E A R T H O B S E R V I N G S Y S T E M

Earth Science Enterprise

To Understand and Protect Our Home Planet

N A S A E A R T H S C I E N C E E N T E R P R I S E

COLIN SEFTOR (RAYTHEON) AND CHRISTINA HSU (UMBC)

Earth Observing System Aura

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
NP-2004-4-626-GSFC

PHOTOS OF EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE COURTESY OF EARTH SCIENCES AND IMAGE ANALYSIS LABORATORY,
NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. AURA SATELLITE IMAGE BY JESSE ALLEN (SSAI) A Mission Dedicated to the Health of the Earth’s Atmosphere
 A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S A Mission Dedicated to the Health
of the Earth’s Atmosphere
HIRDLS: USA, United Kingdom
High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder
Stratospheric and upper tropospheric trace gases and aerosols
measured by infrared limb emission

MLS: USA
How is the Microwave Limb Sounder
PHOTOS OF HIRDLS, MLS, OMI, AND TES INSTRUMENTS BY INSTRUMENT TEAMS.

Earth changing Stratospheric and upper tropospheric trace gases measured

by microwave limb emission
and what Earth’s atmosphere provides sustenance to all living things
are the and protects life from the harsh space environment
OMI: Netherlands, Finland
consequences
for life on Ozone Monitoring Instrument
The Earth’s Ozone Shield protects The Earth’s Climate is affected by
Earth? Tropospheric and stratospheric ozone, aerosols, air quality
and surface ultraviolet radiation measured by backscatter all life changes in atmospheric composition
ultraviolet and visible radiation
The Aura mission Stratospheric ozone has decreased 3% globally between It is undeniable that human activity is beginning to alter
will explore the 1980 and 2000 and thins by 50% over Antarctica in winter the climate. The global rise in surface temperatures since
TES: USA and spring. Depletion of the ozone layer allows more the 1950’s is correlated with the increase in greenhouse
atmosphere’s
natural variability Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer ultraviolet radiation to reach the surface. Increases in gases. Changes in carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
and its response ultraviolet radiation are known to have harmful effects ozone, cloud cover, water vapor and aerosols all contribute
Tropospheric and lower stratospheric trace gases and aerosols
to human activity on living things. The Montreal Protocol and its amend- to climate change.
measured by nadir and limb infrared emission
so that we ments have banned the use of ozone destroying chemicals
can better predict and the rate of ozone depletion seems to have slowed.
changes in the Electromagnetic Spectrum Climate change will have an impact on how quickly Aura is designed to answer questions
ozone recovers. about changes in our life-sustaining
Earth system.
atmosphere
HIRDLS MLS MLS The Earth’s Air Quality is fundamental Aura’s four instruments will study the atmosphere’s
to public health and ecosystems chemistry and dynamics. Aura’s measurements will enable
us to investigate questions about ozone trends, air quality
OMI TES
VISUALIZATION OF EARTH HORIZON BY JESSE ALLEN (SSAI)

The atmosphere has no political boundaries; air pollution changes and their linkage to climate change.
moves great distances across oceans and continents. The
Ultraviolet Visible Infrared Submillimeter Microwave quality of air has degraded over certain parts of the world Aura’s measurements will provide accurate data for pre-
−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 and has become a health issue. Severe air pollution dictive models and provide useful information for local and
10 10 10 10 10 10
episodes increase mortality. national agency decision support systems.
Wavelength (meters)
Aura is the third in a series of large Earth observing plat-
The various gases in the atmosphere absorb or emit radiation at specific wavelengths depending
forms to be flown by the National Aeronautics and Space
on their molecular structure. Aura’s instruments will measure atmospheric constituents by
Administration (NASA) with international contributions.
observing the Earth over a large range in the electromagnetic spectrum. Measurements will be
Aura along with EOS Terra (launched December, 1999) and
made of solar backscatter radiation in the ultraviolet and visible regions and of thermal
Aqua (launched May, 2002) will provide an unprecedented
emission in the infrared and microwave regions.
view of the global Earth system.
 S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S

Is the stratospheric ozone layer recovering? Polar Stratospheric Clouds

he stratospheric ozone layer shields life ozone molecule combines with an oxygen atom

n
Ozone Facts

In the present day

stratosphere, the natu-
T on Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet
(UV) radiation (wavelengths shorter than
340 nm). Research has clearly shown that
excess exposure to UV radiation is harmful to
ral balance of ozone agriculture and causes skin cancer and eye
chemistry has been problems. Excess UV radiation may suppress
altered by man-made the human immune system.
chemicals, such as
to form two oxygen molecules, or through
catalytic cycles involving hydrogen, nitrogen,
chlorine or bromine containing species. The
Sources, Reservoirs
and Radicals
Source gases – These gases
atmosphere maintains a natural balance are nearly inert in the lower
between ozone formation and destruction. atmosphere, but they are
sources of ozone-destroying
The natural balance of chemicals in the strato- radicals when broken apart
sphere has changed, particularly due to the by ultraviolet radiation,

MARK SCHOEBERL (NASA GFSC)

Ozone is formed naturally in the stratosphere presence of man-made chlorofluorocarbons reactions with the hydroxyl
chlorofluorocarbons radical (OH), or reactions
(CFCs). through break-up of oxygen molecules (O2) by (CFCs). CFCs are non-reactive and accumulate
with excited atomic oxygen
solar UV radiation. Individual oxygen atoms in the atmosphere. They are destroyed in the (O1D). CFCs are sources of
n Recent data show that can combine with O2 molecules to form ozone high stratosphere where they are no longer chlorine radicals and N2O
ozone is being depleted molecules (O3). Ozone is destroyed when an shielded from UV radiation by the ozone layer. is the source of nitrogen
at a slower rate than a radicals.

decade ago, but it is Thin clouds made of ice, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid mixtures form in the polar stratosphere when tem- Reservoirs – These gases
Stratospheric Chemical Processes
too soon to tell if this peratures drop below -88 C (-126 F). In such polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) active forms of chlorine are less inert than source
trend is a result of the are released from their reservoirs. This particular PSC appeared over Iceland at an altitude of 22 km on gases but do not destroy
February 4, 2003. Its beautiful colors result from refraction of sunlight by its very small ice crystals. ozone themselves. Reservoir
international protocols gases are formed when radi-
restricting CFC produc- cals react with source gases,
tion. for example, chlorine atoms
Destruction of CFCs yields atomic chlorine, an (Cl) react with methane mol-
n Aura’s instruments will efficient catalyst for ozone destruction. Other Ozone Warms the Stratosphere ecules (CH4) to produce the
measure the total man-made gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O) reservoir hydrochloric acid
From the surface, temperatures decrease with (HCl). Reservoirs are also
ozone column, ozone and bromine compounds are broken down in
altitude. Then, in the stratosphere, tempera- formed when radicals react
the stratosphere and also participate in ozone tures begin to rise, because ozone absorbs
profiles and gases with each other, for example,
destruction. solar UV energy, heating the stratosphere.
important in ozone OH reacts with nitrogen
Above 50 km ozone heating falls off and the dioxide (NO2) to produce
chemistry. Satellite observations of the ozone layer began temperatures decrease again. Above 80 km nitric acid (HNO3).
in the 1970s when the possibility of ozone very high energy solar radiation begins to heat
the atmosphere again. Radicals – These are the
BARBARA SUMMEY (SSAI)
depletion was just becoming an environmental
concern. NASA’s Total Ozone Mapping ozone destroying gases
such as chlorine monoxide
Spectrometer (TOMS) and Stratospheric
(ClO) and nitric oxide (NO).
Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) have Radicals are freed from their
provided long-term records of ozone. In 1985 reservoir gases by photolysis
the British Antarctic Survey reported an unex- and by chemical reactions
The stratospheric ozone layer shields us from cumulus clouds. These compounds are broken
pectedly deep ozone depletion over Antarctica. involving reservoir gases and
solar ultraviolet radiation. Chemicals that destroy down by the ultraviolet radiation in the strato-
The annual occurrence of this depletion, popu- other radicals.
ozone are formed by industrial and natural sphere. Byproducts of the breakdown of these
processes. With the exception of volcanic injec- chemicals are radicals such as NO2 and ClO that larly known as the ozone hole, alarmed scien-
tion and aircraft exhaust, these chemicals arrive catalyze ozone destruction. Aerosols and clouds tists. Specially equipped high-altitude NASA
in the stratosphere through the tropical upwelling can accelerate ozone loss through reactions on aircraft established that the ozone hole was
region. Methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons cloud surfaces. Thus volcanic clouds and polar due to man-made chlorine. TOMS and SAGE
(CFCs), nitrous oxide (N2O) and water are injected stratospheric clouds can indirectly contribute to data also showed smaller but significant ozone
into the stratosphere through towering tropical ozone loss.
continues on page 4

2 AURA AURA 3
When we try to S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S
pick out anything
by itself, we find
it is tied to losses outside the Antarctic region. In 1987 peratures fall below –88 C. Polar stratospheric apart, are leveling off as well (See Global HCl
Winter Polar Ozone in the Northern/Southern Hemisphere
an international agreement known as the clouds (PSCs) form at these low temperatures. figure). Recent studies have shown that the
everything else Montreal Protocol restricted CFC production. The reservoir gases HCl and ClONO2 react on rate of ozone depletion is also decreasing.

