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At least 181 records · Page 10

Promise and Capability of NASA's Earth Observing System to Monitor Human-Induced Climate Variations

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a space-based observing system comprised of a series of satellite sensors by which scientists can monitor the Earth, a Data and Information System (EOSDIS) enabling researchers worldwide to access the satellite data, and an interdisciplinary science research program to interpret the satellite data. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), developed as part of the Earth Observing System (EOS) and launched on Terra in December 1999 and Aqua in May 2002, is designed to meet the scientific needs for satellite remote sensing of clouds, aerosols, water vapor, and land and ocean surface properties. This sensor and multi-platform observing system is especially well suited to observing detailed interdisciplinary components of the Earth s surface and atmosphere in and around urban environments, including aerosol optical properties, cloud optical and microphysical properties of both liquid water and ice clouds, land surface reflectance, fire occurrence, and many other properties that influence the urban environment and are influenced by them. In this presentation I will summarize the current capabilities of MODIS and other EOS sensors currently in orbit to study human-induced climate variations.

King, M. D.↗

Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM) for the Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) Working Group

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) is an international working group that aims to foster collaborations amongst these three major aerosol specialties. It consists of a collection of interdisciplinary and independently funded projects/topics with clearly-defined goals. Currently there are four MIRA topic areas, including Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM), which is focused specifically on fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The study of PM2.5 is important due to its significant contribution to air pollution and resultant, adverse human health effects. The goal of the SAPM topic group is to conduct and provide intercomparisons of various methods and techniques to obtain surface PM2.5 estimates assisted by satellite remote sensors, global aerosol models, and in situ aerosol measurements. Some benefits of space-based/model-assisted PM2.5 retrievals include providing PM2.5 approximations in regions with poor in situ ground station coverage and a means for assessing spatial/temporal PM2.5 variations on regional and/or global scales. Furthermore, benefits of spaceborne lidar/model-assisted PM2.5 retrievals include providing nighttime PM2.5 estimates and characterization of near-surface aerosol vertical structure. SAPM is seeking international datasets of mass scattering/absorption coefficient and aerosol hygroscopic properties for different aerosol species, as well as ground-based in situ PM2.5 measurements. In this poster presentation, we give an overview of SAPM, and show results from three recent/ongoing PM2.5 studies. These efforts involve deriving surface PM2.5 concentrations from two spaceborne lidars, the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS), and investigating key variables that impact the estimation of PM2.5 from model simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) using the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model.

Travis D. Toth↗

Improving Public Health DSSs by Including Saharan Dust Forecasts Through Incorporation of NASA's GOCART Model Results

Approximately 2-3 billion metric tons of soil dust are estimated to be transported in the Earth's atmosphere each year. Global transport of desert dust is believed to play an important role in many geochemical, climatological, and environmental processes. This dust carries minerals and nutrients, but it has also been shown to carry pollutants and viable microorganisms capable of harming human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health. Saharan dust, which impacts the eastern United States (especially Florida and the southeast) and U.S. Territories in the Caribbean primarily during the summer months, has been linked to increases in respiratory illnesses in this region and has been shown to carry other human, animal, and plant pathogens. For these reasons, this candidate solution recommends integrating Saharan dust distribution and concentration forecasts from the NASA GOCART global dust cycle model into a public health DSS (decision support system), such as the CDC's (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's) EPHTN (Environmental Public Health Tracking Network), for the eastern United States and Caribbean for early warning purposes regarding potential increases in respiratory illnesses or asthma attacks, potential disease outbreaks, or bioterrorism. This candidate solution pertains to the Public Health National Application but also has direct connections to Air Quality and Homeland Security. In addition, the GOCART model currently uses the NASA MODIS aerosol product as an input and uses meteorological forecasts from the NASA GEOS-DAS (Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System) GEOS-4 AGCM. In the future, VIIRS aerosol products and perhaps CALIOP aerosol products could be assimilated into the GOCART model to improve the results.

Berglund, Judith↗

Update on the NASA GEOS-5 Aerosol Forecasting and Data Assimilation System

GEOS-5 is the Goddard Earth Observing System model. GEOS-5 is maintained by the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. Core development is within GMAO,Goddard Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory, and with external partners. Primary GEOS-5 functions: Earth system model for studying climate variability and change, provide research quality reanalyses for supporting NASA instrument teams and scientific community, provide near-real time forecasts of meteorology,aerosols, and other atmospheric constituents to support NASA airborne campaigns.

GEOS-5↗

Current and Future Applications of the GEOS-5 Aerosol Modeling System

The presentation summarizes current and proposed activities for the GEOS-5 aerosol modeling system. Activities discussed include (i) forecasting and event simulation, (ii) observation simulation, (iii) aerosol-chemistry-climate applications, and (iv) future activities. The document was presented at the 2013 AEROCENTER Annual Meeting held at the GSFC Visitors Center May 31, 2013. The Organizers of the meeting are posting the talks to the public Aerocenter website, after the meeting.

