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At least 433 records · Page 24

A-Train Data Depot: Integrating and Visualizing Atmospheric Measurements Along the A-Train Tracks

The succession of US and international satellites that follow each other, seconds to minutes apart, across the local afternoon equator crossing is called the ATrain. The A-Train consists of the following satellites, in order of equator crossing: OCO, EOS Aqua, CloudSat, CALIPSO, PARASOL, and EOS Aura. Flying in such formation increases the number of observations, validates observations, and enables coordination between science observations, resulting in a more complete virtual science platform (Kelly, 2000) The goal of this project is to create the first ever A-Train virtual data portal/center, the A-Train Data Depot, to process, archive, access, visualize, analyze and correlate distributed atmosphere measurements from various A-Train instruments along A-Train tracks. The A-Train Data Depot (ATDD) will enable the free movement of remotely located A-Train data so that they are combined to create a consolidated vertical view of the Earth s Atmosphere along the A-Train tracks. Once the infrastructure of the ATDD is in place, it will be easily evolved to serve data from all A-Train data measurements: one stop shopping. The innovative approach of analyzing and visualizing atmospheric profiles along the platforms track (i.e., time) will be accommodated by reusing the GSFC Atmospheric Composition Data and Information Services Center (ACDISC) visualization and analysis tool, GIOVANNI, existing data reduction tools, on-line archwing for fast data access, and Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CRA) data co-registration tools. Initial measurements utilized include CALIPSO lidar backscatter, CloudSat radar reflectivity, clear air relative humidity, water vapor and temperature from AIRS, and cloud properties and aerosols from both MODIS. This will be followed by associated measurements from MLS, OMI, HIRDLS, and TES. Given the independent nature of instrument/platform development, the ATDD project has been met with many interesting challenges that, once resolved, will provide a much greater understanding of the relative flight dynamics and data co-registration of the suite of A-Train instruments, thus greatly increasing the accuracy of A-Train data analysis. Some of these challenges will be discussed. The project s resulting visualizations and analysis illustrate the importance of managing data so that measurements from various missions can be combined to enhance the understanding of the atmosphere. A-Train data management coordination, as performed here, is extremely significant in facilitating the A-Train science of clouds, precipitation, aerosol and chemistry.

Kempler, Steven↗

SPECULATIONS ON ADAPTATIONS OF ANY LIFE ON VENUS, PAST TO EXTANT.

If life arose on Venus or was seeded in its ancient past when it presumably had liquid water on the surface until perhaps about a billion years ago[1-3], it has experienced considerable changes in environmental conditions. Little is known about the conditions on early Venus, but what has been inferred for Earth provides some speculative basis given their physical similarity, proximity to theSun and past volcanic activity. The key conditions include surface temperature, pressure, atmospheric composition, geochemical make-up, presence of liquid water, global circulation, and the rotation state(rate and axial tilt) which control the day-night cycle over the planet and its atmosphere. Full abstract in record details

S. S. Limaye↗

Stellar occultations

It is important that future occultations by Titan be predicted well in advance, and imperative that they be observed adequately. Stellar occultations can yield reliable temperature/number density profiles of Titan's upper atmosphere near the density level. The temperature profiles can be used to discriminate between atmospheric compositions having high mean molecular weights, and those having low mean molecular weights. Detection of spikes at several wavelengths with high time resolution gives useful limits on the helium content of the atmosphere.

Veverka, J.↗

Assessment of the Effects of High-Speed Aircraft in the Stratosphere: 1998

This report assesses the potential atmospheric impacts of a proposed fleet of high-speed civil transport (HSCT) aircraft. The purpose of the report is to assess the effects of HSCT's on atmospheric composition and climate in order to provide a scientific basis for making technical, commercial, and environmental policy decisions regarding the HSCT fleet. The work summarized here was carried out as part of NASA's Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project (a component of the High-Speed Research Program) as well as other NASA, U.S., and international research programs. The principal focus is on change in stratospheric ozone concentrations. The impact on climate change is also a concern. The report describes progress in understanding atmospheric processes, the current state of understanding of HSCT emissions, numerical model predictions of HSCT impacts, the principal uncertainties in atmospheric predictions, and the associated sensitivities in predicted effects of HSCT'S.

Kawa, S. Randolph↗

Assessment of the Effects of High-Speed Aircraft in the Stratosphere: 1998

This report assesses the potential atmospheric impacts of a proposed fleet of high-speed civil transport (HSCT) aircraft. The purpose of the report is to assess the effects of HSCT's on atmospheric composition and climate in order to provide a scientific basis for making technical, commercial, and environmental policy decisions regarding the HSCT fleet. The work summarized here was carried out as part of NASA's Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project (a component of the High-Speed Research Program) as well as other NASA, U.S., and international research programs. The principal focus is on change in stratospheric ozone concentrations. The impact on climate change is also a concern. The report describes progress in understanding atmospheric processes, the current state of understanding of HSCT emissions, numerical model predictions of HSCT impacts, the principal uncertainties in atmospheric predictions, and the associated sensitivities in predicted effects of HSCT's.