GREG SHIRA (NASA GSFC SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION STUDIO)

in the universe. In 1992, the Copenhagen amendments to the
Montreal Protocol set a schedule to eliminate
all production of CFCs.
John Muir
(1838-1914) Severe ozone depletion occurs in winter and
U. S. naturalist, spring over both polar regions. The polar strat-
explorer osphere becomes very cold in winter because of
the absence of sunlight and because strong
winds isolate the polar air. Stratospheric tem-
the surfaces of cloud particles and release chlorine.
Recovery of the ozone layer may not be as sim-
Ground-based data have shown that CFC ple as eliminating the manufacture of CFCs.
amounts in the troposphere are leveling off, Climate change will alter ozone recovery
while data from the Halogen Occultation because greenhouse gas increases will cause
Experiment (HALOE) on the Upper the stratosphere to cool. This cooling may
Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) have temporarily slow the recovery of the ozone
shown that amounts of HCl, a chlorine reser- layer in the polar regions, but will accelerate
voir that is produced when CFCs are broken ozone recovery at low and middle latitudes.

What will Aura do? Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere

TOMS Global Ozone Compared with Model
Aura’s instruments will observe the important At both polar regions, climate and chem- The Antarctic ozone hole of 2003
istry combine to deplete ozone during (above, right) was the second largest
Comparing models with observations allows sources, radicals, and reservoir gases active in

CHARLES JACKMAN AND RICHARD MCPETERS (BOTH NASA GSFC)

310 spring months. Dark blue indicates low- ever observed. The dark blue indicates
us to check how accurately we can predict ozone chemistry. Aura data will improve our est ozone amounts. Arctic total ozone the region of maximum ozone depletion.
Nimbus 7 TOMS Eruption of Pinatubo 65N - 65S
stratospheric ozone trends. In the image to capability to predict ozone change. Aura data amounts seen by TOMS in March 2003 TOMS images (below) illustrate the
the left, TOMS global ozone measurements will also help untangle the roles of transport (above, left) were among the lowest ever development of the ozone hole during
300 (Nimbus 7, Meteor 3, Earth Probe) show and chemistry in determining ozone trends. observed in the northern hemisphere. the 1980’s and 1990’s.
OZONE (DU)

Earth Probe TOMS that ozone has a strong annual cycle, and
Recovery predicted by model decreases following a major volcanic erup-
290 tion. Global ozone has decreased overall by
about 3% since 1980. A model that calcu-
lates annual mean ozone amounts com-
280
pares favorably with TOMS observations
Meteor 3 TOMS and predicts ozone layer recovery after

BARBARA SUMMEY (SSAI)

2020. The model total ozone varies slowly
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 due to the 11-year solar cycle. Aura’s OMI
YEAR will continue the TOMS total ozone record.

Global HCl
UARS HALOE measurements
of stratospheric chlorine (HCl) 3.7 The Upper Atmosphere
at 55km show that internation-
HALOE HCl
Research Satellite
al controls on CFCs are work-
3.4 The first comprehensive satellite measurements
JAMES M. RUSSELL III (HAMPTON UNIVERSITY)

ing. HCl amounts have leveled

HCl (ppbv)

off and are now decreasing. of stratospheric gases, solar particle and radia-
Aura’s MLS will continue the tion fluxes and upper atmosphere winds were
3.1 made by NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research
HALOE HCl record.
Satellite (UARS). UARS was deployed in 1991
from the Space Shuttle Discovery and continues
2.8
to gather data from five of its 10 instruments.
UARS was designed to study the chemistry and
2.5 dynamics of the middle and upper stratosphere
1990 1995 2000 2005 while Aura is designed to study the lower strato-

JESSE ALLEN (SSAI)

YEAR sphere and upper troposphere. Aura will continue
many of the measurements pioneered by UARS.

umpgal.gsfc.nasa.gov/uars-science.html

4 AURA AURA 5
 S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S

What are the processes controlling air quality? The Sources of Tropospheric Ozone

griculture and industrial activity have The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

n
Air Quality Facts

Air quality is a continu-

ing environmental con-
A grown dramatically along with the
human population. Consequently, in
parts of the world increased emissions of pollu-
tants have significantly degraded air quality.
cern because poor air Respiratory problems and even premature
quality impacts human death due to air pollution occur in urban and
health and agricultural some rural areas of both the industrialized and
productivity. developing countries. Wide-spread burning for
agricultural purposes (biomass burning) and
n Ozone precursors are forest fires also contribute to poor air quality,
(EPA) has identified six criteria pollutants:
carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, ozone, lead, and particulates (aerosols).
Of these six pollutants, ozone has proved
the most difficult to control. Ozone chemistry
is complex making it difficult to quantify
the contributions to poor local air quality.
Pollutant emission inventories needed for pre-
dicting air quality are uncertain by as much as
50 percent. Also uncertain is the amount of

BARBARA SUMMEY (SSAI)

pollutant gases such as particularly in the tropics. The list of culprits ozone that enters the troposphere from the
carbon monoxide (CO), in the degradation of air quality includes tro- stratosphere.
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), pospheric ozone, a toxic gas, and the chemicals
methane (CH4) and that form ozone. These ozone precursors are For local governments struggling to meet
other hydrocarbons that nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, methane, national air quality standards, knowing more
react in the troposphere and other hydrocarbons. Human activities such about the sources and transport of air pollu- Tropospheric ozone comes from several sources. industrial processes, biomass burning, automobile
as biomass burning, inefficient coal combus- tants has become an important issue. Most pol- Biomass burning and industrial activity produce CO exhaust and lightning also form tropospheric
to produce ozone. and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are ozone. A small amount of tropospheric ozone also
tion, other industrial activities, and vehicular lution sources are local but satellite observa-
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is oxidized to form ozone. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) from comes from the stratospheric ozone layer.
traffic all produce ozone precursors. tions show that winds can carry pollutants for
a precursor for sulfate
great distances, for example from the western
aerosol. and mid-western states to
the east coast of the United SCIAMACHY Measurement
n Worldwide emissions of
nitrogen dioxide, carbon States, and sometimes even
Forecasting Severe Pollution Events from one continent to anoth-
monoxide, volatile hydro-
NASA is working with the Environmental rough estimates of ozone and aerosols. Aura will
er. Observations and models
carbons and aerosols show that pollutants from
Protection Agency and the National Oceano- provide more detailed maps of pollutants such as
have increased consider- Southeast Asia contribute to
graphic and Atmospheric Administration to exam- ozone and NO2 that can be combined with weath-
ably, but there is still ine how models will be used to forecast pollution er forecast models. These two images from the poor air quality in India.

ANDREAS RICHTER (UNIVERSITY OF BREMEN)

uncertainty in the emis-
sion rates and distinc-
tions between anthro-
pogenic and natural
sources of these emis-
sions.
n Aura measures and
maps five of the EPA’s
six “criteria pollutants,”
helping to improve emis-
sions inventories and to
distinguish between
anthropogenic and natu-
ral sources.
events. Models use satellite data to begin a fore- EPA AirNow website illustrate what these models Pollutants crossing from
cast. Satellites launched before Aura provide will be able to do. The images show that the area China to Japan reach the
of unhealthy surface west coast of the United
ozone (red) moves from
States. Pollutants originat-
Tennessee (left panel)
to eastern Pennsylvania ing in the United States can
and New Jersey (right reduce air quality in Europe.
panel) in the course of Precursor gases for as much
three days. In addition as ten percent of ozone in
to forecasting, satellite surface air in the United
data and models can States may originate outside
discriminate between
the country. We have yet to SCIAMACHY is a German, Dutch and Belgian instrument on the
locally produced European Space Agency Envisat satellite. SCIAMACHY is able to esti-
quantify the extent of inter-
pollution and pollution mate the monthly average of tropospheric NO2 amounts over the United
that is brought by regional and inter-continen- States. High levels of NO2 correspond to urban locations and special
AUG 9 AUG 12 tal pollution transport.
transport. emission sites like power plants. OMI will make similar measurements
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) with higher horizontal resolution and daily global coverage.
continues on page 8

6 AURA AURA 7
 S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S Two Satellite Views of Pollution Transport

The strongest
arguments prove
nothing so long
as the conclusions
are not verified
by experience.
Experimental science
is the queen of
Long Range Pollution Transport
The atmosphere can transport pollutants long
distances from their source. Satellite measure-
ments by EOS Terra’s MOPITT instrument
have shown carbon monoxide streams extend-
ing almost 18,000 km from their source (this
page). TOMS has tracked dust and smoke
events from Northern China to the east coast
of the United States (see back cover).
On July 7, 2002, MODIS on EOS-Terra and
above the surface layers. OMI will make simi-
lar measurements with better spatial resolution
and will provide new information about
aerosol characteristics.
What will Aura do?
The Aura instruments are designed to study
tropospheric chemistry; together Aura’s instru-
ments provide global monitoring of air pollu-
tion on a daily basis. They measure five of the
six EPA criteria pollutants (all except lead).

