Ozone Water-Land Environmental Transition Study

The Geostationary Trace gas and Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GeoTASO) is an airborne pushbroom spectrometer built by Ball Aerospace with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office. GeoTASO measures nadir backscattered solar radiation in the ultraviolet (290-400 nm) and visible (415-695 nm) wavelengths. These measurements can be used to determine aerosols and trace gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. GeoTASO has a spatial resolution of approximately 250 m by 250 m and an integration time of 0.25 seconds.

The High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) is an airborne lidar system developed by NASA's Langley Research Center. HALO operates on four wavelengths (1645, 1064, 935, 532 nm) and combines Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) with High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) techniques to measure lidar backscatter and depolarization ratio. It provides vertical profiles of aerosol and cloud optical properties, atmospheric water vapor, and methane at a data rate of 2 Hz. HALO has a nominal spatial resolution of 12 km horizontally and 315 m vertically at an altitude of 10 km.

GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument with two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) range to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km, with a frame rate of 12 Hz.

The Personal Ozone Monitor (POM) is an in situ handheld ozone monitor manufactured by 2B Technologies. POM employs ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 254 nm to measure ozone levels. It can detect ozone concentrations up to 10 ppm with a resolution of 0.1 ppb. The device operates at sampling frequencies of 0.1 Hz and 0.5 Hz in fast mode. While primarily used for ground-based applications, POM has also been deployed on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).

The NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) is a worldwide ground-based network of Micro-Pulse Lidar (MPL) systems that has been operational since 1999. MPLNET offers continuous observations of aerosol and cloud vertical structures as well as boundary layer height from the surface up to 30 km. The MPL systems operate at a wavelength range of 523-532 nm and have a vertically-resolved spatial resolution of 30 to 75 meters, depending on the station. Many MPLNET sites are co-located with locations in the NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) to help minimize retrieval errors.

The AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) is a federated network of ground-based remote sensing aerosol sensors established by NASA and the PHOtométrie pour le Traitement Opérationnel de Normalisation Satellitaire (PHOTONS) in 1993. Each AERONET site includes a CIMEL Electronique sunphotometer that measures sun irradiance and sky radiances. These measurements are used to determine aerosol properties such as aerosol optical depth and extinction. The sunphotometers operate at nine wavelengths (340, 380, 440, 500, 675, 870, 937, 1020, and 1640 nm) and provide aerosol data approximately every 15 minutes. AERONET sites are distributed worldwide, enabling mapping of about 90% of the Earth’s surface.

The Pandora Spectrometer System is a ground-based UV-VIS spectrometer designed to measure column amounts of trace gases in the atmosphere. It employs total optical absorption spectroscopy for retrievals of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and other trace gases. Pandora operates within the 280-525 nm spectral range at a resolution of 0.6 nm. It can perform both direct sun and all-sky radiance measurements, with an overall measurement time of 80 seconds. Pandora is part of a network of identical instruments called the Pandonia Global Network.

Digital cameras are used to provide imagery for research applications. Cameras are used on aircraft to collect aerial imagery for mapping and surveying, environmental monitoring, cloud observations, agriculture, geological studies, and other Earth science applications. They are also used at field sites to capture visual observations to monitor changes in land cover, vegetation, clouds, air quality, glaciers, and other phenomena.

The Personal Ozone Monitor (POM) is an in situ handheld ozone monitor manufactured by 2B Technologies. POM employs ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 254 nm to measure ozone levels. It can detect ozone concentrations up to 10 ppm with a resolution of 0.1 ppb. The device operates at sampling frequencies of 0.1 Hz and 0.5 Hz in fast mode. While primarily used for ground-based applications, POM has also been deployed on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).

The Pandora Spectrometer System is a ground-based UV-VIS spectrometer designed to measure column amounts of trace gases in the atmosphere. It employs total optical absorption spectroscopy for retrievals of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and other trace gases. Pandora operates within the 280-525 nm spectral range at a resolution of 0.6 nm. It can perform both direct sun and all-sky radiance measurements, with an overall measurement time of 80 seconds. Pandora is part of a network of identical instruments called the Pandonia Global Network.

Generic-Chemistry Related Sensors (Gen-Chemistry) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for atmospheric chemistry measurements. These are typically in situ analyzers that measure various chemical compounds such as trace gases, halocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, aerosols, and other chemical species. Measurements can include mixing ratio, composition, particle size, optical properties, and particle size distribution.

Ceilometers are ground-based remote sensing sensors that measure cloud ceilings and vertical visibility. They utilize a laser or another light source to detect backscatter from clouds, precipitation, and aerosols. Ceilometers provide detailed and precise measurements under all weather conditions and are cost-effective to operate. They are commonly used in boundary layer and cloud research.

