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Airborne Science Instruments at Ames

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Matthew Fladeland

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

4STAR is a spectrometer designed to fly on the P-3 Orion, C-130H, Convair 580 NRC,  Gulfstream G-1, and DC-8, measuring NO2, O3, H2O, Spectral Aerosol Optical Depth, Aerosol Extinction Angstrom Exponent, Aerosol Single Scattering Albedo, Aerosol Asymmetry Parameter, Aerosol Scattering phase function, Aerosol Size Distribution, Aerosol Complex Refractive Index, Cloud Optical Depth, Cloud droplet effective radius, Cloud Thermodynamic Phase, and Cloud Liquid Water Content.

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4STAR Instrument Installed in DC-8: SEAC4RS Mission
Scientists installed components of the Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) instrument into NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory for data collection during a complex mission to study how air pollution and natural emissions affect climate change.

Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR)

CAR is a radiometer designed to fly on the J-31, P-3 Orion, Convair 580 NRC, and C-131A, measuring solar flux and imagery.

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CAR is a multi-wavelength scanning radiometer for determining albedo of clouds in the visible and near-infrared and measuring the angular distribution of scattered radiation and bidirectional reflectance of various surface types. It acquires imagery of cloud and Earth surface features.

Carbon monOxide Measurement from Ames (COMA)

COMA is a laser absorption instrument designed to fly on the P-3 Orion and WB-57, measuring CO, N2O, and H2O.

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JSC Aircraft Ops WB-57 Science Campaign – Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical and Climate Impact Project (ACCLIP). Photo Date: August 17, 2021. Location: Ellington Field – Hangar 990 & 994.
Robert Markowitz

Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS)

eMAS is a multispectral VNIR/SWIR/LWIR imager flying on the ER-2 to acquire 50-meter spatial resolution imagery in 38 spectral bands of cloud and surface features.

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Photo of a the Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (EMAS)
The Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (EMAS) is a multispectral scanner configured to approximate the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), an instrument orbiting on the NASA Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS is designed to measure terrestrial and atmospheric processes.

MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER)

MASTER is a multispectral VNIR/SWIR/LWIR imager flying on the B-200, DC-8, ER-2, WB-57, and P-3 Orion to study geologic and other Earth surface properties.

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Photo of a MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) which is a color of oranges blues
The MASTER is similar to the MAS, with the thermal bands modified to more closely match the NASA EOS ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) satellite instrument, which was launched in 1998. It is intended primarily to study geologic and other Earth surface properties. Flying on both high and low altitude aircraft, the MASTER has been operational since early 1998.

Meteorological Measurement System (MMS)

MMS is designed to measure 3D Wind, Turbulence, Temperature, Position, Velocities, Attitudes, True-Airspeed, and Potential Temperature on the Alpha Jet, Sierra UAV, DC-8, ER-2, Global Hawk, and WB-57.

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Image of the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) for planes. This is a still from an ESPO video
The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is a state-of-the-art instrument for measuring accurate, high resolution in situ airborne state parameters (pressure, temperature, turbulence index, and the 3-dimensional wind vector). These key measurements enable our understanding of atmospheric dynamics, chemistry and microphysical processes. The MMS is used to investigate atmospheric mesoscale (gravity and mountain lee waves) and microscale (turbulence) phenomena.

Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Development (PICARD)

PICARD is an instrument intended to fly on the ER-2 to simulate existing satellite imager products (MODIS/VIIRS,) and to validate radiances and geophysical retrievals, with an emphasis on cloud and aerosol science.

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Photo of a Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Development (PICARD) that looks like a big black rectangle
The Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Development (PICARD) is a VNIR-SWIR airborne imaging spectrometer that primarily acquires imagery from the NASA ER-2 high altitude research aircraft. Operating over a wavelength range of 400-2500nm, the dual Offner spectrometers are mounted to a single four-mirror anastigmat telescope, designed to produce a distortion-free 50-degree field of view over cloud scenes.

Rapid Ozone Experiment (ROZE)

ROZE is an in-situ instrument designed to fly on the DC-8 and ER-2, measuring O3.

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Photo of wires of the NASA Rapid OZone Experiment (ROZE) is an in situ instrument capable of measuring ozone (O3) throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere on airborne platforms. The instrument uses cavity-enhanced absorption to measure the amount of ozone in a sampled volume flowing through an optical cell.
The NASA Rapid OZone Experiment (ROZE) is an in situ instrument capable of measuring ozone (O3) throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere on airborne platforms. The instrument uses cavity-enhanced absorption to measure the amount of ozone in a sampled volume flowing through an optical cell.