YORAM KAUFMAN (NASA GSFC)

TOMS captured smoke from Canadian forest Aura will provide data of suitable accuracy to
sciences and the goal fires as the winds transported it southward (see improve industrial emission inventories, and
page 9). This pollution event was responsible also to help distinguish between industrial and
of all speculation. for elevated surface ozone levels along the east natural sources. Because of Aura, we will be

YORAM KAUFMAN (NASA GSFC)

coast. TOMS has high sensitivity to aerosols able to improve air quality forecast models.
Roger Bacon like smoke and dust when they are elevated
13th Century English
philosopher, scientist
Carbon Monoxide

-150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 03 60 90 120 150 MODIS July 7 ortho-rectified image shows smoke streaming
southward from forest fires (red) in Canada.
60 60

60 60
30 30

30 30
0

0
0

0
-30 -30

-30 -30
-60 -60

YORAM KAUFMAN (NASA GSFC)

-60 -60

-150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 03 60 90 120 150

-150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 03 60 90 120 150
MOPITT TEAM

JAY HERMAN (NASA GSFC)

30 70 110 150 190 230 Upper image shows raw RGB MODIS view of July 7, 2002
CO (ppbv ) smoke event. Lower image shows aerosol large mode particle
South America and Africa produce plumes which fraction estimated using other MODIS data. Particles coagu-
Biomass burning and urban pollution plumes can propagate into the South Atlantic. The African late with time, so the largest particles are seen farthest from
be followed using measurements of CO from plume also propagates into the Indian Ocean. the fire.
MOPITT on EOS Terra. Agricultural burning in Biomass. Burning in Southeast Asia produces
a plume that extends across the Pacific.
TOMS July 7 image shows smoke streaming southward from
forest fires in Canada.

8 AURA AURA 9
 S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S

UARS MLS Upper Tropospheric Water Vapor and El Niño

How is Earth’s climate changing?

arbon dioxide and other gases trap Aerosols are an important but uncertain agent Increasing carbon dioxide also affects the cli-

n
Climate Change
Facts

Like carbon dioxide,

C infrared radiation that would otherwise
escape to space. This phenomenon, the
greenhouse effect, makes the Earth habitable.
Increased atmospheric emissions from industri-
ozone, aerosols, and al and agricultural activities are causing cli-
water vapor contribute mate change. Industry and agriculture produce
of climate change. Aerosols alter atmospheric
temperatures by absorbing and scattering
radiation. Aerosols can either warm or cool
the troposphere. Therefore, aerosols also mod-
ify clouds and affect precipitation. Sulfate
aerosols can reduce cloud droplet size, making
mate of the upper atmosphere. Where the
atmosphere is thin, increasing CO2 emits
more radiation to space, thus cooling the Sept 1996 normal year
environment. Observations show that over
recent decades, the mid to upper stratosphere
has cooled by 1 to 6 C (2 to 11 F) primarily

WILLIAM READ (NASA JPL)

to climate change. trace gases that trap infrared radiation. The clouds brighter so that they reflect more solar due to increases in CO2. This cooling will
concentrations of many of these gases have energy. Black carbon aerosols strongly absorb produce circulation changes in the strato-
n Gases such as carbon increased and thus have added to the green- solar radiation, warming the mid-troposphere sphere that will change how trace gases are
dioxide (CO2), water house effect. Since the turn of the century, the and reducing cloud formation. Poor know- transported.
vapor (H2O) and ozone global mean lower tropospheric temperature ledge of the global distribution of aerosols
heat the troposphere by has increased by more than 0.4 C. This contributes to a large uncertainty in climate Water vapor is the most important green- Sept 1997 developing El Niño Year
trapping infrared radia- increase has been greater than during any other prediction. house gas. Some measurements suggest that
century in the last 1000 years. water vapor is increasing in the stratosphere. -50 -25 0 +25 +50
tion that would other- deviation (ppmv)
Ozone absorbs solar radiation, warming the This increase may be due to changes in the
wise escape to space. Water vapor measurements from MLS on UARS show the contrast
Ozone plays multiple roles in climate change, stratosphere. Man-made chlorofluorocarbons transport of air between the troposphere and between 1996 (a “normal” year) and 1997 (an “El Niño” year). In
Trapping infrared radia- because it absorbs both ultraviolet radiation from have caused ozone depletion, leading to lower the stratosphere caused by climate change, or 1996 the most convection and the highest mixing ratios for tropical
tion is called “the the sun and infrared radiation from the Earth’s temperatures. Low temperatures, in turn, lead it could be due to changes in the microphysi- upper tropospheric water vapor (red) occur over Indonesia; the lowest
greenhouse effect” and surface. Tropospheric ozone is as important as to more persistent polar stratospheric clouds cal processes within tropical clouds. More mixing ratios for tropical upper tropospheric water vapor (blue) occur
the gases that absorb methane as a greenhouse gas contributor to cli- and cause further ozone depletion in polar measurements of upper tropospheric water in the eastern Pacific. In 1997 the sea surface temperatures in the
this radiation are called mate change. An accurate measurement of the regions. vapor, trace gases and particles are needed to tropical eastern Pacific are much warmer than in 1996, and the
region of intense convection shifts eastward away from Indonesia.
“greenhouse gases.” distribution of tropospheric ozone will improve untangle the cause and effect relationships of
The situation is reversed in 1997 from 1996 with the highest mixing
climate modeling and climate predictions. these various agents of climate change. We ratios for upper tropospheric water vapor in the eastern Pacific, and
n Improved knowledge of can verify climate models of the atmosphere very low mixing ratios over Indonesia.
the sources, sinks and Global Climate Change only with global observations of the atmos-
the distribution of phere and its changes over time.
greenhouse gases are The chart at right distin- Earth Probe TOMS Aerosol Index
guishes among various
needed for accurate pre- human and natural agents
What will Aura Do?
dictions of climate of global climate change Aura will measure greenhouse gases such as
between 1750 and 2000.
change. methane, water vapor, and ozone in the upper
Greenhouse gases have
been the most influential troposphere and lower stratosphere. Aura also
n Aura’s measurements of will measure both absorbing and reflecting
agents of warming, and sul-

JAY HERMAN (NASA GSFC)

ozone, water vapor and
aerosols in the tropo-
sphere and lower strato-
sphere will improve
phate aerosols have been aerosols in the lower stratosphere and lower
the most influential agents troposphere, water vapor measurements inside
of cooling. Aura measure- the high tropical clouds, and high vertical res-
ments will help climate mod-
olution measurements of some greenhouse
JAMES HANSEN (NASA GISS)

els by measuring stratos-

climate prediction.
pheric and tropospheric gases in a broad swath (down to the clouds)
ozone and aerosol amounts. across the tropical upwelling region. All of Aerosols affect climate both directly by reflecting and absorbing sun-
Aura measurements will these measurements contribute key data for light and indirectly by modifying clouds. The TOMS aerosol index is an
also help untangle climate climate modeling and prediction. indicator of smoke and dust absorption. The image shows aerosols
feedbacks by measuring crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Dust from the Sahara
upper tropospheric water desert is carried westward toward the Americas. Asian dust and
vapor and cirrus clouds. pollution travel to the Pacific Northwest.

10 A U R A AURA 11
 A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S

High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder Simulated HIRDLS Sampling

HIRDLS
HIRDLS INSTRUMENT TEAM

IRDLS is an infrared limb-scanning HIRDLS Contributions to HIRDLS Contributions to

n
HIRDLS Instrument
Characteristics

HIRDLS is an advanced,
H radiometer measuring trace gases,
temperature, and aerosols in the upper
troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere.
The instrument will provide critical informa-
scanning 21-channel tion on atmospheric chemistry and climate.
infrared radiometer Using vertical and horizontal limb scanning
observing the 6-17 technology HIRDLS will provide accurate
measurements with daily global coverage at
micron thermal emis-
Understanding Stratospheric Ozone
The largest ozone depletions occur in the polar
winter lower stratosphere. HIRDLS will
retrieve high vertical resolution daytime and
nighttime ozone profiles in this region.
HIRDLS will measure NO2, HNO3 and
CFCs, gases that play a role in stratospheric
Understanding Air Quality
HIRDLS will measure ozone, nitric acid, and
water vapor in the upper troposphere and
lower stratosphere. With these measurements,
scientists will be able to estimate the amount
of stratospheric air that descends into the
troposphere and will allow us to separate natu-
ral ozone pollution from man-made sources.

