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Temperature, Humidity, and Time-Lapse Video Data from the East River Watershed, Water Year 2024

A new version of this dataset is available at doi:10.15485/3001338 and is the first citation in the 'Related References' section. It is expands on this dataset by appending another water year of data collection and additional logger sites.This dataset contains time-lapse imagery and distributed measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and soil temperature across the East River basin from 3 October 2023 to 12 August 2024. Instruments were deployed at 14 sites as part of the DOE Grant: Seasonal Cycles Unravel Mysteries of Missing Mountain Water organized by Jessica Lundquist (University of Washington), Rosemary Carroll (Desert Research Institute), and Ethan Gutmann (National Center for Atmospheric Research). The data are published to support studies of surface climate or hydrologic processes in complex terrain. Measurements were collected with low-cost data loggers installed 2 m high on evergreen trees or buried just below the soil surface. Time-lapse cameras were deployed at three sites. Imagery from sites AP BONUS and AP5 provides insight into large-scale seasonal snow cover variability. Imagery from site EL2 shows smaller-scale snow patterns across a nearby meadow.Dataset files are organized by site and variable (air measurements, ground measurements, or time-lapse video). Air and ground measurements are packaged in LoggerData.zip, and time-lapse imagery is compiled into short videos stored in TimelapseVideos.zip. File-level metadata contains details for each file included in the dataset. A data dictionary provides units and descriptions for column or row names in all files. The locations metadata file describes site characteristics, locations, and associated GPS methods.Dataset update 2025-03-03: Resolved header and datetime formatting inconsistencies within LoggerData.zip files KP1_Air, KP3_Air, KP3_Ground, KP6_Ground, AP3_Ground, AP4_Air, and AP6_Air.Dataset update 2025-11-18: Modified abstract and related references sections to include new version of dataset.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Hydrogen chloride measurements in the Space Shuttle exhaust cloud - First launch, April 12, 1981

Partitioning of hydrogen chloride between the aerosol and gaseous phases in the first Space Shuttle exhaust cloud was experimentally investigated as the exhaust cloud was diluted with ambient air. Airborne measurements were obtained of gaseous hydrogen chloride (HCl), total HCl, relative humidity, and temperature to determine the conditions controlling HCl aerosol formation in the Shuttle exhaust cloud. Two segments of the cloud, each at a significantly different relative humidity, were monitored. Equilibrium predictions of HCl aerosol formation agreed with the measured HCl partitioning at the higher and lower relative humidity conditions, but do not agree at the aerosol formation threshold region. Measurements were taken in the Shuttle exhaust cloud from 8.6 min until 2 h and 8 min after launch. HCl concentrations ranged from 17.5 to 0.9 ppm and relative humidity from 86% to less than 10%.

Sebacher, D. I.↗

Characterizing the Phyllosilicates and Amorphous Phases Found by MSL Using Laboratory XRD and EGA Measurements of Natural and Synthetic Materials