Kawa, S. Randolph↗

Retrieval of Aerosol Properties from Multi-Spectral Extinction Measurements

The direct-beam spectral extinction of solar radiation contains information on atmospheric composition in a form that is essentially free from the data analysis complexities that often arise from multiple scattering. Ground based Multi-Filter Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) measurements provide such information for the vertical atmospheric column path, while solar occultation measurements from a satellite platform provide horizontal slices through the atmosphere. We describe application of a Multi-Spectral Atmospheric Column Extinction (MACE) analysis technique used to analyze MFRSR data also to occultation measurements made by SAGE II. For analysis, we select the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption period to retrieve atmospheric profiles of ozone and NO2, and changes in the stratospheric aerosol size and optical depth. The time evolution of volcanic aerosol serves as a passive tracer to study stratospheric dynamics, and changes in particle size put constraints on the sulfur chemistry modeling of volcanic aerosols. Paper presented at The '99 Kyoto Aerosol-Cloud Workshop, held Dec 1-3, 1999, Kyoto, Japan

Lacis, Andrew A.↗

Retrieval of Aerosol Properties from Multi-Spectral Extinction Measurements

The direct-beam spectral extinction of solar radiation contains information on atmospheric composition in a form that is essentially free from the data analysis complexities that often arise from multiple scattering. Ground based Multi-Filter Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) measurements provide such information for the vertical atmospheric column path, while solar occultation measurements from a satellite platform provide horizontal slices through the atmosphere. We describe application of a Multi-Spectral Atmospheric Column Extinction (MACE) analysis technique used to analyze MFRSR data also to occultation measurements made by SAGE 11. For analysis, we select the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption period to retrieve atmospheric profiles of ozone and NO2, and changes in the stratospheric aerosol size and optical depth. The time evolution of volcanic aerosol serves as a passive tracer to study stratospheric dynamics, and changes in particle size put constraints on the sulfur chemistry modeling of volcanic aerosols.

Lacis, Andrew A.↗

Air Quality Forecasts Using the NASA GEOS Model

We provide an introduction to a new high-resolution (0.25 degree) global composition forecast produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation office. The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS-5) model has been expanded to provide global near-real-time forecasts of atmospheric composition at a horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km). Previously, this combination of detailed chemistry and resolution was only provided by regional models. This system combines the operational GEOS-5 weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 11) to provide detailed chemical analysis of a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Near Real-Time Global Composition Forecasts at 25km Horizontal Resolution

We present a new high-resolution global composition forecast system produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model has been expanded to provide global near-real-time 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km). This composition forecast system (GEOS-CF) system combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 12) to provide detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Satellite observations are assimilated into the system for improved representation of weather and smoke.

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Near Real-Time Air Quality Forecasts Using the NASA GEOS Model

We present a new high-resolution global composition forecast system produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model has been expanded to provide global near-real-time 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km). This composition forecast system (GEOS-CF) system combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 12) to provide detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Satellite observations are assimilated into the system for improved representation of weather and smoke.

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Near Real-Time Air Quality Forecasts Using the NASA GEOS Model

We present a new high-resolution global composition forecast system produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model has been expanded to provide global near-real-time 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km). This composition forecast system (GEOS-CF) system combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 12) to provide detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Satellite observations are assimilated into the system for improved representation of weather and smoke.

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Air Pollution Forecasts Using the NASA GEOS Model: A Unified Tool from Local to Global Scales

We present a new high-resolution global composition forecast system produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model has been expanded to provide global near-real-time 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km). This composition forecast system (GEOS-CF) system combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 12) to provide detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Satellite observations are assimilated into the system for improved representation of weather and smoke.

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Local to Global Air Quality Simulations using the NASA GEOS Composition Forecast Model, GEOS-CF

We give an overview of the NASA Global Earth Observing System Composition Forecast model (GEOS-CF), a high-resolution (roughly 25-km) global composition model developed by the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). This system combines the GEOS weather and aerosol model with the GEOS-Chem chemistry module to provide a holistic view of atmospheric composition that captures a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone,nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter.Given the global extent of the model, GEOS-CF captures large-scale processes such as long-range transport of air pollutants, across ocean basins and continents.

Knowland, Emma K.↗

Tentative Evidence for Water Vapor in the Atmosphere of the Neptune-sized Exoplanet HD106315c

We present a transmission spectrum for the Neptune-sized exoplanet HD 106315c from optical to infrared wavelengths based on transit observations from the Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3, K2, and Spitzer. The spectrum shows tentative evidence for a water absorption feature in the 1.1–1.7 μm wavelength range with a small amplitude of 30 ppm (corresponding to just 0.8 ± 0.04 atmospheric scale heights). Based on an atmospheric retrieval analysis, the presence of water vapor is tentatively favored with a Bayes factor of 1.7–2.6 (depending on prior assumptions). The spectrum is most consistent with either an enhanced metallicity or high-altitude condensates, or both. Cloud-free solar composition atmospheres are ruled out at >5σ confidence. We compare the spectrum to grids of cloudy and hazy forward models and find that the spectrum is fit well by models with moderate cloud lofting or haze formation efficiency over a wide range of metallicities (1–100× solar). We combine the constraints on the envelope composition with an interior structure model and estimate that the core mass fraction is ≳0.3. With a bulk composition reminiscent of that of Neptune and an orbital distance of 0.15 au, HD 106315c hints that planets may form out of broadly similar material and arrive at vastly different orbits later in their evolution.

