Atmospheric Composition & Chemical Processes: Studies

Aircraft Studies

SEAC⁴RS, Utapao, Thailand, 2012. The Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study (SEAC⁴RS) will address key questions regarding the influence of Asian emissions on clouds, climate, and air quality as well as fundamental satellite observability of the system. Airborne measurements taken from the NASA DC-8 provide observations from near the surface to 12 km, and from the NASA ER-2 provide high altitude observations reaching into the lower stratosphere. Two of our SP2 black carbon instruments are aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft, and our ozone and water instruments are aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft. More info...
DC3, Salina, Kansas, 2012. The Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry (DC3) experiment investigates the impact of deep, midlatitude continental convective clouds, including their dynamical, physical, and lightning processes, on upper tropospheric composition and chemistry. Airborne measurements taken from the NASA DC-8 provide in situ observations to characterize the convective storm inflow and provide remote sensing to aid in flight planning and column characterization. Two of our SP2 black carbon instruments are aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft, that continues on to Thailand to participate in SEAC⁴RS. More info...
MACPEX, Houston, Texas. The Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment (MACPEX) is an airborne field campaign to investigate cirrus cloud properties and the processes that affect their impact on radiation. Utilizing the NASA WB-57 based at Ellington Field, TX, the campaign will take place in the March / April 2011 timeframe. Science flights will focus on central North America vicinity with an emphasis over the DoE ARM SGP site in Oklahoma. More info...
HIPPO IV & V, Pacific Basin. The HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) of Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Study will measure cross sections of atmospheric concentrations approximately pole-to-pole, from the surface to the tropopause, five times during different seasons over a three year period. The main goal of HIPPO is to determine the global distribution of carbon dioxide and other trace atmospheric gases by sampling at various altitudes and latitudes in the Pacific Basin. More info...	Instruments installed on G-V research aircraft.
ATTREX, Dryden. Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX) will perform a series of measurement campaigns using the long-range NASA Global Hawk (GH) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to directly address changes in stratospheric humidity. More info...	Global Hawk on tarmac at DSFC.

Laboratory Studies

Studies in the laboratory focus primarily on the fundamental processes that occur in the atmosphere via the characterization of the chemical and physical properties of atmospheric trace species. Scientists develop experimental methods to measure the reactivity and photochemistry, as well as, the optical and physical properties of stable, transient, and radical species. Our laboratory instruments are used in combination to develop a more comprehensive picture for a specific species or process.

CSD laboratories for CRDS instruments.