The Curiosity Rover landed on the Peace Vallis alluvial fan in Gale crater on August 5, 2012. A primary mission science objective is to search for past habitable environments, and, in particular, to assess the role of past water. Identifying the minerals and mineraloids that result from aqueous alteration at Gale crater is essential for understanding past aqueous processes at the MSL landing site and hence for interpreting the site's potential habitability. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data from the CheMin instrument and evolved gas analyses (EGA) from the SAM instrument have helped the MSL science team identify phases that resulted from aqueous processes: phyllosilicates and amorphous phases were measure in two drill samples (John Klein and Cumberland) obtained from the Sheepbed Member, Yellowknife Bay Fm., which is believed to represent a fluvial-lacustrine environment. A third set of analyses was obtained from scoop samples from the Rocknest sand shadow. Chemical data from the APXS instrument have helped constrain the chemical compositions of these secondary phases and suggest that the phyllosilicate component is Mg-enriched and the amorphous component is Fe-enriched, relatively Si-poor, and S- and H-bearing. To refine the phyllosilicate and amorphous components in the samples measured by MSL, we measured XRD and EGA data for a variety of relevant natural terrestrial phyllosilicates and synthetic mineraloids in laboratory testbeds of the CheMin and SAM instruments. Specifically, Mg-saturated smectites and vermiculites were measured with XRD at low relative humidity to understand the behavior of the 001 reflections under Mars-like conditions. Our laboratory XRD measurements suggest that interlayer cation composition affects the hydration state of swelling clays at low RH and, thus, the 001 peak positions. XRD patterns of synthetic amorphous materials, including allophane, ferrihydrite, and hisingerite were used in full-pattern fitting (FULLPAT) models to help determine the types and abundances of amorphous phases in the martian rocks and sand shadow. These models suggest that the rocks and sand shadow are composed of approx 30% amorphous phases. Sulfate-adsorbed allophane and ferrihydrite were measured by EGA to further understand the speciation of the sulfur present in the amorphous component. These data indicate that sulfate adsorbed onto the surfaces of amorphous phases could explain a portion of the SO2 evolution in the Rocknest SAM data. The additional constraints placed on the mineralogy and chemistry of the aqueous alteration phases through our laboratory measurements can help us better understand the nature of the fluids that affected the different samples and devise a history of aqueous alteration for the Sheepbed Member of the Yellowknife Bay Fm. at Gale crater.

Rampe, Elizabeth B.↗

Estimating moisture transport over oceans using space-based observations

The moisture transport integrated over the depth of the atmosphere (0) is estimated over oceans using satellite data. The transport is the product of the precipitable water and an equivalent velocity (ue), which, by definition, is the depth-averaged wind velocity weighted by humidity. An artificial neural network is employed to construct a relation between the surface wind velocity measured by the spaceborne scatterometer and coincident ue derived using humidity and wind profiles measured by rawinsondes and produced by reanalysis of operational numerical weather prediction (NWP). On the basis of this relation, 0 fields are produced over global tropical and subtropical oceans (40_N- 40_S) at 0.25_ latitude-longitude and twice daily resolutions from August 1999 to December 2003 using surface wind vector from QuikSCAT and precipitable water from the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission. The derived ue were found to capture the major temporal variability when compared with radiosonde measurements. The average error over global oceans, when compared with NWP data, was comparable with the instrument accuracy specification of space-based scatterometers. The global distribution exhibits the known characteristics of, and reveals more detailed variability than in, previous data.

Artificial Neural Network↗

TRACER-CAT-UCDAVIS Aerosol Optical Properties and Sizing - crdps

Aerosol size distribution and optical properties collected in La Port TX, during TRACER-CAT-UCDavis, July 2022. Speciated particle composition measurements are reported separately. All sampling was conducted with an identical aerosol inlet as the standard ARM-AOS systems. The TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment Carbonaceous Aerosols Thrust by UC Davis (TRACER-CAT-UCDavis, July 2022) was designed to complement the larger ARM TRACER science goals to understand convective cloud lifecycles and aerosol-convection interactions. TRACER-CAT-UCDavis is focused on understanding the relationship between particle composition and light absorption and the influence of water uptake on this relationship. This aerosol data can be used to understand the relationship between particle composition and light absorption and the influence of water uptake on this relationship. Instruments include: UC Davis two-wavelength cavity ringdown-photoacoustic spectrometer (CRD-PAS); Brechtel scanning electrical mobility sizer (SEMS); modified humidified cavity attenuated phase shift spectrometer with single scatter albedo (H-CAPS-SSA)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Atomizing Electrospray Nozzles on the Cooling and Reduced Humidification of Air