Airborne Field Missions↗

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III instrument proposed for EOS - A conceptual design

This paper describes the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) instrument proposed for the Earth Observing System (EOS), which is designed to monitor the vertical distribution of stratospheric aerosols, ozone, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, and temperature by measuring the extinction and scattering of solar radiation in the 03 to 1.6 micron range through the atmosphere. The SAGE III employs proven concepts which have evolved from the SAM II, SAGE, and SAGE II programs. The launch is scheduled for the summer of 1996. The SAGE II block diagram is included.

Mauldin, L. E.↗

A Modified Linear-Mixing Method for Calculating Atmospheric Path Radiances of Aerosol Mixtures

The top-of-atmosphere (TOA) path radiance generated by an aerosol mixture can be synthesized by linearly adding the contributions of the individual aerosol components, weighted by their fractional optical depths. The method, known as linear mixing, is exact in the single-scattering limit. When multiple scattering is significant, the method reproduces the atmospheric path radiance of the mixture with less than 3% errors for weakly absorbing aerosols up to optical thickness of 0.5. However, when strongly absorbing aerosols are included in the mixture, the errors are much larger. This is due to neglecting the effect of multiple interactions between the aerosol components, especially when the values of the single-scattering albedos of these components are so different that the parameter epsilon = (Sigma)f(sub i) absolute value of bar omega(sub i) - bar omega(sub mix)/bar omega(sub i), is larger than approx. 0.1, where bar omega(sub i) and f(sub i) are the single-scattering albedo and the fractional abundance of the i th component, and bar omega(sub i) is the effective single-scattering albedo of the mixture. We describe an empirical, modified linear-mixing method which effectively accounts for the multiple interactions between aerosol components. The modified and standard methods are identical when epsilon = 0.0 and give similar results when epsilon less than or equal to 0.05. For optical depths larger than approx. 0.5, or when epsilon greater than 0.05, only the modified method can reproduce the radiances within 5% error for common aerosol types up to optical thickness of 2.0. Because this method facilitates efficient and accurate atmospheric path radiance calculations for mixtures of a wide variety of aerosol types, it will be used as part of the aerosol retrieval methodology for the Earth Observing System (EOS) multiangle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR), scheduled for launch into polar orbit in 1998.

Abdou, W. A.↗

A Modified Linear-Mixing Method for Calculating Atmospheric Path Radiances of Aerosol Mixtures

The top-of-atmosphere (TOA) path radiance generated by an aerosol mixture can be synthesized by linearly adding the contributions of the individual aerosol components, weighted by their fractional optical depths. The method, known as linear mixing, is exact in the single-scattering limit. When multiple scattering is significant, the method reproduces the atmospheric path radiance of the mixture with less than 3% errors for weakly absorbing aerosols up to optical thickness of 0.5. However, when strongly absorbing aerosols are included in the mixture, the errors are much larger. This is due to neglecting the effect of multiple interactions between the aerosol components, especially when the values of the single-scattering albedos of these components are so different that the parameter e = the sum of f(sub i)[(bar)omega(sub i) - (bar)omega(sub mix)]/(bar)omega(sub i) is larger than approximately 0.1, where (bar)omega(sub i)and f(sub i) are the single-scattering albedo and the fractional abundance of the ith component, and (bar)omega(sub mix) is the effective single-scattering albedo of the Mixture. We describe an empirical, modified linear-mixing method which effectively accounts for the multiple interactions between aerosol components. The modified and standard methods are identical when epsilon = 0.0 and give similar results when epsilon is less than or equal to 0.05. For optical depths larger than approximately 0.5, or when epsilon is greater than 0.05, only the modified method can reproduce the radiances within 5% error for common aerosol types up to optical thickness of 2.0. Because this method facilitates efficient and accurate atmospheric path radiance calculations for mixtures of a wide variety of aerosol types, it will be used as part of the aerosol retrieval methodology for the Earth Observing System (EOS) multiangle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR), scheduled for launch into polar orbit in 1998.