Ozonesondes are in situ balloon-borne instruments used to measure ozone concentration profiles. An ozonesonde consists of an electrochemical ozone sensor connected with a meteorological radiosonde to collect ozone, temperature, pressure, and humidity measurements as it ascends through the atmosphere. It provides ozone profile measurements at a resolution of 100 to 150 m. Ozonesondes have a typical measurement rate of 0.1 Hz and can collect profiles up to around 35 km.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength, while 1651 nm wavelength is used for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

The Langley Mobile Ozone Lidar (LMOL) is a mobile, ground-based lidar developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). It is a differential absorption lidar used to measure ozone, aerosols, and clouds. It operates at 287 nm and 292 nm for ozone retrievals and at 527 nm for aerosol detection. It has a pulse width of 70 ns and a range resolution of 7.5 m. LMOL is part of the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet), which is operated by NASA.

The Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet) is an interagency initiative involving NASA, NOAA, and USEPA that began in 2012. TOLNet provides highly time-resolved measurements of tropospheric ozone profiles to support air quality research and satellite validation. It includes several lidar systems across North America: JPL Table Mountain Facility (TMF) tropospheric ozone lidar, NOAA Tunable Optical Profiler for Aerosol and oZone (TOPAZ) lidar, University of Alabama in Huntsville Rocket City Ozone Quality Evaluation in the Troposphere (RO3QET), Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Autonomous Mobile Ozone LIDAR Instrument for Tropospheric Experiments (AMOLITE), City College of New York Tropospheric Ozone Lidar System (NYTOLS), GSFC TROPospheric OZone (TROPOZ) DIAL, Langley Mobile Ozone Lidar (LMOL), and Hampton University Lidar Laboratory. The mobile systems within TOLNet can be deployed in the field to provide collocated measurements of ozone alongside balloon and airborne sensors.

The NASA Goddard Tropospheric Ozone Lidar (TROPOZ) is a mobile, ground-based lidar that is part of the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet). It employs the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique to measure ozone at wavelengths of 289 nm and 299 nm. TROPOZ has a range resolution of 15 meters, a repetition rate of 50 Hz, and can produce ozone profiles from 0.35 to 16 km above ground level.

The Particle Into Liquid Sampler (PILS) is an in situ aerosol sampler manufactured by Brechtel Manufacturing Inc. PILS can be used by both ground-based and airborne platforms to gather continuous data on ambient aerosol bulk composition. The particles collected by PILS are mixed with saturated water vapor to form droplets that are analyzed by either an ion chromatograph (IC) or a total organic carbon detector (TOC). PILS can detect aerosol particles ranging from 70 nm to 2.5 μm in size and offers a time resolution of 3 minutes for airborne measurements and 15 minutes for ground-based measurements.

Ceilometers are ground-based remote sensing sensors that measure cloud ceilings and vertical visibility. They utilize a laser or another light source to detect backscatter from clouds, precipitation, and aerosols. Ceilometers provide detailed and precise measurements under all weather conditions and are cost-effective to operate. They are commonly used in boundary layer and cloud research.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

Generic-Chemistry Related Sensors (Gen-Chemistry) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for atmospheric chemistry measurements. These are typically in situ analyzers that measure various chemical compounds such as trace gases, halocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, aerosols, and other chemical species. Measurements can include mixing ratio, composition, particle size, optical properties, and particle size distribution.

Thermo Scientific Gas Analyzers are in situ gas analyzers manufactured by ThermoFisher Scientific. They provide precise measurements of various trace gases such as ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Thermo Scientific Gas Analyzers can be deployed on aircraft, research vessels, and ground-based platforms.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength, while 1651 nm wavelength is used for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

Nephelometers are in situ optical sensors that can be airborne or ground-based. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate at three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, with a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.

The Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) is an in situ airborne photometer manufactured by Radiance Research. It applies Beer's Law to measure the change in light transmission of aerosol particles. These measurements help determine aerosol absorption and extinction. PSAP operates across three wavelengths (467, 530, and 660 nm) and has a 1-second time resolution. It is usually deployed on aircraft, but it can also be used on ships and vehicles.

The Geostationary Trace gas and Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GeoTASO) is an airborne pushbroom spectrometer built by Ball Aerospace with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office. GeoTASO measures nadir backscattered solar radiation in the ultraviolet (290-400 nm) and visible (415-695 nm) wavelengths. These measurements can be used to determine aerosols and trace gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. GeoTASO has a spatial resolution of approximately 250 m by 250 m and an integration time of 0.25 seconds.

The Aethalometer is an in situ aerosol measuring device made by Magee Scientific. It can be used on both airborne and ground-based platforms. It collects aerosols through a filter tape and gauges the attenuation of transmitted light to assess black carbon particle levels. The Aethalometer works across seven optical wavelengths (370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880, and 950 nm) and delivers data at a rate of 1 Hz. It has a measurement range of 0-500 μg per cubic meter and a resolution of 0.1 μg per cubic meter.

Thermo Scientific Gas Analyzers are in situ gas analyzers manufactured by ThermoFisher Scientific. They provide precise measurements of various trace gases such as ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Thermo Scientific Gas Analyzers can be deployed on aircraft, research vessels, and ground-based platforms.