LESLIE LAIT (SSAI)

sion of the Earth’s high vertical and horizontal resolution. The
University of Colorado, the National Center ozone depletion. Although international
limb. agreements have banned their production, HIRDLS Contributions to 0 N2O (ppbv) 450
for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Oxford
n Infrared instruments, University (UK) and Rutherford Appleton CFCs are long-lived and will remain in the Understanding Climate Change
Laboratory (UK) designed the HIRDLS instru- stratosphere for several more decades. By
without HIRDLS hori- HIRDLS will measure water vapor and ozone, The need for high horizontal resolution measurements
ment. Lockheed Martin built and integrated measuring profiles of the long-lived gases at
zontal scanning capa- both important greenhouse gases. The instru- of the stratosphere is illustrated above. Using a model,
the instrument subsystems. The National 1.2 km vertical resolution, from the upper tro- the long-lived trace gas N2O is transported by observed
bility, have flown on posphere into the stratosphere, HIRDLS will ment is also able to distinguish between aerosol
Environmental Research Council funded the winds. The transport processes produce filamentary
previous NASA atmos- make it possible to quantify the transport of types that absorb or reflect incoming solar radia- structures that are predicted but have never been
United Kingdom participation.
pheric research satel- air from the troposphere into the stratosphere. tion. HIRDLS will be able to map high thin observed globally. HIRDLS high horizontal resolution
lites such as Nimbus 7 cirrus clouds that reflect solar radiation. measurements will be able to observe these structures
HIRDLS makes key contributions to each of
which are signatures of transport.
and UARS. Aura’s three science questions. A summary of
HIRDLS data products appears on page 29.
n HIRDLS looks backward
and scans both verti-
Simulated HIRDLS Ozone Measurements Ozone Profile
cally and horizontally
across the satellite
HIRDLS spatial
H IRDLS Co-
Principal
Investigators Dr.
track. Very precise coverage has John Gille (left), and
gyroscopes provide been simulated Dr. John Barnett
instrument pointing using an atmos- (right) hold a model
pheric chemistry of the Aura space-
information. To detect
model. The craft. Gille and
the weak infrared radia- HIRDLS instru- Barnett have led

JOHN GILLE (NCAR)

tion from the Earth’s ment team “flew” the development
limb, HIRDLS detectors the spacecraft and application of
through the IR limb sounding.
have to be kept at tem- model to test the Gille and Barnett
peratures below liquid retrieval algorithm and their team are responsible for the instrument calibration, develop-
nitrogen. An advanced and demonstrate HIRDLS high vertical resolution measurements ment of the algorithms, monitoring instrument performance and data
the ability of have been demonstrated using model data.
cryogenic refrigerator processing. Dr. Gille is a senior researcher at the National Center for
HIRDLS SCIENCE TEAM

HIRDLS to map The solid line is the “true” profile taken from Atmospheric Research and a professor at the University of Colorado.
will keep the detectors trace ozone. a model. The radiance that HIRDLS would Dr. Barnett is a Lecturer in atmospheric physics at Oxford University.
cool. Colors represent observe is computed from this profile. The red
ozone abundance horizontal lines show the ozone mixing ratio
at 16 km altitude. measurement and error retrieved with the
HIRDLS algorithm.

12 A U R A AURA 13
 A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S

Microwave Limb Sounder

MLS
MLS INSTRUMENT TEAM

LS is a limb scanning emission MLS Contributions to

n
MLS Instrument
Characteristics

MLS is an advanced
M microwave radiometer. MLS measures
radiation in the GHz and THz fre-
quency ranges (millimeter and submillimeter
Understanding Stratospheric Ozone
Aura’s MLS will continue the ClO and HCl
measurements made by UARS. These measure-
MLS Measurements of Water Vapor

26 km
UARS MLS has made unprecedented
measurements of water vapor in the
wavelengths). Aura’s MLS is a major techno- lower stratosphere and upper tropo-
microwave radiometer logical advance over the MLS flown on UARS. ments will inform us about the rate at which sphere. The tropical measurements
that will measure MLS will measure important ozone-destroying stratospheric chlorine is destroying ozone. MLS indicate the year-to-year percentage
microwave emission chemical species in the upper troposphere and will also provide the first global measurements variation in water vapor as a difference
from the Earth’s limb in stratosphere. In addition, MLS has a unique of the stratospheric hydroxyl (OH) and from the mean value at each level.
hydroperoxy (HO2) radicals that are part of the The upper tropospheric measurement
five broad spectral ability to measure trace gases in the presence of
hydrogen catalytic cycle for ozone destruction. 16 km is possible because MLS can make
bands. These bands are ice clouds and volcanic aerosols. NASA’s Jet measurements in the presence of thin
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) developed, built, In addition, MLS will measure bromine
centered at 118 GHz, clouds that block infrared measure-
tested, and will operate MLS. monoxide (BrO), a powerful ozone-destroying ments. Air ascends slowly into the
190 GHz, 240 GHz, 640 radical. BrO has both natural and man-made stratosphere (above 16 km) carrying
GHz, and 2.5 THz. MLS contributes to each of Aura’s three science sources. the water vapor signal from the tropi-
questions. A summary of MLS data products cal tropopause upward.
n MLS will measure trace appears on page 29. 6 km
gases at lower altitudes
and with better preci-
Earth’s Lower Stratosphere in 1996 Northern and Southern Winters
sion and accuracy than WILLIAM READ, “DEHYDRATION IN THE TROPICAL
-20 0 +20 TROPOPAUSE LAYER: IMPLICATIONS FROM UARS MLS,” J.
its predecessor on UARS. % deviation from mean GEOPHYS. RES., VOL. 109, NO. D6,
DOI:10.1029/2003_JD004056, 2004.”
MLS will obtain trace
gas profiles with a verti-
cal resolution of 3 km. MLS measurements of ClO and HCl will be MLS Contributions to
especially important in the polar regions. The Understanding Climate Change
n MLS pioneers the use HCl measurements tell scientists how stable
of planar diodes and chlorine reservoirs are converted to the ozone MLS’s measurements of upper tropospheric
monolithic-millimeter destroying radical, ClO. Since the Arctic strat- water vapor, ice content, and temperature
wave integrated cir- osphere may now be at a threshold for more will be used to evaluate models and thus
severe ozone loss, Aura’s MLS data will be reduce the uncertainty in climate forcing.
cuits to make the
especially important. MLS also measures greenhouse gases such as
instrument more reli- ozone and N2O in the upper troposphere.
able and resilient to
MLS Contributions to
launch vibration. MLS
Understanding Air Quality
looks outward from the
front of the spacecraft. MLS measures carbon monoxide (CO) and
J oe Waters of the NASA’s Jet Propulsion
Laboratory is Principal Investigator for
Aura MLS, as he was for UARS MLS. Dr.
UKMO T (K) MLS HNO3 (ppbv) MLS ClO (ppbv) MLS O3 (ppmv)
ozone in the upper troposphere. CO is an Waters has led the development and
MICHELLE SANTEE, IN WATERS, ET AL. “THE UARS AND EOS MICROWAVE LIMB SOUNDER (MLS) EXPERIMENTS,” J. ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES,

NATHANIEL LIVESEY (NASA JPL)

VOL. 56, PP 194-218, 15 JAN 1999.
UARS MLS simultaneously mapped key chemical
constituents nitric acid, chlorine monoxide, and
ozone over the winter polar regions in both
Northern (upper) and Southern (lower)
Hemispheres where the greatest ozone loss
occurs. Aura MLS will map these and other
chemicals with better coverage and larger alti-
tude range than UARS MLS. Together with
HIRDLS, Aura MLS will measure an array of
source, radical and reservoir gases in the active
region of the polar stratosphere to give a com-
plete picture of the ozone depletion process and
predicted recovery. MLS will also make global
measurements of BrO, OH and HO2.
important trace gas that can indicate the application of microwave limb sounding since
exchange of air between the stratosphere and starting it in 1974. His team at NASA’s JPL,
troposphere. CO is also a tropospheric ozone along with the MLS team at the University
precursor and its appearance in the upper tro- of Edinburgh (UK) led by Professor Robert
Harwood, is responsible for development of
posphere can indicate strong vertical transport the algorithms that generate MLS data prod-
from pollution events. ucts, monitoring instrument performance,
data processing, validation, and analyses.

14 A U R A AURA 15
 A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S

Ozone Monitoring Instrument

OMI
OMI INSTRUMENT TEAM

MI is a nadir viewing spectrometer OMI’s contributes to each of Aura’s three tion from MLS and HIRDLS to produce maps

n
OMI Instrument
Characteristics

OMI is an advanced
O that measures solar reflected and
backscattered light in a selected range
of the ultraviolet and visible spectrum. The
instrument’s 2600 km viewing swath is per-
hyperspectral imaging pendicular to the orbit track, providing com-
spectrometer with a plete daily coverage of the sunlit portion of the
114º field of view. Its atmosphere. OMI is Aura’s primary instrument
nadir spatial resolution for tracking global ozone change and will con-
tinue the high quality column ozone record
ranges from 13 x 24
begun in 1970 by Nimbus-4 BUV. Because
km to 24 x 48 km.
OMI has a broader wavelength range and bet-
OMI’s swaths almost
ter spectral resolution, OMI will also measure
touch at the equator so column amounts of trace gases important to
OMI is able to ozone chemistry and air quality. OMI will map
science questions. A summary of OMI data
products appears on page 29.
of tropospheric ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
OMI will also measure the tropospheric ozone
precursor formaldehyde. Scientists will use
Satellite Ozone Data and Forecast Predict Ozone Hole Breakup
KNMI (Royal Netherlands
Meteorological Institute) forecast-
OMI Contributions to Understanding OMI measurements of ozone and cloud cover ed the unusual splitting of the
to derive the amount of ultraviolet radiation Antarctic ozone hole in
Stratospheric Ozone
(UV) reaching the Earth’s surface. The September 2002. This six-day
OMI will continue the 34-year satellite ozone forecast for column ozone on
National Weather Service will use OMI data to
record of SBUV and TOMS, mapping global September 25, 2002 used data
forecast high UV index days for public health from the European Space
ozone change. OMI data will support awareness.
Agency’s Global Ozone Monitoring
Congressionally mandated and international Experiment (GOME) with the wind
ozone assessments. Using its broad wavelength OMI Contributions to Understanding fields obtained from a data
range and spectral resolution, OMI scientists assimilation system. Subsequent
Climate Change
will be able to resolve the differences among satellite data verified the predic-
satellite and ground based ozone measure- OMI tracks dust, smoke and industrial aerosols tion. KNMI, NASA and NOAA will