Exoplanet atmospheres↗

High Resolution Global Coupled Chemistry-Meteorology Simulations Using the NASA GEOS Composition Forecast System, GEOS-CF

We will give an overview of the NASA Global Earth Observing System Composition Forecast system (GEOS-CF), a high-resolution (0.25 degree) global composition model developed by the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). This system combines the GEOS weather and aerosol model with the GEOS-Chem chemistry module (version 12) to provide a holistic view of atmospheric composition that captures a wide range of air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter. The spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees (approx. 25 km) is fine enough to resolve local features such as nighttime ozone titration previously resolved only by urban or regional models. Furthermore, since there are no boundary conditions for a global model, the GEOS-CF captures large-scale processes such as long-range transport of air pollutants from forest fires. Comparisons against surface observations highlight the model’s overall capability to reproduce the diurnal variability of air pollutants under a variety of meteorological conditions. In addition, we show how machine learning techniques can be used to correct for sub-grid variability, which further improves model estimates at a given surface observation site. The GEOS-CF system offers a new tool for scientists and the public health community alike and is being developed jointly with several government and non-profit partners. As an example, we will show the use of GEOS-CF during the Satellite Coastal and Oceanic Atmospheric Pollution Experiment (SCOAPE). The campaign, conducted in collaboration between NASA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), aims to investigate the response of onshore air quality to Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas exploration, development and production. Detailed gas-phase chemistry, as provided by GEOS-CF, is critical to understand the formation of air pollution related to hydrocarbon emissions from offshore oil and gas activities. The accuracy of GEOS-CF can be further improved by incorporating detailed offshore emissions compiled by BOEM.

Knowland, K. Emma↗

Voyager 2 at Uranus - A synopsis of atmospheric science results

Knowledge of the Uranian atmosphere took a quantum leap when the Voyager 2 spacecraft made a close approach in January 1986. Among the highlights of the early results are measurements of the atmospheric composition (He mole fraction = 0.15; Ch4 mole fraction = 0.02), rotation period of the deep interior (17.24 h), thermal structure and dynamics (the planet is coldest at midlatitudes; retrograde equatorial winds are inferred), and upper-atmosphere processes (a phenomenon called electroglow is only partly understood and is recognized as an important process n all the major-planet atmospheres examined by Voyager).

West, Robert A.↗

NASA GEOS Composition Forecast System: GEOS-CF

NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) produces high-resolution analysis and forecasts for weather, aerosols, and air quality. Since 2019, the NASA Global Earth Observing System (GEOS) model provides global near-real-time historical estimates and daily 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition to the public at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km) from the surface up to the lower mesosphere. This composition forecast system (“GEOS-CF”) combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module to deliver detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants, including the policy-relevant species such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The GEOS-CF is a tool for scientists and the public health community. This presentation will cover 1) an overview of the GEOS-CF modeling framework compared to the GEOS-5 Nature Run with Chemistry (used in the post-processing to make the TEMPO Proxy Data), 2) description of the file used to support the TEMPO retrieval team, and 3) research and development activities as the GEOS-CF system continues to evolve to include multi-constituent data assimilation.

K. Emma Knowland↗

NASA GEOS Composition Forecast System, GEOS-CF

NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) produces high-resolution analysis and forecasts for weather, aerosols, and air quality. Since 2019, the NASA Global Earth Observing System (GEOS) model provides global near-real-time historical estimates and daily 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition to the public at unprecedented horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees (~25 km) from the surface up to the lower mesosphere. This composition forecast system (“GEOS-CF”) combines the operational GEOS weather forecasting model with the state-of-the-science GEOS-Chem chemistry module to deliver detailed analysis of a wide range of air pollutants, including the policy-relevant species such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The GEOS-CF is a tool for scientists and the public health community. This presentation will cover 1) an overview of the GEOS-CF modeling framework and data/visualization access, 2) examples of current and future applications to support NASA missions (e.g., a priori for trace gas retrievals by TEMPO, ground-based instrument teams and field campaigns), and 3) research and development activities as the GEOS-CF system continues to evolve to include multi-constituent data assimilation, near-real time emission adjustment estimates, down-scaling methods to urban-scale, and data access on Google Earth Engine, Amazon Web Services, and other platforms to integrate our state-of-the-science air quality information onto platforms used by stakeholders, air quality managers, and the public.

K. Emma Knowland↗