Separating sensible and latent cooling have shown the potential to reduce energy consumption in A/C systems for building HVAC applications. Several technologies exist based on vapor-compression refrigeration, enthalpy wheels, chemical adsorption and absorption materials, and mechanical cooling. However, their thermodynamics limits and high energy consumption hinder their deployment in hot and humid climatic regions. This paper focuses on separating sensible and latent cooling by using a new thermodynamics process and in-kind (i.e., non-vapor compression-based) technology. Highly electrically charged water droplets were sprayed in the airflow. These droplets attracted water vapor molecules to their surfaces and promoted condensation. The phenomenon was the result of simultaneous dielectrophoresis and electro-diffusion interactions. Studies in the literature have shown that using multiple capillary electrodes reduced air moisture by up to 5% when using nanometer-size droplets in the spray. Unfortunately, these studies were limited to low airflow rates, and the objective of this paper was to investigate how to scale up this in-kind approach to airflows typical of buildings. In the present paper, droplets of micrometer size were utilized to control the humidity for a 5-cfm flow rate. While this airflow was still low for building applications, it was 100 times fold the airflows in the literature studies. The air was tested at 20°C and at 50 and 80% relative humidity. A two-fluid atomizing nozzle produced the droplets in the spray, and high DC electric potential, up to 25 kV, was used to charge the fine droplets electrically. The air atomizing nozzle with high voltage potential resembled an evaporative cooler process. However, a measurable reduction of the absolute humidity of up to 2% was observed compared to the case of the nozzle with no high voltage potential. The entire device had one small nozzle selected from off-the-shelf components and had less than a 9 cm2 footprint area.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Large-Scale Synoptic Systems and Fog During the C-FOG Field Experiment

Abstract The goal of this work is to summarize synoptic meteorological conditions during the Coastal Fog (C-FOG) field project that took place onshore and offshore of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, from 25 August until 8 October 2018. Visibility was measured at three locations at the Ferryland supersite that are about 1 km from each other, and at two additional sites 66 and 76 km to the north. Supporting meteorological measurements included surface winds, air temperature, humidity, pressure, radiation, cloud-base height, and atmospheric thermodynamic profiles from radiosonde soundings. Statistics are presented for surface measurements during fog events including turbulence kinetic energy, net longwave radiation, visibility, and precipitation. Eleven fog events are observed at Ferryland. Each significant fog event is related to a large-scale cyclonic system. The longest fog event is due to interaction of a northern deep low and a tropical cyclone. Fog occurrence is also examined across Atlantic Canada by including Sable Island, Yarmouth, Halifax, and Sydney. It is concluded that at Ferryland, all significant fog events occur under a cyclonic system while at Sable Island all significant fog events occur under both cyclonic and anticyclonic systems. The fog-formation mechanism involves cloud lowering and stratus broadening or only stratus broadening for the cyclonic systems while for the anticyclonic systems it is stratus broadening or radiation. Although widely cited as the main cause of fog in Atlantic Canada, advection fog is not found to be the primary or sole fog type in the events examined.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Millimeter-wave atmospheric loss prediction method

Relationship between atmospheric attenuation and the ground temperature and humidity provides a reference from which changes in temperature and humidity will produce a corresponding atmospheric loss figure. Computer program computes atmospheric loss due to water content, given the measured loss and ground temperature and humidity.

Stelzried, C. T.↗

Wind lidar operations and observations from Tundra Pigeon

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory brought a ZX-300 profiling lidar to the Tundra Pigeon experiment for the purpose of collecting wind measurements in the lower atmospheric boundary layer. The ZX-300 lidar is a portable Doppler lidar which uses light to track naturally occurring aerosols across a measurement cone, thereby deriving wind speed (horizontal and vertical) and wind direction. The ZX-300 is programable between the heights of 10 m and 300 m above ground level and additionally has a 1 m onboard meteorological sensor for collecting measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and wind at 1 m height. We programmed the ZX-300 to target altitudes of most interest to the tracer experiment. These heights were 10, 15, 20, 30, 38, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 m. Note that the 38 m level is a fixed calibration height and cannot be changed. This measurement strategy prioritized winds close to the surface while ensuring that we’d also collect information about the winds aloft. The wind measurements are collected directly over the lidar instrument and represent a vertical profile of the winds over that location. However, given that there were minimal terrain and vegetation differences in the area, we’d expect these wind conditions to be representative of a larger volume area, discussed in more detail below.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Influence of Humidity On the Aerosol Scattering Coefficient and Its Effect on the Upwelling Radiance During ACE-2

