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SEAC4RS Flightpaths
SEAC4RS Ozone Data
SEAC4RS SO4 Data

SEAC4RS

Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

Data Centers

ASDC

Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS) airborne field study was conducted in August and September of 2013. The field operation was based in Houston, Texas. 

The airborne observational data were collected from three aircraft platforms: the NASA DC-8, ER-2, and SPEC LearJet. Both the NASA DC-8 and ER-2 aircraft were instrumented for comprehensive in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the trace gas, aerosol properties, and cloud properties. In addition, radiative fluxes and meteorological parameters were also recorded. 

The NASA DC-8 was mostly responsible for tropospheric sampling, while the NASA ER-2 was operating in the lower stratospheric regime. The SPEC LearJet was dedicated to in-situ cloud characterizations. 

To accomplish the science objectives, the flight plans were designed to investigate the influence of biomass burning and pollution, their temporal evolution, and ultimately, impacts on meteorological processes which can, in turn, feedback on regional air quality. With respect to meteorological feedbacks, the opportunity to examine the impact of polluting aerosols on cloud properties and dynamics was of particular interest.

For more information regarding the Airborne Multi-angle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI) data collected during SEAC4RS, please refer to: AirMSPI SEAC4RS Ellipsoid Data, and AirMSPI SEAC4RS Terrain Data.

  • To determine how pollutant emissions are redistributed via deep convection throughout the troposphere
  • To determine the evolution of gases and aerosols in deep convective outflow and the implications for UT/LS chemistry
  • To identify the influences and feedbacks of aerosol particles from anthropogenic pollution and biomass burning on meteorology and climate through changes in the atmospheric heat budget (i.e., semi-direct effect) or through microphysical changes in clouds (i.e., indirect effects) 
  • To serve as a calibration and validation test bed for future satellite instruments and missions
PlatformsInstruments
NASA DC-8

Computer

Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)

Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP)

2D-STEREO PARTICLE PROBE (2DS)

Cloud Particle Imager (CPI)

FAST CLOUD DROPLET PROBE (FCDP)

High Volume Particle Sampler (HVPS)

CCD-based Actinic Flux Spectroradiometer (CAFS)

Aircraft-Integrated Meteorological Measurement System (AIMMS)

Total Temperature Sensor (TTS)

HYGROMETERS

Meteorological Measurement System (MMS)

Diode Laser Hygrometer developed by NASA LaRC (DLH)

RADIOMETERS

Solar Spectral Flux Radiometers (SSFR)

Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR)

LI-6252 Differential Mid-Infrared Absorption of CO2 Sensor Manufactured by LI-COR Biosciences (AVOCET)

Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Differential Absorption CO, CH4, N2O Measurements (DACOM)

Liquid Waveguide Capillary Cells (LWCC)

Compact Atmospheric Multispecies Spectrometer (CAMS)

Thermal Dissociation Laser Induced Fluorescents developed by University of California, Berkley (TD-LIF)

Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIMS)

CHEMILUMINESCENCE

Chemical Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (CIT-ToF-CIMS)

Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS)

ER-2

Computer

Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS)

TSI Condensation Particle Counter 3010 Manufactured by TSI Inc.

TSI Condensation Particle Counter 3025 Manufactured by TSI Inc.

LASER SPECTROMETER

Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS)

3-Wavelength Particle Soot Absorption Photometer Manufactured by Radiance Research (PSAP)

TSI-3563 Nephelometer

Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS)

AEROSOL MASS SPECTROMETER (AMS)

Polarized Imaging Nephelometer (PI-NEPH)

SPECTROMETERS

Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR)

Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)

Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry (PALMS)

Single Particle Soot Photometer Manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT SP2)

CCN Counter

Differential Aerosol Sizing and Hygroscopicity Spectrometer Probe (DASH-SP)

FAST CLOUD DROPLET PROBE (FCDP)

Meteorological Measurement System (MMS)

NASA Airborne Science Data and Telemetry System (NASDAT)

JPL LASER HYGROMETERS

Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP)

FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

Whole Air Sampler (WAS)

Ultraviolet Ozone Detectors

Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)

Airborne Laser Infrared Absorption Spectrometer (ALIAS)

Learjet

Nucleation-Mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer (NMASS)

2D-STEREO PARTICLE PROBE (2DS)

Hawkeye 2D-S Stereo Probe

Cloud Particle Imager (CPI)

High Volume Particle Sampler (HVPS)

Fast Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FFSSP)

Aircraft-Integrated Meteorological Measurement System (AIMMS)

TEMPERATURE SENSORS

Global Positioning System (GPS)

PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS

INFRARED RADIOMETERS

Solar Spectral Flux Radiometers (SSFR)

Balloons

Ozonesondes

Radiosondes

Related Instruments

Differential Absorption LIDAR (DIAL) NASA's Differential Absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system sends pulses of laser radiation at different wavelengths into the atmosphere to measure ozone and also simultaneously measure aerosols and clouds.
Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument used for measuring atmospheric state parameters.