scholarly journals Assessment of NO<sub>2</sub> observations during DISCOVER-AQ and KORUS-AQ field campaigns

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2523-2546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungyeon Choi ◽  
Lok N. Lamsal ◽  
Melanie Follette-Cook ◽  
Joanna Joiner ◽  
Nickolay A. Krotkov ◽  
...  

Abstract. NASA's Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ, conducted in 2011–2014) campaign in the United States and the joint NASA and National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) Korea–United States Air Quality Study (KORUS-AQ, conducted in 2016) in South Korea were two field study programs that provided comprehensive, integrated datasets of airborne and surface observations of atmospheric constituents, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), with the goal of improving the interpretation of spaceborne remote sensing data. Various types of NO2 measurements were made, including in situ concentrations and column amounts of NO2 using ground- and aircraft-based instruments, while NO2 column amounts were being derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite. This study takes advantage of these unique datasets by first evaluating in situ data taken from two different instruments on the same aircraft platform, comparing coincidently sampled profile-integrated columns from aircraft spirals with remotely sensed column observations from ground-based Pandora spectrometers, intercomparing column observations from the ground (Pandora), aircraft (in situ vertical spirals), and space (OMI), and evaluating NO2 simulations from coarse Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) and high-resolution regional models. We then use these data to interpret observed discrepancies due to differences in sampling and deficiencies in the data reduction process. Finally, we assess satellite retrieval sensitivity to observed and modeled a priori NO2 profiles. Contemporaneous measurements from two aircraft instruments that likely sample similar air masses generally agree very well but are also found to differ in integrated columns by up to 31.9 %. These show even larger differences with Pandora, reaching up to 53.9 %, potentially due to a combination of strong gradients in NO2 fields that could be missed by aircraft spirals and errors in the Pandora retrievals. OMI NO2 values are about a factor of 2 lower in these highly polluted environments due in part to inaccurate retrieval assumptions (e.g., a priori profiles) but mostly to OMI's large footprint (>312 km2).

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungyeon Choi ◽  
Lok N. Lamsal ◽  
Melanie Follette-Cook ◽  
Joanna Joiner ◽  
Nickolay A. Krotkov ◽  
...  

Abstract. NASA’s Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) campaign in the United States and the joint NASA and National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) Korea-United States Air Quality Study (KORUS-AQ) in South Korea were two field study programs that provided comprehensive, integrated datasets of airborne and surface observations of atmospheric constituents, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), with a goal of improving the interpretation of spaceborne remote sensing data. Various types of NO2 measurements were made, including in situ concentrations and column amounts of NO2 using ground- and aircraft-based instruments, while NO2 column amounts were being derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite. This study takes advantage of these unique data sets by first evaluating in situ data taken from two different instruments on the same aircraft platform, comparing coincidently sampled profile-integrated columns from aircraft spirals with remotely sensed column observations from ground-based Pandora spectrometers, intercomparing column observations from the ground (Pandora), aircraft (in situ vertical spirals), and space (OMI), and evaluating NO2 simulations from coarse Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) and high-resolution regional models. We then use these data to interpret observed discrepancies due to differences in sampling and deficiencies in the data reduction process. Finally, we assess satellite retrieval sensitivity to observed and modeled a-priori NO2 profiles. Contemporaneous measurements from two aircraft instruments that likely sample similar air masses generally agree very well but are also found to differ in integrated columns by up to 33.3 %. These show even larger differences with Pandora, reaching up to 53.1 %, potentially due to a combination of strong gradients in NO2 fields that could be missed by aircraft spirals and errors in the Pandora retrievals. OMI NO2 values are about a factor of two lower in these highly polluted environments, due in part to inaccurate retrieval assumptions (e.g., a priori profiles), but mostly to OMI’s areal (> 312 km2) averaging.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixiong Zhang ◽  
Yuhang Wang ◽  
Charles Smeltzer ◽  
Hang Qu ◽  
William Koshak ◽  
...  

Abstract. With the improved spatial resolution than earlier instruments and more than ten years of service, tropospheric NO2 retrievals from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) have led to many influential studies on the relationships between socioeconomic activities and NOx emissions. This study focuses on how to improve OMI NO2 retrievals for more reliable trend analysis. We retrieve OMI tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs) and obtain the NO2 seasonal trends over the United States, which are compared with coincident in situ surface NO2 measurements from the Air Quality System (AQS) network. The Mann-Kendall method is applied to derive the NO2 seasonal and annual trends for four regions at coincident sites during 2005–2014. The OMI-based NO2 seasonal relative trends are generally biased high compared to the in situ trends by up to 3.7 % yr−1, except for the underestimation in the Midwest and Northeast during Dec–Jan–Feb (DJF). We improve the OMI retrievals for trend analysis by removing the ocean trend, using the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo data in air mass factor (AMF) calculation, and applying a lightning flash filter to exclude lightning affected OMI NO2 retrievals. These improvements result in close agreement (within 0.3 % yr−1) between in situ and OMI-based NO2 regional annual relative trends. Thus, we recommend future studies to apply these procedures to ensure the quality of satellite-based NO2 trend analysis, especially in regions without reliable long-term in situ NO2 measurements. We derive optimized OMI-based NO2 regional annual relative trends using all available data for the West (−2.0 % ± 0.3 yr−1), the Midwest (−1.8 % ± 0.4 yr−1), the Northeast (−3.1 % ± 0.5 yr−1), and the South (−0.9 % ± 0.3 yr−1). The OMI-based annual mean trend over the contiguous United States is −1.5 % ± 0.2 yr−1. It is a factor of 2 lower than that of the AQS in situ data (−3.9 % ± 0.4 yr−1); the difference is mainly due to the fact that the locations of AQS sites are concentrated in urban and suburban regions.


Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Crawford ◽  
Joon-Young Ahn ◽  
Jassim Al-Saadi ◽  
Limseok Chang ◽  
Louisa K. Emmons ◽  
...  

The Korea–United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) field study was conducted during May–June 2016. The effort was jointly sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Research of South Korea and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. KORUS-AQ offered an unprecedented, multi-perspective view of air quality conditions in South Korea by employing observations from three aircraft, an extensive ground-based network, and three ships along with an array of air quality forecast models. Information gathered during the study is contributing to an improved understanding of the factors controlling air quality in South Korea. The study also provided a valuable test bed for future air quality–observing strategies involving geostationary satellite instruments being launched by both countries to examine air quality throughout the day over Asia and North America. This article presents details on the KORUS-AQ observational assets, study execution, data products, and air quality conditions observed during the study. High-level findings from companion papers in this special issue are also summarized and discussed in relation to the factors controlling fine particle and ozone pollution, current emissions and source apportionment, and expectations for the role of satellite observations in the future. Resulting policy recommendations and advice regarding plans going forward are summarized. These results provide an important update to early feedback previously provided in a Rapid Science Synthesis Report produced for South Korean policy makers in 2017 and form the basis for the Final Science Synthesis Report delivered in 2020.


2015 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 168-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua McCarty ◽  
Nikhil Kaza

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1033-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taneil Uttal ◽  
Sandra Starkweather ◽  
James R. Drummond ◽  
Timo Vihma ◽  
Alexander P. Makshtas ◽  
...  

Abstract International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) activities and partnerships were initiated as a part of the 2007–09 International Polar Year (IPY) and are expected to continue for many decades as a legacy program. The IASOA focus is on coordinating intensive measurements of the Arctic atmosphere collected in the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, and Greenland to create synthesis science that leads to an understanding of why and not just how the Arctic atmosphere is evolving. The IASOA premise is that there are limitations with Arctic modeling and satellite observations that can only be addressed with boots-on-the-ground, in situ observations and that the potential of combining individual station and network measurements into an integrated observing system is tremendous. The IASOA vision is that by further integrating with other network observing programs focusing on hydrology, glaciology, oceanography, terrestrial, and biological systems it will be possible to understand the mechanisms of the entire Arctic system, perhaps well enough for humans to mitigate undesirable variations and adapt to inevitable change.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s63-s63
Author(s):  
M. Reilly

IntroductionRecent studies have discussed major deficiencies in the preparedness of emergency medical services (EMS) providers to effectively respond to disasters, terrorism and other public health emergencies. Lack of funding, lack of national uniformity of systems and oversight, and lack of necessary education and training have all been cited as reasons for the inadequate emergency medical preparedness in the United States.MethodsA nationally representative sample of over 285,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics in the United States was surveyed to assess whether they had received training in pediatric considerations for blast and radiological incidents, as part of their initial provider education or in continuing medical education (CME) within the previous 24 months. Providers were also surveyed on their level of comfort in responding to and potentially treating pediatric victims of these events. Independent variables were entered into a multivariate model and those identified as statistically significant predictors of comfort were further analyzed.ResultsVery few variables in our model caused a statistically significant increase in comfort with events involving children in this sample. Pediatric considerations for blast or radiological events represented the lowest levels of comfort in all respondents. Greater than 70% of respondents reported no training as part of their initial provider education in considerations for pediatrics following blast events. Over 80% of respondents reported no training in considerations for pediatrics following events associated with radiation or radioactivity. 88% of respondents stated they were not comfortable with responding to or treating pediatric victims of a radiological incident.ConclusionsOut study validates our a priori hypothesis and several previous studies that suggest deficiencies in preparedness as they relate to special populations - specifically pediatrics. Increased education for EMS providers on the considerations of special populations during disasters and acts of terrorism, especially pediatrics, is essential in order to reduce pediatric-related morbidity and mortality following a disaster, act of terrorism or public health emergency.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinícius Almeida ◽  
Gutemberg França ◽  
Francisco Albuquerque Neto ◽  
Haroldo Campos Velho ◽  
Manoel Almeida ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Emphasizes some aspects of the aviation forecasting system under construction for use by the integrated meteorological center (CIMAER) in Brazil. It consists of a set of hybrid models based on determinism and machine learning that use remote sensing data (such as lighting sensor, SODAR, satellite and soon RADAR), in situ data (from the surface weather station and radiosonde) and aircraft data (such as retransmission of aircraft weather data and vertical acceleration). The idea is to gradually operationalize the system to assist CIMAER&amp;#180;s meteorologists in generating their nowcasting, for example, of visibility, ceiling, turbulence, convective weather, ice, etc. with objectivity and precision. Some test results of the developed nowcasting models are highlighted as examples of nowcasting namely: a) visibility and ceiling up to 1h for Santos Dumont airport; b) 6-8h convective weather forecast for the Rio de Janeiro area and the S&amp;#227;o Paulo-Rio de Janeiro route. Finally, the steps in development and the futures are superficially covered.&lt;/p&gt;


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