Aerosol scattering coefficients (sigma(sub sp)) have been measured over the ocean at different relative humidities (RH) as a function of altitude in the region surrounding the Canary Islands during the Second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) in June and July 1997. The data were collected by the University of Washington passive humidigraph (UWPH) mounted on the Pelican research aircraft. Concurrently, particle size distributions, absorption coefficients and aerosol optical depth were measured throughout 17 flights. A parameterization of sigma(sub sp) as a function of RH was utilized to assess the impact of aerosol hydration on the upwelling radiance (normalized to the solar constant and cosine of zenith angle). The top of the atmosphere radiance signal was simulated at wavelengths corresponding to visible and near-infrared bands of the EOS (Earth Observing System) AM-1 (Terra) detectors, MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and MISR (Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer). The UWPH measured sigma(sub sp) at two RHs, one below and the other above ambient conditions. Ambient sigma(sub sp) was obtained by interpolation of these two measurements. The data were stratified in terms of three types of aerosols: Saharan dust, clean marine (marine boundary layer background) and polluted marine aerosols (i.e., two- or one-day old polluted aerosols advected from Europe). An empirical relation for the dependence of sigma(sub sp) on RH, defined by sigma(sub sp)(RH) = k.(1 - RH/100)(sup gamma), was used with the hygroscopic exponent gamma derived from the data. The following gamma values were obtained for the 3 aerosol types: gamma(dust) = 0.23 +/- 0.05, gamma(clean marine) = 0.69 +/- 0.06 and gamma(polluted marine) = 0.57 +/- 0.06. Based on the measured gammas, the above equation was utilized to derive aerosol models with different hygroscopicities. The satellite simulation signal code 6S was used to compute the upwelling radiance corresponding to each of those aerosol models at several ambient humidities. For the prelaunch estimated precision of the sensors and the assumed viewing geometry of the instrument, the simulations suggest that the spectral and angular dependence of the reflectance measured by MISR is not sufficient to distinguish aerosol models with various different combinations of values for dry composition, gamma and ambient RH. A similar behavior is observed for MODIS at visible wavelengths. However, the 2100 nm band of MODIS appears to be able to differentiate between at least same aerosol models with different aerosol hygroscopicity given the MODIS calibration error requirements. This result suggests the possibility of retrieval of aerosol hygroscopicity by MODIS.

Gasso, S.↗

Influence of Humidity on the Aerosol Scattering Coefficient and Its Effect on the Upwelling Radiance During ACE-2

Aerosol scattering coefficients (sigma(sub sp)) have been measured over the ocean at different relative humidities (RH) as a function of attitude in the region surrounding the Canary Islands during the Second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) in June and July 1997. The data were collected by the University of Washington passive humidigraph (UWPH) mounted on the Pelican research aircraft. Concurrently, particle size distributions absorption coefficients and aerosol optical depth were measured throughout 17 flights. A parameterization of sigma(sub sp) as a function of RH was utilized to assess the impact of aerosol hydration on the upwelling radiance (normalized to the solar constant and cosine of zenith angle). The top of the atmosphere radiance signal was simulated at wavelengths corresponding to visible and near-infrared bands or the EOS-AM ("Terra") detectors, MODIS and MISR. The UWPH measured (sigma(sub sp)) at 2 RHs, one below and the other above ambient conditions. Ambient (sigma(sub sp)) was obtained by interpolation of these 2 measurements. The data were stratified in terms of 3 types of aerosols: Saharan dust, clean marine (marine boundary layer background) and polluted marine aerosols (i.e., 2- or 1-day old polluted aerosols advected from Europe). An empirical relation for the dependence of (sigma(sub sp)) on RH, defined by (sigma(sub sp))(RH) = k. ((1 - RH/100)(exp -gamma), was used with the hygroscopic exponent gamma derived from the data. The following gamma values were obtained for the 3 aerosol types: gamma(dust) = 0.23 +/- 0.05, gamma(clean marine) = 0.69 +/- 0.06 and gamma(polluted marine) = 0.57 + 0.06. Based on the measured (gamma)(s), the above equation was utilized to derive aerosol models with different hygroscopicities. The satellite simulation signal code 6S was used to compute the upwelling radiance corresponding to each of those aerosol models at several ambient humidities. For the pre-launch estimated precision of the sensors and the assumed viewing geometry of the instrument, the simulations suggest that the spectral and angular dependence of the reflectance measured by MISR is not sufficient to distinguish aerosol models with various different combinations of values ror dry composition. y and ambient RH. A similar behavior is observed for MODIS at visible wavelengths. However, the 2100 nm band of MODIS appears to be able to differentiate between at least some aerosol models with different aerosol hygroscopicity given the MODIS calibration error requirements. This result suggests the possibility of retrieval of aerosol hygroscopicity by MODIS.

