELLUS-0001) ,
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/PODAAC)
Concept ID
C2767594383-POCLOUD
Data State
DEPRECATED
Number of Files/Granules
70
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Water Pressure

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

NASA/JPL. (2023). CSR TELLUS GRACE-FO Level-3 Monthly Ocean Bottom Pressure Anomaly Release 6.2 version 04 [Dataset]. NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/GFOCN-3C624 Date Accessed: 2026-10-27

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Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
lat latitude value at each pixel degrees_north double N/A -89.5 to 89.5 1 N/A
lat_bounds latitude values at the north and south bounds of each pixel degrees_north double N/A N/A 1 N/A
lon longitude value at each pixel degrees_east double N/A 0.5 to 359.5 1 N/A
lon_bounds longitude values at the west and east bounds of each pixel degrees_east double N/A N/A 1 N/A
lwe_thickness none m double -99999 -30 to 30 1 N/A
time time days since 2002-01-01T00:00:00 double N/A N/A 1 N/A
time_bounds time bounds for each time value, i.e., the first day and last day included in the monthly solution days since 2002-01-01T00:00:00 double N/A N/A 1 N/A
uncertainty none m double -99999 -30 to 30 1 N/A
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