The Polar Aura Validation Experiment (PAVE) was a NASA field campaign that collected measurements in the polar region to validate Aura satellite observations. PAVE took place during the boreal winter of 2005 in the Northeastern United States and Canada. The NASA DC-8 aircraft was equipped with in situ and remote sensing instruments to measure atmospheric trace gases and aerosols. PAVE supported the Aura Validation Experiment (AVE) and was funded by NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Program.
The Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) is a high-resolution spectrometer used in both airborne and ground-based applications. FTS measures the solar radiance reflected from the surface, which can be used to estimate atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). It offers a spatial resolution of approximately 100m by 1000m and operates at a measurement frequency of 1 Hz during typical research flights.
Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform that measure atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
The Differential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements (DACOM) is an airborne in situ spectrometer system. It uses the differential absorption technique and an infrared tunable diode laser (TDL) to measure atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4). DACOM operates at 4.7, 4.5, and 3.3 μm to access absorption lines of CO, N2O, and CH4. It has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz and a precision of about 1 ppbv.
The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses four lasers to detect lidar backscatter and provide profiles of ozone and aerosols in the atmosphere. DIAL operates in the ultraviolet (289-300 nm) for ozone detection and in the visible (572-600 nm) and infrared (1064 nm) for aerosols. It has a horizontal spatial resolution of approximately 15 km and a measurement accuracy of 5 ppbv.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio
The Thermal-Dissociation Laser Induced Fluorescence (TD-LIF) is an in situ airborne sensor developed at UC Berkeley. It combines the TD and LIF techniques to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2), peroxynitrates, nitric acid (HNO3), and other stable organic nitrates in the atmosphere. TD-LIF operates at 585 nm and typically measures at 1 Hz.
The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later modified by NCAR. It measures brightness temperature from oxygen molecules at 56.363 GHz, 57.612 GHz, and 58.363 GHz. These measurements are converted to air temperature through a statistical retrieval process. It samples across 10 viewing angles and has a vertical resolution of 150 m near the aircraft. MTP provides profiles every 17 seconds, with about 4 km of horizontal spacing.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument that measures nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere. It provides spatial resolution better than 100 meters at typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be deployed on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms, supporting a range of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
The Diode Laser Hygrometer (DLH) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed by NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses tunable diode laser absorption to detect atmospheric water vapor. DLH operates in the near-infrared at about 1.4 μm and has a measurement frequency of 100 Hz. It can deliver precise water vapor measurements even when flying through clouds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity > Relative Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
The Charged-couple device (CCD) Actinic Flux Spectroradiometer (CAFS) is an in situ airborne spectroradiometer developed by the Atmospheric Radiation Investigations and Measurements (ARIM) laboratory at NCAR. CAFS measures spectrally resolved ultraviolet and visible actinic flux from 280 to 650 nm. These measurements can be used to derive photolysis frequencies for several chemical compounds, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and nitrate. CAFS has a temporal resolution of 1 Hz and a wavelength resolution of about 1.8 nm at 297 nm.
The Soluble Acidic Gases and Aerosols (SAGA) is an in situ airborne sampler owned and operated by the University of New Hampshire. It uses a mist chamber and ion chromatography to collect and analyze specific aerosol species. It can provide samples of nitric acid, chloride, sulfates, nitrates, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and calcium. SAGA has a typical sampling interval of 5 to 15 minutes and a detection limit of 1 to 25 pptv, depending on the species sampled.
The Airborne SUbmillimeter Radiometer (ASUR) is a passive airborne radiometer developed at the University of Bremen. It measures the thermal emissions of trace gases in the upper atmosphere across the 604.3 to 662.3 GHz frequency range. It is typically used to detect ozone, water vapor, and species important for ozone chemistry. ASUR provides vertical profiles from 15 to 50 km with a vertical resolution of approximately 6 km and 12 km in the lower and upper stratosphere, respectively.
The Airborne Raman Ozone, Temperature, and Aerosol Lidar (AROTAL) is an airborne lidar system operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It measures lidar backscatter to provide vertical profiles of ozone, temperature, and aerosols. It operates at four transmitted wavelengths: 308, 355, 532, and 1064 nm. It also collects Raman scattering at 332 and 387 nm. AROTAL has a horizontal resolution of about 4 to 7 km and a vertical resolution of 0.5 to 1.5 km.
