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Aerosol Research Branch (ARB)

A ground-based 48-inch Lidar system has been obtaining semiregular measurements at the NASA Langley Research Center since May 1974. These high resolution vertical measurements have resulted in a valuable longterm record of the mid-latitude upper tropospheric and stratospheric aerosol. These data have been used in scientific studies such as in studies of volcanic eruptions and in comparisons with satellite data.

Biomass Burning

Data is in form of amount of biomass matter burned in units of teragrams of dry biomass matter per month for the peak burning month. This data may be used in general circulation models (GCMs) and in photochemical models of the atmosphere.

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES)

CERES will measure the Earth's radiation budget and atmospheric radiation from the top of the atmosphere to the surface. It permits retrieval of cloud parameters in terms of measured aerial coverage, altitude, liquid water content and shortwave and longwave optical depths.

Earth Observing Scanning Polarimeter (EOSP)

EOSP will globally map radiance and liner polarization of reflected and scattered sunlight for 12 spectral bands from 410 to 2,250 nm. It will provide global aerosol distribution and cloud properties such as optical thickness and phase.

Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)

Data were collected from three satellites (ERBS, NOAA-9, NOAA-10) carrying two ERBE instruments (scanner, nonscanner). The objective was to measure global albedo, fluxes and solar incidence.

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE)

Cirrus and Marine Stratocumulus cloud parameters were collected from aircraft, satellite and surface-based measurements.

Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE)

A major component of the NASA Tropospheric Chemistry Program, GTE consists of a series of airborne field experiments designed to (1) evaluate the capability of instrument techniques to measure, under field conditions, the minute concentrations of key chemical species in the atmosphere and (2) systematically address tropospheric chemistry issues relevant to global change, through airborne sampling expeditions, coupled with modeling and laboratory studies.

International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP)

ISCCP focuses on the study of the distribution and variation of cloud radiative properties. The objective is to improve the understanding and modeling of the effects of clouds on climate and also to elucidate the role of clouds in the radiation balance and improve our knowledge of the long-term global hydrologic cycle.

Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS)

Data were collected during Space Shuttle flights in 1981, 1984 and 1994. The main pollutant measured was carbon monoxide (CO).

Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT)

MOPITT will generate atmospheric profiles of CO using thermal radiation at 4.7 um. Column carbon monoxide and methane are measured using channels at 2.4 and 2.3 um, respectively, to sense solar radiation from the surface.

Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR)

MISR will provide top-of-atmosphere, cloud and surface angular reflectance functions. It will provide global maps of planetary and surface albedo, and aerosol and vegetation properties.

NASA Water Vapor Project (NVAP)

The NASA Water Vapor Project (NVAP) total colunm (integrated) water vapor data sets are comprised of a combination of radiosonde observations, Television and Infrared Operational Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounders (TOVS), and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data sets. This is a 5-year total and layered (1988 - 1992) global water vapor data set.

Nimbus-7 Earth Radiation Budget (Nimbus-7 ERB)

The objectives of ERB are 1) to obtain accurate measurements of solar irradiance, monitor its variation in time, and observe the temporal variation of the solar spectrum: and 2) to determine the Earth radiation budget from simultaneous measurements of the incoming solar radiation and the outgoing Earth-reflected and Earth-emitted radiation.

Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer(SMMR)

The Prabhakara SMMR atmospheric liquid water (ALW) and integrated atmospheric water vapor (IWV) data sets were generated by Dr. Prabhakara Cuddapah at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) using SMMR antenna temperatures. The ALW data span the period February 1979 through May 1994. The IWV data span the period October 1979 through September 1983.

Smoke, Clouds and Radiation (SCAR)

Data include physical and chemical components of the Earth's surface, the atmosphere and the radiation field in two environments: biomass burning and eastern United State air pollution.

Special Sensor Microwave/Imager Derived Liquid Water and Vertically Integrated Water Vapor (SSM/I)

Vertically integrated water vapor and cloud liquid water data products were derived over the oceans from measurements of the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager on the DMSP F-8 satellite.

Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment I (SAGE I)

SAGE I gathered data concerning the spatial distribution of stratospheric aerosols, ozone and nitrogen dioxide on a global scale.

Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II)

The goals of SAGE II are to determine the spatial distributions of stratospheric aerosols, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, water vapor and cloud occurence by mapping vertical profiles and calculating monthly averages of each.

Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III)

SAGE III will obtain global profiles of aerosols, ozone, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen trioxide, chlorine dioxide, clouds, temperature and pressure in the mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere.

Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM II)

Data obtained from the SAM II instrument, which flew on board the Nimbus-7 satellite, are used to determine the vertical distribution of stratospheric aerosols in the polar regions of both hemispheres.

Surface Radiation Budget (SRB)

The SRB data sets were calculated using inputs from ISCCP and ERBE data. They are designed to give global daily and monthly averages of the albedo, irradiance, cloud properties and meteorology.

Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES)

TES will generate 3-D profiles on a global scale of virtually all infrared-active species from Earth's surface to the lower stratosphere.

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