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To Understand and Protect Our Home Planet: Earth Science Enterprise
To Understand and Protect Our Home Planet: Earth Science Enterprise
To Understand and Protect Our Home Planet: Earth Science Enterprise
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.
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
he stratospheric ozone layer shields life ozone molecule combines with an oxygen atom
n
Ozone Facts
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.
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
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)
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-
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
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 Long Range Pollution Transport above the surface layers. OMI will make simi-
lar measurements with better spatial resolution
arguments prove The atmosphere can transport pollutants long and will provide new information about
distances from their source. Satellite measure- aerosol characteristics.
nothing so long ments by EOS Terra’s MOPITT instrument
as the conclusions have shown carbon monoxide streams extend-
What will Aura do?
ing almost 18,000 km from their source (this
are not verified page). TOMS has tracked dust and smoke The Aura instruments are designed to study
events from Northern China to the east coast tropospheric chemistry; together Aura’s instru-
by experience. of the United States (see back cover). ments provide global monitoring of air pollu-
Experimental science tion on a daily basis. They measure five of the
On July 7, 2002, MODIS on EOS-Terra and six EPA criteria pollutants (all except lead).
is the queen of
-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
8 AURA AURA 9
S C I E N C E Q U E S T I O N S
arbon dioxide and other gases trap Aerosols are an important but uncertain agent Increasing carbon dioxide also affects the cli-
n
Climate Change
Facts
10 A U R A AURA 11
A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S
HIRDLS
HIRDLS INSTRUMENT TEAM
n
HIRDLS Instrument
Characteristics
HIRDLS is an advanced,
H radiometer measuring trace gases,
temperature, and aerosols in the upper
troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere.
Understanding Stratospheric Ozone
The largest ozone depletions occur in the polar
winter lower stratosphere. HIRDLS will
Understanding Air Quality
HIRDLS will measure ozone, nitric acid, and
water vapor in the upper troposphere and
The instrument will provide critical informa-
scanning 21-channel tion on atmospheric chemistry and climate. retrieve high vertical resolution daytime and lower stratosphere. With these measurements,
infrared radiometer Using vertical and horizontal limb scanning nighttime ozone profiles in this region. scientists will be able to estimate the amount
observing the 6-17 technology HIRDLS will provide accurate of stratospheric air that descends into the
measurements with daily global coverage at HIRDLS will measure NO2, HNO3 and troposphere and will allow us to separate natu-
micron thermal emis-
CFCs, gases that play a role in stratospheric ral ozone pollution from man-made sources.
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
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,
14 A U R A AURA 15
A U R A I N S T R U M E N T S
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
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-
instrument’s 2600 km viewing swath is per- OMI Contributions to Understanding OMI measurements of ozone and cloud cover ed the unusual splitting of the
hyperspectral imaging pendicular to the orbit track, providing com- to derive the amount of ultraviolet radiation Antarctic ozone hole in
Stratospheric Ozone
spectrometer with a plete daily coverage of the sunlit portion of the (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
114º field of view. Its atmosphere. OMI is Aura’s primary instrument National Weather Service will use OMI data to
record of SBUV and TOMS, mapping global September 25, 2002 used data
nadir spatial resolution for tracking global ozone change and will con- forecast high UV index days for public health from the European Space
tinue the high quality column ozone record ozone change. OMI data will support awareness.
ranges from 13 x 24 Agency’s Global Ozone Monitoring
begun in 1970 by Nimbus-4 BUV. Because Congressionally mandated and international Experiment (GOME) with the wind
km to 24 x 48 km.
OMI has a broader wavelength range and bet- ozone assessments. Using its broad wavelength OMI Contributions to Understanding fields obtained from a data
OMI’s swaths almost range and spectral resolution, OMI scientists assimilation system. Subsequent
ter spectral resolution, OMI will also measure Climate Change
touch at the equator so column amounts of trace gases important to will be able to resolve the differences among satellite data verified the predic-
OMI is able to ozone chemistry and air quality. OMI will map satellite and ground based ozone measure- OMI tracks dust, smoke and industrial aerosols tion. KNMI, NASA and NOAA will
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
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.
18 A U R A AURA 19
A U R A M I S S I O N
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
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
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
spirit will be
altered perceptibly.
important new information on the distribution
of CO and H2O.
22 A U R A
A U R A M I S S I O N
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.
24 A U R A
A U R A M I S S I O N
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
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)
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
he EOS Aura ground system has two EOC. The data collected by the Aura instru-
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
ASA missions to study the Earth ic chemistry and transport; and the fourth
DANA STENCLOVA
Aura investigators have partnered with the National Science Teachers Association meet-
Smithsonian Institution, the American ings from 2002 to 2004.
Chemical Society, and the GLOBE Program
to reach multiple audiences. 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
Hundreds of thousands of visitors to the the Environment) to involve young researchers education program. Trainers from the U.S. pose with them and
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of in atmospheric chemistry. More than 13,000 their teacher.
Natural History will have the opportunity to kindergarten through 12th grade schools in
experience a new permanent exhibit based on 100 countries participate in the GLOBE pro-
Aura science, The Atmosphere: Change Is In gram. Aura supported the development of inex- GLOBE students
the Air. The new exhibit resides in the Forces pensive instruments to measure UV radiation, measure injury to
of Change exhibit hall, where connections surface ozone, and aerosols. GLOBE develops plant leaves for
among land, oceans and atmosphere are protocols for students to follow when making ozone air quality
explored. Interactive displays immerse visitors measurements and reporting their data. Schools studies.
in the early history, evolution, and structure of in the Netherlands are particularly active in
MS. CERNOCHOVA
the atmosphere. Northrop Grumman Space Aura science observations through a partnership
Technology has contributed a one-eighth scale between GLOBE Netherlands and KNMI, the
model of the Aura satellite to the exhibit, and OMI PI institute. About 20 Dutch schools plan
the Smithsonian’s Department of Education to become part of the data validation program
has developed learning activities for student for Aura. Website Addresses
group visits. In association with the exhibit,
the Smithsonian Press will publish a book by The Aura team has published six articles about n See National Museum of Natural History online at:
Nobel Prize Winner, Sherwood Rowland, atmospheric science on Earth Observatory, www.nmnh.si.edu/
Atmosphere. NASA’s award-winning website, earthobserva-
tory.nasa.gov. The articles include “Ultraviolet n See Chem Matters online at:
By the time the Aura satellite achieves orbit, Radiation: How It Affects Life on Earth”; www.acs.org/education/curriculum/chemmatt.html
every high school chemistry teacher in the “Highways of a Global Traveler”; and
United States will have received four special “Watching Our Ozone Weather”. About n See the GLOBE Program online at:
issues of the high school magazine, Chem 300,000 individuals visit this website each www.globe.gov/fsl/welcome/welcomeobject.pl
30 A U R A AURA 31
A U R A M I S S I O N
Acknowledgements
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