HENK ESKES (KNMI)

[DU] use similar assimilation tech-
produce global maps aerosols and estimate ultraviolet radiation ments. OMI will also measure the atmospheric in the troposphere. OMI’s UV measurements
niques with OMI data to make
each day. reaching the Earth’s surface. OMI’s horizontal column of radicals such as nitrogen dioxide allow scientists to distinguish reflecting and
regular forecasts of the amount
resolution is about four times greater than (NO2) and chlorine dioxide (OClO). absorbing aerosols and thus OMI measure- 150 200 300 400 500
and distribution of total column
n OMI contains two spec- TOMS. ments will help improve climate models. (DU)
ozone. OMI will deliver data three
trometers; the first OMI Contributions to Understanding hours after observation.
measures the UV in the The Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Pro- Air Quality
wavelength range of grams (NIVR) and the Finnish Meteorological Aerosol Optical Depth
270-365 nm, while the Institute (FMI) contributed the OMI instru-
ment to the Aura mission. The Netherlands
Tropospheric ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, and aerosols are four of the U. S.
OMI Principal
Investigator Pieternel
Levelt is a research
other spectrometer

GONZALEZ, C.R., J.P. VEEFKIND AND G. DE LEEUW, AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH OVER EUROPE IN AUGUST
companies, Dutch Space and TNO-TPD, Environmental Protection Agency’s six criteria scientist at the Royal
measures the visible in pollutants. OMI will map tropospheric Netherlands Meteoro-
together with Finnish companies, Patria, VTT 65 N 0.6
the range of 365 to 500 columns of sulfur dioxide and aerosols. OMI logical Institute (KNMI).
and SSF, built the instrument.
nm. Both spectrometers measurements will be combined with informa- Co-Principal Investigators
are Ernest Hilsenrath,
have a bandpass of
from NASA Goddard

1997 DERIVED FROM ATSR-2 DATA, GEOPHYS. RES. LETT., 27, 955-958, 2000

optical depth
about 0.5 nm with spec- Tropospheric Ozone Map 55 N 0.4 Space Flight Center

KNMI
tral sampling ranging (GSFC), and Gilbert
from 0.15 to 0.3 This monthly average map was Leppelmeier, from the
made by subtracting the stratos- Finnish Meteorological Institute. Pawan Bhartia leads
nm/pixel, depending pheric ozone column from TOMS 45 N 0.2 the US science team. Bhartia and Hilsenrath have led
on wavelength. column ozone. The stratospheric the development and application of UV backscatter
S. CHANDRA AND J. ZIEMKE (BOTH NASA GSFC)

column is calculated using UARS techniques for measuring trace gases. These scientists
n OMI uses a CCD solid MLS measurements. Higher quality and their teams have overseen OMI instrument develop-
state detector array to tropospheric ozone maps on a 35 N 0 ment and are responsible for calibration, developing
daily basis will be produced from 10W 0E 10E 20E 30E algorithms, monitoring instrument performance, data
provide extended spec-
OMI and HIRDLS data. processing, analysis and validation.
tral coverage for each OMI will collect data on aerosol optical thickness in the ultraviolet
pixel across the meas- with eight times better spatial resolution than TOMS instruments.
Optical thickness in the ultraviolet tells scientists whether the
urement swath. aerosols absorb or reflect radiation; this information is necessary
0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 for climate studies. The figure shows aerosol measurements
DU (monthly average, August 1997) by ATSR-2 at an OMI resolution
of 13 x 24 km.

16 A U R A AURA 17
 A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S

Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer

TES
TES INSTRUMENT TEAM

ES is an imaging Fourier Transform TES Contributions to Understanding

n
TES Instrument
Characteristics

TES is a high-resolution
T Spectrometer observing the thermal
emission of the Earth’s surface and
atmosphere, night and day. TES will measure
Stratospheric Ozone
TES limb measurements extend from the
Earth’s surface to the middle stratosphere, and
TES Simulated Data

Harvard University’s
GEOS-CHEM model
tropospheric ozone and of other gases impor- demonstrates that TES
infrared-imaging tant to tropospheric pollution. Satellite tropos- the TES spectral range overlaps the spectral
will observe the major
Fourier Transform pheric chemical observations are difficult to range of HIRDLS. As a result, TES’s high features in tropospheric
Spectrometer with make due to the presence of clouds. To over- resolution spectra will allow scientists to ozone on a single day.

DANIEL JACOB (HARVARD UNIVERSITY)

spectral coverage of come this problem TES was designed to make measurements of some additional The top panel shows
observe both downward (in the nadir) and hor- stratospheric constituents as well as improve the GEOS-CHEM simu-
3.2 to 15.4 µm at a
izontally (across the limb). This observation HIRDLS measurements of species common lated ozone field at
spectral resolution of to both instruments. 681 hPa (about 3.1
capability provides measurements of the entire
0.025 cm-1. The instru- km). The white areas
lower atmosphere, from the surface to the are mountainous
ment can provide infor- stratosphere. NASA’s JPL developed, built, TES Contributions to Understanding regions where the sur-
mation on essentially tested, and will operate TES. Air Quality face pressure is below
almost all radiatively 681 hPa. The ‘+’ signs
active gases in the TES will measure the distribution of gases in on the bottom panel
The TES primary objective is to measure trace
the troposphere. TES will provide simultane- indicate Aura’s flight
Earth’s lower atmos- gases associated with air quality. A summary
ous measurements of tropospheric ozone and path and the locations
phere. of TES data products appears on page 29.
key gases involved in tropospheric ozone of TES nadir measure-
chemistry, such as HNO3 and CO. TES data ments. White areas are
n TES makes both limb found on the flight path
will be used to improve regional ozone pollu-
and nadir observations. where clouds obscure
tion models.
In the limb mode, TES the entire TES footprint.
The map in the lower
has a height resolution
Ground Level Ozone panel is constructed
of 2.3 km, with cover- from the simulated val-
age from 0 to 34 km. In With its pointing capability ues at the ‘+’ loca-

MINGZHAO LUO (NASA JPL)

the nadir mode, TES has and smal pixel size (5 x 8 tions. The simulated
km) TES can detect map reproduces many
a spatial resolution of
changes in ozone levels in of the features found in
5.3 x 8.5 km. The large urban locations such the original model field.
instrument can be as Los Angeles. The < 1.515
0e-08 > 773
.30e-08
orange and red areas rep- Ozone
OzoVolume Mixing
e MixiRatio
ng Ra(ppbv)
pointed to any target U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
ne Volum tio
resent regions of unhealthy
within 45 degrees of
ozone levels. The orange
the local vertical. area indicates ozone levels

n In order to detect the

greater than 80 parts per
billion by volume (ppbv)
TES Contributions to
Understanding Climate Change
R einhard Beer of the NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory serves as the
Principal Investigator for TES. Beer is a
infrared radiation from and the red area indicates pioneer in the development and applica-
the Earth’s atmos- levels greater than 125 TES will measure tropospheric water vapor,

KAREN YUEN (NASA JPL)

tion of Fourier Transform technology for
ppbv. methane, ozone and aerosols, all of which are
phere, TES’s detectors remote sensing. Beer and his team are
have to be kept at very relevant to climate change. Additional gases responsible for developing the atmospheric
important to climate change can be retrieved constituent retrieval algorithms, monitoring
cold temperatures. An instrument performance, calibration, data
from the TES spectra.
advanced cryogenic processing and analysis.
refrigerator keeps the
detectors cool.

