ATom-4 Campaign Sulfur Dioxide Measurements by Laser-Induced Fluorescence

NASA's ATom dataset provides atmospheric sulfur dioxide concentrations from the ATom-4 campaign in April and May 2018. Measurements were collected at 1-second intervals using a Laser Induced Fluorescence instrument capable of detecting SO2 at the single-part per trillion level. This data characterizes both natural and anthropogenic sources of SO2, a key aerosol precursor.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal trends in SO2 concentration at 1-second resolution along flight paths.
• Distinguishing between natural (e.g., volcanic, wildfire) and anthropogenic SO2 source contributions.
• Studying the role of SO2 as a precursor for global aerosol nucleation and particle formation.
• Validating atmospheric chemistry models with in-situ, high-sensitivity measurements from a major field campaign.

Strengths

• Data provides high temporal resolution with measurements reported at 1-second intervals.
• Instrument offers high sensitivity, detecting SO2 at the single-part per trillion level.
• Dataset is part of a multi-platform NASA campaign, indicating curated scientific importance.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are not provided by any source, limiting immediate analysis.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date (2018-05-21 vs. 2026-03 13), creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured in-situ by the Laser Induced Fluorescence Instrumentation for Sulfur Dioxide (SO2-LIF) during flight campaigns.

Time Range

April and May 2018

Freshness

2026-03-13 12:42:31.401644

Geography

Global flight paths of the ATom-4 campaign