Gasso, B. S.↗

A multifrequency microwave radiometer of the future

The design of the High-Resolution Multifrequency Microwave Radiometer (HMMR), which is to be installed on EOS, is described. The HMMR is to consist of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), the Advanced Mechanically Scanned Radiometer (AMSR), and the Electronically Scanned Thinned Array Radiometer (ESTAR). The AMSU is a 20-channel microwave radiometer system designed to measure profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity and the AMSR is a microwave imager with channels at 6, 10, 18, 21, 37, and 90 GHz for measuring snow cover over land, the age and areal extent of sea ice, the intensity of precipitation over oceans and land, and the amount of water in the atmosphere. ESTAR is an imaging radiometer operating near 1.4 GHz capable of obtaining global maps of surface soil moisture with a spatial resolution of about 10 km. The antenna and signal processing utilized in the ESTAR to achieve the real aperture resolution are examined.

Le Vine, D.↗

Exploring Proton Activity at the Membrane/Electrode Interface with Microelectrodes

Microelectrode measurements using a polycrystalline platinum microelectrode were used to simulate the membrane/electrode interface of a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) architecture. The proton activity for the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) was evaluated for 40, 60, and 80% relative humidity. Proton activity was calculated to be 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 for 40, 60, and 80% relative humidity, respectively, using open circuit potential measurements between Nafion 211 and 1 molal HClO 4 . The fraction of protons which dissociate at a given relative humidity condition appears to be a distinctive factor in proton activity for Nafion 211 compared to an aqueous electrolyte. In conclusion, the microelectrode measurements exhibited a Tafel slope of ~120 mV/dec, similar to that observed for platinum in MEA systems, demonstrating that kinetic measurements made with microelectrodes can be representative of MEA kinetics.

Anderson, Grace C.↗

How similar are temperature and humidity profiles in the unstable boundary layer?

A comparison was made between temperature and humidity profiles obtained from radiosonde measurements under unstable conditions over hilly terrain in northeastern Kansas during the summer and fall of 1987. The summer profiles were found to be similar in a layer over the height range given by z = 65(plus or minus 45) to 124(plus or minus 54)m, where z is the height above the ground surface reference level. Evidence for this similarity was the closeness of the scaled ratio of the temperature and humidity gradients at any given time to the mean Bowen ratio determined at ground-based surface flux stations. Above the layer, in the outer region of the atmospheric boundary layer, it was found that the profiles of humidity and potential temperature are completely dissimilar in terms of the surface Bowen ratio. The profiles of the fall campaign when soil moisture content was low and vegetation senescent displayed a less pronounced similarity.

Sugita, Michiaki↗

Abstracts of papers presented at the Eleventh International Laser Radar Conference

Abstracts of 39 papers discuss measurements of properties from the Earth's ocean surface to the mesosphere, made with techniques ranging from elastic and inelastic scattering to Doppler shifts and differential absorption. Topics covered include: (1) middle atmospheric measurements; (2) meteorological parameters: temperature, density, humidity; (3) trace gases by Raman and DIAL techniques; (4) techniques and technology; (5) plume dispersion; (6) boundary layer dynamics; (7) wind measurements; visibility and aerosol properties; and (9) multiple scattering, clouds, and hydrometers.