18 A U R A AURA 19
 A U R A M I S S I O N

Mission Synergy: Maximizing Science Results

he Aura instruments were selected and ice clouds. TES limb ozone measurements of Aura’s four instruments. TES provides a ozone directly. The second estimate of the total

n
Mission Synergy

Aura measures a full

range of gases active
in ozone chemistry.
n Aura measures five of
the six EPA criterion
air pollutants.
n Aura measures upper
troposphere ozone and
water vapor, both impor-
tant contributors to
climate change.
T the satellite was designed to maximize
science impact. The four Aura instru-
ments have different fields of view and comple-
mentary capabilities. The instruments all
observe the same air mass within about 13
minutes, a short enough time so the chemical
and dynamical changes between observations
are small.
Stratospheric Ozone
Understanding stratospheric ozone change
involves measurements of both the ozone pro-
file and the total column amount, as well as
the chemicals responsible for ozone change.
All of Aura’s instruments make ozone profile
measurements. HIRDLS profiles have the
highest vertical resolution and extend from
overlap the measurements from HIRDLS and
MLS up to the middle stratosphere. OMI can
also make broad ozone profile measurements
using a modified SBUV technique.
To establish the scientific basis for ozone
change, scientists must measure the global dis-
tribution of the source, reservoir, and radical
chemicals in the nitrogen, chlorine, and hydro-
gen families. Together, the Aura instruments
fill this requirement. For example, HIRDLS
measures the halocarbons (chlorine source
gases) and chlorine nitrate (one of the major
chlorine reservoir gases), while MLS measures
the radical chlorine monoxide and hydrogen
chloride (the other major chlorine reservoir).
Stratospheric aerosols influence ozone concen-
backup for HIRDLS. MLS and HIRDLS both
measure nitric acid and MLS measures HCl
and chlorine monoxide (ClO), two gases that
tropospheric ozone amount can be obtained by
subtracting HIRDLS stratospheric ozone meas-
urements from OMI’s total column ozone
are transformed by the chemical processes measurements. A similar procedure can be
involving aerosols. used to estimate the tropospheric amount of
NO2, an important ozone precursor.
Air Quality
In the clear upper troposphere, Aura instru-
Measuring tropospheric ozone and its precursor ments provide overlapping measurements of
gases is a major goal for Aura. Aura’s instru- CO (MLS, TES), H2O (MLS, TES, HIRDLS),
ments provide two methods of tracking ozone
pollution. First, TES measures tropospheric continues on page 22
Aura Atmospheric Measurements
HIRDLS: High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder MLS: Microwave Limb Sounder
OMI: Ozone Monitoring Instrument TES: Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer
100

height above surface in km (note non-linear scale above 30 km)

trations through chemical processes that trans-
cloud tops to the upper stratosphere. MLS form ozone-destroying gases. HIRDLS meas-
80

measurements have lower vertical resolution ures stratospheric aerosols with the best hori-
50

than HIRDLS, but MLS can measure ozone in zontal coverage and highest vertical resolution 40
the presence of aerosols and upper tropospheric

Vertical Profiles
30
OH ClONO2 HCl ClO aerosol
Fields of View 25
O3 HO2 CH3CN HNO3 NO2 HOCl BrO extinction

CF2Cl2 volcanic
temperature H2O CH4 HCN N2O5
polar SO2
Fields of view for Aura’s 20 CO N2O CFCl3 strato-
spheric
instruments appear in differ- cloud cloud clrrus geo-
top ice potential
ent colors: HIRDLS in yellow, 15
height content height
OMI in blue, MLS in green,
10
and TES in red. HIRDLS looks
backward through the limb

JOE WATERS (NASA JPL)

5
and scans the atmosphere’s
vertical profiles across the 0

Columns
satellite track. MLS looks

Total
O3 aerosol volcanic
HCHO NO2 OClO BrO
forward through the limb and extinction SO2
scans the atmosphere vertical
profiles along the satellite
track. OMI looks downward Each of Aura’s four instruments provides unique and cloud top height and coverage. The altitude
and has a cross track swath and complementary capabilities to enable daily range for measurement appears as the vertical
of 2600 km. TES looks both global observations of Earth's atmospheric ozone scale. In several cases instrument measurements
JESSE ALLEN (SSAI)

in the nadir and limb and layer, air quality, and climate. The chart (above) overlap, which provides independent perspectives
also has off nadir pointing summarizes the specific atmospheric physical and cross calibration. These measurements will
capability. properties and chemical constituents measured result in the most comprehensive set of atmos-
by each instrument. OMI also measures UVB flux pheric composition ever measured from space.

20 A U R A AURA 21
 A U R A M I S S I O N A U R A M I S S I O N

If the air is HNO3 (MLS, TES, HIRDLS). Carbon monox-

altered ever so
slightly, the state
Simulated Tropospheric Ozone Aura and the A-Train
ide (CO) is an ozone precursor and HNO3 is a
reservoir gas for NO2. The combination of
TES nadir measurements and MLS limb
measurements through clouds will provide

SUSHIL CHANDRA AND JERRY ZIEMKE (NASA GSFC)

of the psychic y 2006, Aura will be a member of a aerosols. Aerosol height information obtained

spirit will be
altered perceptibly.
important new information on the distribution
of CO and H2O.

An emerging problem in air quality is the

B constellation of satellites flying in
formation. This formation is referred
to as the “A-Train.” Flying with Aura in the
by CALIPSO can be combined with data on
aerosol size distribution and composition from
PARASOL and Aqua’s MODIS.
Satellite Constellation

Aura will fly in a carefully-

increasing amount of aerosols in the air we
Maimonides, breathe. OMI measures aerosols, and distin-
guishes between smoke, mineral dust, and
12th Century
other aerosols. Both TES and HIRDLS meas-
philosopher ure aerosol characteristics in the upper tropo-
sphere to help understand how aerosols are
transported.
Climate Change
Atmospheric chemistry and climate are inti-
mately connected. Ozone, water vapor, and
Completing the Picture of Stratospheric Chemistry
BARBARA SUMMEY (SSAI)
A-Train are Aqua, CloudSat, CALIPSO, and
OCO. The French space agency, Centre
National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), plans to
send a sixth satellite, PARASOL, to join the
A-Train. All six satellites will cross the equator
0 Tropospheric Ozone (DU) 100 within a few minutes of one another near 1:30
p.m. local time and again in the early morn-
Atmospheric scientists derive tropospheric ing, about 1:30 a.m.
ozone amounts by combining measurements
from different satellites, such as subtracting While each satellite has an independent science
stratospheric amounts from NASA’s UARS mission, these complementary satellite obser-
MLS or NOAA’s SBUV/2 instruments from vations will enable scientists to obtain more
TOMS column amounts. These show how tro-
information than they could using the observa-
pospheric ozone is transported across conti-
nents and oceans. Aura will provide more tions of a single mission.
accurate tropospheric ozone by subtracting
the HIRDLS stratospheric profiles from OMI The A-Train formation allows us to focus on
column amounts as simulated in this figure. new science questions. For example:
The high spatial resolution of these two instru-
ments will provide data necessary to quantify n What are the aerosol types and how do
chemical and dynamic processes controlling
observations match global emission and
tropospheric ozone.
transport models?
n What is the role of polar stratospheric
clouds in ozone loss in the Antarctic
vortex?
Aura’s MLS and HIRDLS will provide cloud
height and temperature data, and ozone, nitric
acid and chlorine monoxide concentrations.
CALIPSO measures precise polar stratospheric
cloud height and cloud type.
n What is the vertical distribution of cloud
water and ice in upper tropospheric
cloud systems?
Aura’s MLS will provide water vapor measure-
ments in the presence of clouds while CloudSat
will measure cloud height. PARASOL will
provide particle type information while Aqua’s
MODIS will give particle size information.
designed constellation of six
Earth-observing satellites
that gather concurrent sci-
ence data in a virtual plat-
form. Constellation flying
increases mission capability
while it lowers total mission
risk and mission cost.
Aura contributes to the
collective science mission,
particularly with regard to
questions about the role of
polar stratospheric clouds
in polar ozone loss, and the
vertical distribution of water
and ice in cloud systems.

Data from Aura’s OMI will provide informa-

N2O take part in tropospheric chemical tion on the global distribution of absorbing
processes and are also greenhouse gases.
Changes in these and other greenhouse gases
can upset the atmosphere’s heat balance and
The satellites of the A-Train.
alter climate. Measurements of these gases,
Chemical and transport processes have led to changes in the stratospheric
ozone layer, and scientists need measurements of many different chemical
their sources and sinks are essential if we are to
species to puzzle out the causes for these observed changes. Measurements understand how the climate is changing as a
of ozone-destroying radicals such as ClO, NO2, BrO and OH and reservoir gases result of human activity. All of the Aura
such as N2O5, ClONO2 and HNO3 help solve the chemical part of the puzzle. instruments provide information on tropos- CALIPSO CloudSat Aqua
Measurements of long-lived gases such as N2O and CH4 tell scientists about pheric ozone. PARASOL
the puzzling effects of transport. Ozone and some other constituents are meas-
ured by all the instruments; some constituents like hydrochloric acid are meas- Clouds and aerosols are also important contrib-
ured by only one. New Aura measurements, such as OH, will help us complete OCO
utors to climate change. HIRDLS and MLS
the picture. The new measurements are shown as detached pieces. Aura
will measure cirrus clouds. OMI will measure

ALEX MCCLUNG (SSAI)

aerosol distributions and cloud distributions
and their heights.