Abdou, W. A.↗

MISR Level 2 Aerosol parameters (MIL2ASAE_V1)

The Aerosol data contain aerosol optical depth, aerosol physical model, ancillary meteorological data, and related parameters. The aerosol data include tropospheric aerosol optical depth, Angstrom exponent and single scattering albedo on 17.6 km centers, aerosol mixture identifier and retrieval residuals, and ancillary data including assumed ozone optical depth and retrieval flags. For complete information about the aerosol mixtures, the user will need to order the MISR Aerosol Climatology Product (MIANACP) to obtain Aerosol Physical and Optical Properties (APOP) and the Mixture files. The Mixture files list up to 3 component models used in each mixture, with their relative compositional fractions, and includes ancillary information such as single scattering albedo. The APOP gives detailed information for the component particle models. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=2000-02-24; Stop_Date=] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1.1 km - 17.6 km; Longitude_Resolution=1.1 km - 17.6 km; Horizontal_Resolution_Range=1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree; Temporal_Resolution=about 15 orbits/day].

CIRRUS OPTICAL DEPTH↗

To What Extent Biomass Burning Aerosols Impact South America Seasonal Climate Predictions?

We applied the Goddard Earth Observing System for subseasonal to seasonal climate prediction to assess the impact of inclusion biomass burning (BB) aerosols over South America (SA) during the austral winter. We also evaluated the model sensitivity to the BB emissions prescription using no emissions, monthly climatological, and daily emissions. Each hindcast consisted of four members running from June to November of each year between 2000 and 2015. Our results indicated that interactive BB aerosols improve the seasonal climate prediction performance over SA. More realistic daily based emissions significantly further improve the performance in comparison with the climatological ones. Therefore, improvements in the BB emissions representation are urged to represent the aerosol impacts on seasonal climate prediction performance adequately.

Julliana L. M. Freire↗

Multiwavelength Measurements of the Stratospheric Aerosol Layer Made at Hampton, Virginia (37N, 76W)

Atmospheric observations have recently commenced using a new lidar system. The lidar, intended for the study of clouds and aerosols in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, is presently being installed at NASA Langley. Although all the lidar subsystems are not yet in place, a program of three wavelength observations of the stratospheric layer was begun in late Feb. 1992. The present observations are continuing and work is currently in progress to improve the inversion algorithm used to obtain the backscatter profiles. The profiles will then be further used, in conjunction with suitable aerosol models, to derive the size distribution parameters and to make estimates of the column mass loading.

Kent, G. S.↗

Mt. Pinatubo's Impacts on the GEOS Forecasting System

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 had dramatic effects on the global climate, introducing a sudden and extreme forcing on the radiative budget. In this presentation we analyze the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption on the seasonal forecast performed with Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS), an Earth System Model that includes a bulk aerosol model coupled to radiation and an interactive ocean.We performed three ten-member ensembles of 12-month simulations (June 1991-May 1992). These simulations were performed with a 0.5 longitude by 0.5 latitude horizontal resolution. Out of the three ensembles, one excludes the eruption, representing the control experiment. The other two ensembles include the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, varying in the effective radius of the volcanic sulfate: one assumed the effective radius to be equal to 0.35 micron (as for tropospheric aerosol) and the other has the effective radius set to 0.6 micron (closer to natural observation). Through the analysis of the aerosol forcing results derived from the two assumptions, we can show how this forcing acts on the seasonal forecast system. In particular, we will focus on the impacts to the surface and ocean temperatures and precipitation.

Mukherjee, Nikita↗

Influence of biogenic emissions from boreal forests on aerosol–cloud interactions

Boreal forest acts as a carbon sink and contributes to the formation of secondary organic aerosols via emission of aerosol precursor compounds. However, these influences on the climate system are poorly quantified. Here we show direct observational evidence that aerosol emissions from the boreal forest biosphere influence warm cloud microphysics and cloud-aerosol interactions in a scale-dependent and highly dynamic manner. Analyses of in situ and ground-based remote-sensing observations from the SMEAR II station in Finland, conducted over eight months in 2014, reveal substantial increases in aerosol load over the forest one to three days after aerosol-poor marine air enters the forest environment. We find that these changes are consistent with secondary organic aerosol formation and, together with water-vapour emissions from evapotranspiration, are associated with changes in the radiative properties of warm, low-level clouds. Here, the feedbacks between boreal forest emissions and aerosol-cloud interactions and the highly dynamic nature of these interactions in air transported over the forest over timescales of several days suggest boreal forests have the potential to mitigate climate change on a continental scale. Our findings suggest that even small changes in aerosol precursor emissions, whether due to changing climatic or anthropogenic factors, may substantially modify the radiative properties of clouds in moderately polluted environments. Emissions from the boreal forest biosphere can substantially increase aerosol load above the forest and influence the radiative properties of clouds, according to analysis of observations from a monitoring station in Finland.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Studying the 2019-2020 Australian Bushfires Using NASA Data

The 2019-2020 season has been one of the worst fire seasons on record. Australia has seen unprecedented heat waves, with temperatures reaching 120 F (49.1 C) in January across central and eastern Australia. NASA's satellites not only tracked the event in real time, using resources such as the Global Actives Fires and Hotspots Dashboard you see below, but also collected large volumes of rich data that scientists and researchers can use to study the event and the regional and global effects of the disaster. In this Esri StoryMap, we will guide you through the factors leading up to the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires disaster, the effect this event has had on air quality and global atmospheric composition, and the science behind researching the tie between disasters and public health. This story map will use data from ASDC-supported NASA missions such as the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III) on the International Space Station (ISS), and Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR).

