2012 Observations

ENSO in Lower Atmospheric Ozone

The response of tropospheric to lower stratospheric ozone to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is derived using measurements from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES).

Signature of the Solar Rotational Cycle in Mesospheric Hydroxide and Water

The AURA Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) data reveal a strong OH and H2O response to the 27-day solar irradiance variability.

Satellite measurements of Sulfur Dioxide

Aura/OMI data is used in conjunction with data from a dual ozone sonde payload to observe sulfer dioxide.

TES First Measurements of PAN

Quantifying Peroxy Acetyl Nitrate (PAN) concentrations in pollution plumes is important for understanding the potential impact of the long-range transport of air pollution.

Measurements of Aerosols Above Clouds

The Aura project has developed a method to measure the optical depth of absorbing smoke and dust aerosols located above clouds using satellite observations.

Observations of Nabro eruption

SO₂ retrievals on the Nabro's volcanic plume using hyperspectral UV measurements made by Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on June 13

A-train data for Merapi volcanic cloud

Gaseous and aerosol clouds from major explosive eruption of Indonesia's Merapi volcano were measured by multiple A-train sensors

Destruction of Mesospheric Arctic Ozone Caused by Solar Protons

Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observations quantify the changes in the hydroxyl radical (OH), hydrogen dioxide (HO2), and ozone due to Solar Proton Events (SPE)

Enhancements in NO₂ and SO₂ over the Canadian oil sands

Data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) show distinct enhancements in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂ ) over a region of surface mining in the Canadian oil sands.

Global Characteristics of the Double Tropopause

The global pattern of the double tropopause is revealed using the HIRDLS high vertical resolution profiles. Composition and structure near the tropopause are important for the Earth radiative balance and quantifying transport of ozone and other stratospheric species into the troposphere.

BrO enhancements over the North Pole

OMI, with its wide swath, is the only instrument that can detect Bromine Monoxide (BrO) at the pole on every orbit. Here, stratospheric BrO has been carefully separated from the total column to produce estimates of the tropospheric BrO column.

In the News

Aura EPO takes the A-Train to Washington!
05.07.2012 - Aura's Education and Public Outreach lead, Ginger Butcher, exhibited the new "Engineer a Satellite" activity in Washington, DC for the 2012 Earth Day event on the National Mall and the US Science and Engineering Festival.

Scientists lead forums at Howard Community College
03.21.2012 - NASA scientists lead forums at Howard Community College