22 A U R A
 A U R A M I S S I O N

The Aura Spacecraft

he Aura spacecraft provides

n
Spacecraft Subsystems
Structure—Graphite
epoxy composite over
T the essential services for
operating the four scientific
instruments over the life of the
honeycomb core mission. The spacecraft, based on
the EOS Common Spacecraft
n Electrical Power— The
deployable flat-panel
design, was built by Northrop
solar array with over Grumman Space Technology and
20,000 silicon solar adapted for the Aura instrument
cells provides 4800 payload.
watts of power in
sunlight and charges a Building a complex spacecraft
24-cell nickel-hydrogen
requires an engineering team
battery for the night
phase of the orbit
with a diverse set of technical
skills. The team has to translate
n Command and Data the scientific requirements of the
Handling System—Stores Spacecraft delivery
mission into the technical
over 100 gigabits of sci-
requirements for the spacecraft to
entific data on-board
assure that when the subsystems
n Communications— and instruments are brought
X-band (high data rate) together to form the observatory
for science data, S-band (spacecraft plus instruments), they
(low data rate) for com-
function as one cohesive
mand and telemetry, via

PAGES 24- 25. PHOTOS OF AURA SPACECRAFT COURTESY OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN SPACE TECHNOLOGY
polar ground stations system.

n Guidance, Navigation The spacecraft is made up of the

and Control—Stellar- following subsystems: command
inertial, and momentum
wheel-based attitude
and data handling; communica-
controls tions; electrical power; electrical
distribution; guidance, naviga-
n Propulsion—System of tion and control; propulsion,
four one-pound thrust Spacecraft assembly
software and thermal control. Each subsystem
hydrazine monopropel-
lant rockets
requires designers, engineers, analysts and
technicians with specialized training. A team
n Software—The satellite of integration and test specialists assembles the The Aura observatory will be launched on a
systems are managed observatory and tests it as a system, simulating Delta II 7920 rocket from Vandenberg Air
by a flight computer
the launch and on-orbit environments as close- Force Base in California into a near polar, sun-
that is responsible for
the health and safety of ly as possible. For example, the spacecraft is synchronous orbit of 438 mi (705 km), with a
all the instrument sub- exposed to vibrations similar to what it would period of approximately 100 minutes and a
systems experience during launch. As the observatory 1:45 PM equator crossing time. The spacecraft
comes together, the flight operations team repeats its ground track every 16 days.
learns and practices how to operate the obser-
vatory well before launch.
Right, Spacecraft descending into thermal
vacuum test chamber, October 2003.

24 A U R A
 A U R A M I S S I O N

High altitude balloon

measurements will
provide trace gas profiles
Aura Validation
for Aura validation.

alidation is the process by which scien- The Aura validation program capitalizes on instruments will provide datasets that will tell for validation, because the UT/LS exhibits

V tists show that their space-based meas-

urements have their expected accuracy.
Validation of Aura measurements involves
making similar atmospheric measurements
from airplanes, balloons or ground-based sites.
Scientists compare Aura data with calibrated
measurements collected as the satellite passes
overhead.
Ground-based radiometers and spectrometers
make column measurements similar to those fly-
ing on Aura. Lidars measure temperature and
some trace gas constituent profiles. Aircraft such
as the DC-8 (medium altitude) and the ER-2
(high altitude) carry airborne spectrometers,
radiometers, and air samplers to measure upper
atmospheric constituents.
Instruments on board the NASA DC-8 will
measure tropospheric and lower stratospheric
trace gases.
routine sources of data such as the ozonesonde
network and the Network for Detection of
Stratospheric Change (NDSC). Balloon-borne
scientists whether or not the campaign obser-
vations are truly representative of the atmos-
phere’s chemistry.
much more spatial and temporal variability
(weather) than the middle and upper strato-
sphere. The Aura validation program includes
instruments will measure profiles of stratospheric an instrument development program and field
constituents up to 25 miles (40 km). Smaller Aura’s focus on the upper troposphere and campaigns between October 2004 and
balloons will carry water vapor instruments in lower stratosphere (UT/LS) presents challenges Autumn 2007.
the tropics to validate Aura’s measurements of
this important gas. Aircraft flights provide
tropospheric profiles of ozone, carbon monoxide,
and nitrogen species. Aircraft lidars will measure
profiles of ozone and temperature for long
distances along the satellite track. Scientists
will also compare profiles of stratospheric
constituents from Aura with those from other
satellites, including the NASA UARS, the ESA
Envisat, and the Canadian SCISAT, and use data
assimilation techniques to identify systematic
differences among the data sets.
The Aura project has adopted a strategy to
increase the scientific return from the valida-
tion program. Some of the validation activities
will be embedded within focused science cam-

NASA DFRC
paigns. These campaigns have been selected to
obtain data needed to unravel complex science
questions that are linked to the three main NASA DFRC

Aura science goals. Scientists will use the satel- High altitude aircraft will make in situ measurements of stratospher- Unpiloted aerial vehi-
lite data to understand the overall chemical ic and tropospheric constituents. Above, the Proteus, and below, the cles (UAVs), such as
and meteorological environment during the NASA ER-2 have been frequently used in satellite validation. NASA’s Altair shown
campaigns. Aircraft measurements will be used above, will be used
in Aura validation to
to both validate Aura data and address the make measurements
science by making additional measurements. along the satellite
track. Aura is
This strategy emphasizes the strengths of pioneering the
both data sets. Campaign instruments make use of UAVs for
MKIV INTERFEROMETER LAUNCH (NASA JPL)

constituent measurements that are more com- validation.

plete than can be obtained from satellites.
NOAA CLIMATE MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS LABORATORY
MARK SCHOEBERL (NASA GFSC)

Campaign data are obtained for much smaller

spatial scales and with high temporal resolu- Ground-based measurements from sites like
the one pictured above at Barrow, Alaska, will
tion compared to satellite data. Aircraft mis-
provide a long time series of constituent
sions take place a few times each year at most measurements for validation.
and are limited to a small portion of the globe,

NASA DFRC
while the Aura instruments will make global
observations throughout the year. The Aura

26 A U R A AURA 27
A U R A M I S S I O N

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SPACE TECHNOLOGY

The EOS Aura Ground System

he EOS Aura ground system has two EOC. The data collected by the Aura instru-

T equally important functions: to operate

the Aura satellite, and to process, archive
and distribute the Aura data. NASA’s EOS
ments will be recorded onboard the spacecraft
and relayed to ground stations in Alaska and
Norway when the satellite passes overhead.
Aura Instruments and Data Products

A CRONYM N AME C ONSTITUENT I NSTRUMENT D ESCRIPTION

Data and Information System (EOSDIS) sup-
ports both of these. Data Processing, Archive and HIRDLS High Resolution Profiles of T, O3, H2O, Limb IR filter radiometer
Distribution Dynamics Limb CH4, N2O, NO2, HNO3, from 6.2 to 17.76 µm
Operating the Aura Satellite Sounder N2O5, CF3Cl, CF2Cl2, 1.2 km vertical resolution
The data will be transmitted from the ground ClONO2, aerosol up to 80 km
Mission operations are based at the NASA stations to the EOS Data and Operations composition
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, System (EDOS). From there the data for
Maryland. The Flight Operations Team at the HIRDLS, MLS and OMI will be sent to the MLS Microwave Limb Profiles of T, H2O, O3, ClO, Microwave limb sounder
EOS Operations Center (EOC) will command Goddard Distributed Active Archive Center Sounder BrO, HCl, OH, HO2, HNO3, from 118 GHz to 2.5 THz,
and control the Aura spacecraft and instru- (DAAC); data for TES will be sent to the HCN, N2O, CO, cloud ice with 1.5-3 km vertical
ments, monitor their health and safety and Langley Research Center (LaRC) DAAC. Each HOCI, CH3CN resolution
perform mission planning and scheduling. Science Investigator-led Processing System
Instrument teams at NASA’s JPL, University (SIPS) will receive the data from the DAAC OMI Ozone Monitoring Column O3, aerosols, Hyperspectral nadir
of Colorado and KNMI, Holland are responsi- for further processing. The SIPS will produce Instrument NO2, SO2, BrO, OClO, HCHO, imager, 114º FOV,
ble for day-to-day planning, scheduling, and scientific data such as profiles and column UV-B, cloud top pressure, 270-500 nm, 13x24 km
monitoring of their instruments through the amounts of ozone and other important atmos- O3 profiles footprint for ozone and
pheric species. Each instrument team will aerosols
monitor the data products to ensure that they
are of high quality. The data products will TES Tropospheric Profiles of T, O3, NO2, CO, Limb (to 34 km) and
then be sent back to the DAACs where they Emission HNO3, CH4, H2O nadir IR Fourier transform
will be archived. The DAACs are responsible Spectrometer spectrometer 3.2-15.4µm
for distribution of data to scientists all over Nadir footprint 5.3x8.5
the world. km, limb 2.3 km

Getting the data

Researchers, government agencies and
educators will have unrestricted access to
the Aura data via the EOS data gateway
(eos.nasa.gov/imswelcome). Data seekers Man and Nature must work
can search for and order data from any of the hand in hand. The throwing
EOS DAACs.
out of balance of the resources
of nature, throws out of balance
the lives of men.
ANGIE KELLY (NASA GSFC)