Sanjana Paul↗

Multiangle Remote Sensing of Aerosols Over Ocean

Multiangle, multispectral remote sensing observations, such as those anticipated from the Earth Observing System (EOS) Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), can significantly improve our ability to constrain aerosol properties from space.

retrieve column optical depth calm ocean particle ↗

The ACCP Inclined Orbit Project: Enabling New and Synergistic Aerosol Remote Sensing Inversions

Atmospheric aerosols have high spatiotemporal variations due to their diverse sources including windblown dust, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and anthropogenic emissions. These aerosols also have strong diurnal emission characteristics that influence long-range transport, air quality, Earth’s radiation budget, biogeochemical cycles, and weather forecasting. While current sensors can measure the steady-state of global 3D cloud and aerosol properties, we lack the observational datasets to discover the diurnal variability of aerosols, even at seasonal and regional scales, because these missions utilize sun synchronous orbits. An Aerosols and Clouds, Convection and Precipitation (ACCP) observing system has been established as part of NASA’s new Earth System Observatory (ESO) to fulfill the science needs presented in the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey. The selected ACCP architecture encompasses sensors in two orbit planes, one of which utilizes an inclined orbit (nominally ~55 degrees at a 407 km altitude) to advance our understanding of aerosol and cloud properties and target the dynamics of the cloud and aerosol processes on sub-daily time scales. The anticipated instrumentation suite for the ACCP Inclined Orbit Project is a Stereo Camera System, Polarimeter, Microwave Radiometer, Two-Frequency Radar, and Backscatter Lidar. The polarimeter is expected to have multiple wavelength bands and viewing angles to enable accurate retrievals of aerosol microphysical and optical properties. The backscatter lidar will provide vertical profiles of attenuated backscatter and depolarization ratio at two wavelengths, with better daytime signal-to-noise ratio than previous space-based lidar systems to improve aerosol detection/typing and estimates of aerosol optical properties. The stereo camera system, while designed primarily for clouds, will also provide aerosol plume heights and air motions at the plume heights. This invited presentation will provide (1) an overview of the ACCP Inclined Orbit Project, (2) a description of the new sensor capabilities and orbital characteristics, and (3) a preview of the potential for new synergistic aerosol inversion techniques.

John E Yorks↗

Global Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) Results: Aerosol Backscatter Global Distribution and Wavelength Dependence

The GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) was initiated by NASA in 1986 as an interagency and international research effort to characterize tropospheric backscatter properties. The primary objective of the program is to develop realistic aerosol backscatter inputs for design and simulation studies for NASA's prospective Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS). To achieve this, GLOBE incorporates several different types of aerosol sensors, which operate from a variety of sensor platforms, covering a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and measure a diverse set of aerosol physical, chemical, and optical properties. The results of this analysis have provided important new information on the life cycles and physicochemical properties of global scale tropospheric aerosol systems. In addition, GLOBE analytical methods will be useful for the Earth Observing System (EOS) and other studies that involve the assimilation of large, complex atmospheric aerosol databases.

Bowdle, David A.↗

Studying the 2019 Australian Bushfires Disaster using NASA Data: A Data-Driven Storytelling Approach

The 2019-2020 Australian fire season was particularly devastating, with millions of acres of land burned and impacts affecting Australian ecology, local populations and air quality, and the atmosphere. Australia saw unprecedented heat waves, with temperatures reaching 120 F (49.1 C) in January across central and eastern Australia. The fires gave rise to a host of atmospheric phenomenon, including smoke transport and lofting generated by storm-induced by fires, known as pyrocumulonimbus, reaching the stratosphere. NASA’s satellites not only tracked the event in real time, but also gathered data to further inform forecasting and response methods in the future. To better assist the public in understanding the lead up, impacts, and aftermath effects of these fires, the Science Outreach Team at NASA Langley Research Center’s Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) used Esri’s storymap tool to guide users through understanding relevant phenomenon, contributing factors, the effects this event has had on global atmospheric composition, and the science behind researching the tie between disasters and public health. The storymap uses data from the ASDC-supported NASA missions Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT), Cloud-Aerosol and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III), and Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). By using data-driven storytelling to communicate impacts of a large fire event, we hope to provide an accessible, engaging science outreach tool format.

Sanjana Paul↗