Source record↗

In Situ Aerosol Size Distributions and Clear Column Radiative Closure During ACE-2

As part of the second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) during June and July of 1997, aerosol size distributions were measured on board the CIRPAS Pelican aircraft through the use of a DMA and two OPCS. During the campaign, the boundary layer aerosol typically possessed characteristics representative of a background marine aerosol or a continentally influenced aerosol, while the free tropospheric aerosol was characterized by the presence or absence of a Saharan dust layer. A range of radiative closure comparisons were made using the data obtained during vertical profiles flown on four missions. Of particular interest here are the comparisons made between the optical properties as determined through the use of measured aerosol size distributions and those measured directly by an airborne 14-wavelength sunphotometer and three nephelometers. Variations in the relative humidity associated with each of the direct measurements required consideration of the hygroscopic properties of the aerosol for size distribution based calculations. Simultaneous comparison with such a wide range of directly measured optical parameters not only offers evidence of the validity of the physicochemical description of the aerosol when closure is achieved, but also provides insight into potential sources of error when some or all of the comparisons result in disagreement. Agreement between the derived and directly measured optical properties varied for different measurements and for different cases. Averaged over the four case studies, the derived extinction coefficient at 525 nm exceeded that measured by the sunphotomoter by 2.5% in the clean boundary later, but underestimated measurements by 13% during pollution events. For measurements within the free troposphere, the mean derived extinction coefficient was 3.3% and 17% less than that measured by the sunphotometer during dusty and nondusty conditions, respectively. Likewise, averaged discrepancies between the derived and measured scattering coefficient were -9.6%, +4.7%, +17%, and -41% for measurements within the clean boundary layer, polluted boundary layer, free troposphere with a dust layer, and free troposphere without a dust layer, respectively. Each of these quantities, as well as the majority of the > 100 individual comparisons from which they were averaged, were within estimated uncertainties.

Collins, D. R.↗

In Situ Aerosol-Size Distributions and Clear-Column Radiative Closure During ACE-2

As part of the second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) during June and July of 1997, aerosol-size distributions were measured on board the CIRPAS Pelican aircraft through the use of a Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA) and 2 Optical Particle Counters (OPCs). During the campaign, the boundary-layer aerosol typically possessed characteristics representative of a background marine aerosol or a continentally influenced aerosol, while the free-tropospheric aerosol was characterized by the presence or absence of a Saharan dust layer. A range of radiative closure comparisons were made using the data obtained during vertical profiles flown on 4 missions. Of particular interest here are the comparisons made between the optical properties as determined through the use of measured aerosol-size distributions and those measured directly by an airborne 14-wavelength sunphotometer and 3 nephelometers. Variations in the relative humidity associated with each of the direct measurements required consideration of the hygroscopic properties of the aerosol for size-distribution-based calculations. Simultaneous comparison with such a wide range of directly-measured optical parameters not only offers evidence of the validity of the physicochemical description of the aerosol when closure is achieved, but also provides insight into potential sources of error when some or all of the comparisons result in disagreement. Agreement between the derived and directly-measured optical properties varied for different measurements and for different cases. Averaged over the 4 case studies, the derived extinction coefficient at 525 nm exceeded that measured by the sunphotometer by 2.5% in the clean boundary layer, but underestimated measurements by 13% during pollution events. For measurements within the free troposphere, the mean derived extinction coefficient was 3.3% and 17% less than that measured by the sunphotometer during dusty and non-dusty conditions, respectively. Likewise, averaged discrepancies between the derived and measured scattering coefficient were -9.6%, +4.7%, +17%, and -41% for measurements within the clean boundary layer, polluted boundary layer, free troposphere with a dust layer, and free troposphere without a dust layer, respectively. Each of these quantities, as well as the majority of the more than 100 individual comparisons from which they were averaged, were within estimated uncertainties.

Collins, R.↗