F. D. Roosevelt, 1935,
President of the United States

28 A U R A AURA 29
A U R A M I S S I O N

Aura Education and Public Outreach

ASA missions to study the Earth ic chemistry and transport; and the fourth

N and other planets continue to inspire

the next generation of explorers.
Aura’s three areas of science investigation—
stratospheric ozone, climate change, and air
quality—are issues of everyday concern.
issue (2005) will focus on Aura results. In asso-
ciation with the National Chemistry Week
theme The Earth’s Atmosphere and Beyond! ACS
and NASA have also collaborated to conduct
workshops for teachers at all of the regional

Aura investigators have partnered with the
Smithsonian Institution, the American
Chemical Society, and the GLOBE Program
to reach multiple audiences.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors to the
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of
Natural History will have the opportunity to
experience a new permanent exhibit based on
Aura science, The Atmosphere: Change Is In
the Air. The new exhibit resides in the Forces
of Change exhibit hall, where connections
among land, oceans and atmosphere are
explored. Interactive displays immerse visitors
in the early history, evolution, and structure of
DANA STENCLOVA
National Science Teachers Association meet-
ings from 2002 to 2004.
The Aura team supports the GLOBE Program Students and teachers in Czechoslovakia investigate surface
(Global Learning and Observations to Benefit ozone amounts through GLOBE, an international science and
the Environment) to involve young researchers education program. Trainers from the U.S. pose with them and
in atmospheric chemistry. More than 13,000 their teacher.
kindergarten through 12th grade schools in
100 countries participate in the GLOBE pro-
gram. Aura supported the development of inex- GLOBE students
pensive instruments to measure UV radiation, measure injury to
surface ozone, and aerosols. GLOBE develops plant leaves for
protocols for students to follow when making ozone air quality
measurements and reporting their data. Schools studies.
in the Netherlands are particularly active in

the atmosphere. Northrop Grumman Space
Technology has contributed a one-eighth scale
model of the Aura satellite to the exhibit, and
the Smithsonian’s Department of Education
has developed learning activities for student
group visits. In association with the exhibit,
the Smithsonian Press will publish a book by
Nobel Prize Winner, Sherwood Rowland,
Atmosphere.
By the time the Aura satellite achieves orbit,
every high school chemistry teacher in the
United States will have received four special
issues of the high school magazine, Chem
MS. CERNOCHOVA
Aura science observations through a partnership
between GLOBE Netherlands and KNMI, the
OMI PI institute. About 20 Dutch schools plan
to become part of the data validation program
for Aura. Website Addresses
The Aura team has published six articles about n See National Museum of Natural History online at:
atmospheric science on Earth Observatory, www.nmnh.si.edu/
NASA’s award-winning website, earthobserva-
tory.nasa.gov. The articles include “Ultraviolet n See Chem Matters online at:
Radiation: How It Affects Life on Earth”; www.acs.org/education/curriculum/chemmatt.html
“Highways of a Global Traveler”; and
“Watching Our Ozone Weather”. About n See the GLOBE Program online at:
300,000 individuals visit this website each www.globe.gov/fsl/welcome/welcomeobject.pl

JOKE VAN DEN BOVENKAMP (KNMI)

Matters, devoted to Aura mission science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) and
NASA collaborated in the production of these
magazines. The first issue (2001) introduces
students to the Aura mission itself; the second
issue (2002) portrays the professional and per-
sonal lives of the people who make Aura possi-
ble; the third issue (2003) explores atmospher-
month, and 36,000 subscribe to a weekly
update. More articles, including one on scien-
tist-teacher-student partnerships, are under
development.
For current information on education opportu-
nities, visit the Aura website at:
eos-aura.gsfc.nasa.gov
n For current information on education opportunities, visit the Aura
website at:
eos-aura.gsfc.nasa.gov
A GLOBE teacher and students learn how
to measure aerosols with a hand-held sun
photometer.

30 A U R A AURA 31
 A U R A M I S S I O N

Acknowledgements

Goddard Project Office

R. Pickering, J. Bolek, C. Dent, M. Domen, M. Fontaine, G. Jackson, J. Lohr, J. Loiacono, S. Manning,

JESSE ALLEN (SSAI)

K. McIntyre, A. Razzaghi

NASA HQ Program Office

P. DeCola, D. Anderson , J. Gleason, M. Kurylo, M. Tanner

Chemicals
Project Science Office BrO Bromine monoxide ClONO2 Chlorine nitrate HNO3 Nitric acid NOx Nitrogen oxide
M. Schoeberl, A. Douglass, and E. Hilsenrath CF2Cl2 Dichlorodifluoromethane CO Carbon monoxide HO2 Hydroperoxy radical O2 Oxygen
This brochure is CFCl3 Trichlorofluoromethane CO2 Carbon dioxide HOCl Hypochlorous acid O3 Ozone
Science Teams CH3CN Methyl cyanide H20 Water N2O Nitrous oxide OClO Chlorine dioxide
dedicated to CH4 Methane HCl Hydrogen chloride N2O5 Dinitrogen pentoxide OH Hydroxyl
HIRDLS
the memory of Cl Chlorine HCHO Formaldehyde NO Nitric oxide SO2 Sulfur dioxide
U. S. A. Team: L. Avallone, B. Boville, G. Brasseur, M. Coffey, T. Eden, D. Edwards , D. Kinneson, A. Lambert,
ClO Chlorine monoxide HCN Hydrogen Cyanide NO2 Nitrogen dioxide
Professor James Reed C. Leovy, B. Nardi , C. Randall, W. Randel , B. Toon
U. K. Team: D. Andrews, R. Harwood, M. McIntyre, H. Muller, C. Mutlow, A. O’Neill, J. Pyle, C. Rodgers, Acronyms
Holton (1938-2004), F. Taylor, G. Vaughan, R. Wells, J. Whitney, E. Williamson ACS American Chemical Society NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
an inspirational MLS ASTER Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research
ASTR Along Track Scanning Radiometer NDSC Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change
atmospheric scientist U. S. A. Team: R. E. Cofield, L. Froidevaux, R. Jarnot, N. Livesey, G. Manney, H. Pickett, W. Read, M. Santee,
BUV Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument NGST Northrop Grumman Space Technology
P. Siegel, J. Waters, D. Wu
and a member of the CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Nimbus 7 NASA satellite, operated from 1978-1994 carrying a
U. K. Team: M. J. Filipiak, R. Harwood, H. Pumphrey TOMS instrument
CCD Charge Coupled Device
UARS and Aura OMI CFC Chlorofluorocarbon Nimbus-4 NASA satellite,operated from 1970-1980 carrying the BUV instrument
CNES Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Science Teams. Dutch team: B. van den Oord, J. Claas, M. Dobber, M. Kroon, P. Veefkind, S. van Broekhoven,
OCO Orbiting Carbon Observatory
J. van den Bovenkamp, E. Brinksma, J. de Haan, R. Dirksen, R. Noordhoek, R. Voors DAAC Distributed Active Archive Center
Jim Holton made DFRC Dryden Flight Research Center OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument (One of the four Aura instruments)
Finnish Team: G. Leppelmeier, A. Mälkki, E. Kyrö, A. Tanskanen
DU Dobson Unit OMPS Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite
countless U. S. A. Team: P. Bhartia, R. Cebula, K. Chance, D. Cunnold, J. Fishman, A. Fleig, L. Flynn, J. Gleason,
EOC EOS Operations Center PARASOL Polarization and Anisotropy of Réflectances for Atmospheric Sciences
D. Heath E. Hilsenrath, J. Joiner, A. Krueger, R. McPeters, G. Mount, S. Sander,I. Stajner, O. Torres, coupled with Observations from a Lidar
contributions C. Trepte EOS Earth Observing System
ppbv Parts per billion volume
EOSDIS Earth Observing System Data and Information System
to atmospheric science International team: I. Isaksen, D. Hauglustaine, U. Platt, P. Simon, I. Aben, F. Denterer, H. Kelder, P. Stammes, SAGE Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
D. Swart, G. de Leeuw, F. Boersma, R. van Oss SBUV Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet
ESA European Space Agency
and enriched the lives SCIAMACHY Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for
TES GISS Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Atmospheric Cartography
of his students and U. S. A. Team: S. Clough, M. Gunson, D. Jacob, J. Logan, F. Murcray, D. Rider, C. Rinsland, , S. Sander, GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment
SIPS Science Investigator Processing Systems
H. Worden GOME Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment
colleagues. SSAI Science Systems & Applications, Inc.
U. K. Team: C. Rodgers, F. Taylor GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center
TES Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (One of the four Aura
HALOE Halogen Occultation Experiment, instrument on UARS satellite instruments)
HIRDLS High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (One of the four Aura TOMS Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
Brochure Team instruments)
UARS Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
Authors: Ernest Hilsenrath, Mark R. Schoeberl, and Anne Douglass (NASA GSFC) JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory
UK United Kingdom
Project Coordinator: Stephanie Stockman (SSAI) KNMI Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute
UMBC University of Maryland Baltimore County
Designer: Ellen Baker Smyth, Elle Designs MLS Microwave Limb Sounder (One of the four Aura instruments)
UV Ultraviolet
MODIS Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
Contributing Writer/Editor: Jeannie Allen (SSAI) VOC Volatile Organic Compound
MOPITT Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere

32 A U R A AURA c3