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About Aura
Aura (Latin for breeze) was launched July 15, 2004. The design life is five years with an operational goal of six years.

Aura BrochureAura Brochure
"A Mission Dedicated to the Health of the Earth's Atomosphere" : An overview of the Aura Mission. [pdf]

The Aura mission studies the Earth's ozone, air quality and climate. It is designed exclusively to conduct research on the composition, chemistry and dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere.
Fires in California

Fires in California

8.07.08 - A large number of wildfires in Northern California were burning in late June and July 2008 which had a big impact air quality in a large region. TES measures vertical profiles of ozone and carbon monoxide, and was taking a special set of dense observations across California on June 23. The colors correspond to the concentration of CO at different levels in the atmosphere, and we see that the highest concentrations are near the surface, and they become smaller at 5 to 6 km above the surface.

+ More Aura Observations


Mission News

Sulfur Dioxide and Vog from Kilauea
4.26.08 - In late April 2008, Kilauea Volcano Volcano on Hawaii's big island continued its pattern of increased activity, including elevated seismic tremors and emissions from the volcano's Halema'uma'u vent.

Air Quality Forecasts See Future in Space
12.13.07 - Weather broadcasts have long been a staple for people planning their day. Now with the help of NASA satellites, researchers are working to broaden daily forecasts to include predictions of air quality, a feat that is becoming reality in some parts of the world.

+ View Mission News Archive



  Announcments

Aura Science Team Meeting
Oct 27-30, 2008 . Columbia, Maryland . Hosted by the OMI US Science Team
- Abstracts due by Sept 19.
  (No exceptions)

A-Train Session at AGU
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
27-30 May 2008 . 'A-Train Results: Satellite "X-Rays" Illuminate Clouds' Influence on Climate'



  Feature

Blog - Beijing Olympics influence pollution in Japan
As China alters its emissions for the Olympic games, Aura will be closely monitoring the changes in NO2, SO2 and ozone.

Ozone Monitoring Garden
The Aura Education and Public Outreach team installed the Aura Air Quality Garden which is full of plants that scientists have found to be ozone-sensitive.



  Related Web Sites
AURA HQ Web Site
Get latest news, features and multimedia.

Aura Validation Data Center
The centralized, long-term, archive for validation data

Ozone Watch
Check on the latest status of the ozone layer over the South Pole.

OMI Sulfur Dioxide Group
Get daily images from OMI

OMI data at Center for Astrophysics
Sample images, and data related to composite solar spectra.


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Curator: Jennifer Brill
NASA Official: Mark Schoeberl