2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

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Spring Phase During the spring, aircraft deployed to Fairbanks and Barrow, AK to examine arctic haze associated with long-range transport of pollution from mid-latitudes. During this phase of the mission, NASA aircraft, along with partner aircraft from NOAA and DOE, documented polluted arctic airmasses of North American, Asian, and European origin. Flights were guided by forecasts from chemical transport models, were integrated with satellite overpasses by NASA’s Aura, Aqua, CALIPSO, and Terra satellites, and were supplemented by ground observations at numerous Arctic research sites (e.g., Canadian and U.S. ozonesonde stations, Aeronet sites, Summit Greenland station, etc.). The data collected will improve future satellite monitoring of Arctic change and will aid the development of models that are better equipped to predict future changes in the arctic associated with atmospheric composition and climate. A notable early scientific result from the spring mission is the apparent discrepancy in satellite observations of BrO by Aura’s OMI instrument. Aircraft observations of BrO and ozone exhibit concentrations and distribution patterns that indicate the need to reexamine satellite assumptions governing the retrieval of this important indicator of springtime halogen chemistry, which is a major driver of nearsurface ozone variability. Summer Phase During the summer phase, the three aircraft and a portable ground station called NATIVE deployed to Cold Lake, Alberta and to Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories. The summer flights documented the impact of boreal fires at high northern latitudes by sampling near-field and downwind emissions from Canadian wildfires, as well as long-range transport of smoke and trace gases from fires in Siberia and Northern California. Observations were coordinated with partner aircraft from Germany and France, which were based in Greenland, to Figure 5 Dr. Henry Fuelberg of Florida State University presents the daily weather brief from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. 12
sample downwind evolution of Canadian fire emissions. Observations examined smoke aerosols, chemistry, radiative impacts, and the height of fire plumes. These data are already improving the capability of satellites such as CALIPSO to distinguish between clouds and thick smoke from fires. Data collected on the height of fire plumes is of particular significance for improving models, as this is the single-most important variable for determining downwind transport patterns. California Air Resources Board (CARB) Flights The DC-8 and P-3B also performed a short series of flights sponsored by, and in collaboration with, the California Air Resources Board to examine greenhouse gas emissions and air quality across the state of California. These flights were unique in several respects. Flights were able to examine areas typically inaccessible to research aircraft with extensive low-level flight in polluted areas in the Los Angeles basin and Central Valley areas, as well as several missed approaches at Los Angeles International Airport. The unexpected and intense wildfires in California provided an important contrast with the boreal fires observed later in Canada. Ultimately, the data collected during these flights will help California better understand local sources and the relative importance of upwind influences on air quality (e.g., transport from Asia and emissions from offshore shipping). URL: http://www.espo.nasa.gov/arctas Figure 6 NOAA P-3, NASA P-3, and NASA DC-8 in a panoramic image at the Fairbanks International Airport. 13
Page 2 and 3: On the cover: In the foreground are
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary
Page 7 and 8: LIST OF FIGURES Fig. # Caption Page
Page 9 and 10: Fig. # Caption Page # 37 ESTO Suppo
Page 11: CONTRIBUTORS The contribution of th
Page 14 and 15: programs to train teachers in remot
Page 16 and 17: NOAA and a DOE aircraft, and aircra
Page 18 and 19: SCIENCE MISSIONS &
Page 21 and 22: ARCTAS Science Focus: Atmospheric C
Page 23: Figure 4 DC-8 Arrival in Thule, Gre
Page 27 and 28: Figure 7 ACCLAIM instrument on the
Page 29 and 30: configurations and interfaces. SIMP
Page 31 and 32: Figure 8 2008 UAS proposed operatio
Page 33 and 34: Figure 10 The Oden Research Vessel
Page 35 and 36: California Fire Emergency Response
Page 37 and 38: Figure 13 AMS-Wildfire sensor data,
Page 39 and 40: Southern California Post Fire Evalu
Page 41 and 42: CALIPSO: Caribbean Validation Missi
Page 43 and 44: Cold Land Processes Science Focus:
Page 45 and 46: Science Focus: Astromaterials Spons
Page 47 and 48: ESA ATV Reentry Science Focus: Atmo
Page 49 and 50: SOGASEX Science Focus: Carbon Cycle
Page 51 and 52: presented unique challenges to a U.
Page 53 and 54: Figure 25 NOVICE instrument payload
Page 55: PROGRAM ELEMENTS: & SCIENCE REQUIRE
Page 58 and 59: s Figure 26 Airborne Science Progra
Page 60 and 61: Science & Requirements The Science
Page 62 and 63: Flight Requests The 2008 calendar y
Page 64 and 65: Collaborations and Partnerships The
Page 66 and 67: Interagency UAS Coordination As the
Page 68 and 69: Interagency Working Group for Airbo
Page 70 and 71: AIRBORNE SCIENCE
Page 73 and 74: NASA DC-8 In November 2007, the NAS
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NASA ER-2 NASA operates two ER- 2 (
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NASA WB-57 Fiscal Year 2008 saw muc
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NASA P-3 The P-3B Orion is based at
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NASA G-3 During FY 2008, the DFRC G
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Aerosonde The Aerosonde Mark 3 airc
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limited to 28,000 ft in the Nationa
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Twin Otter Twin Otter International
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PROGRAM ELEMENTS: & NEW TECHNOLOGIE
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ground control station, and is resp
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variety of atmospheric and remote s
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Figure 35 Flight Envelope with cont
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additional fuel bladders to the cen
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Wallops, VA Campaign Cleveland, OH
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RTMM is web-accessible, password pr
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B-200 High Spectral Resolution Lida
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Non-Deployment Teams Field Deployme
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AIRBORNE SCIENCE
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Airborne Sensor Technology Lab This
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Figure 43 Taken Oct. 4, 2007, 2-met
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Figure 45 B-200 aircraft trajectory
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Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility
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Media, Education & Outreach NASA Ea
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Figure 48 ARCTAS press article samp
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in Panama City in July and August,
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outside of NASA. This past year, NA
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APPENDICES In Memoriam Airborne Pro
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also helped pioneer the use of loca
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The Founding and Early History of t
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where you couldn’t find them, and
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Figure 52 Early remote sensing payl
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This aircraft was designated NASA 9
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Personnel from both countries were
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APPENDIX D Acronyms & Abbreviations
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DCS DESDynI DFRC DHS DOD DOE DSS Di
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L LAABS LAC LALE LaRC LIDAR LIST LV
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REVEAL RFI RPI RSD RSP RTMM RVSM Re
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2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

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