DISCOVER-AQ Maryland Deployment Ozonesonde Data

NASA's DISCOVER-AQ campaign collected ozonesonde data from three Maryland ground sites to validate satellite observations of near-surface pollution. The four-year project involved NASA Langley, Goddard, Ames, and universities, using aircraft and ground platforms in regions violating air quality standards. Data collection for the Maryland deployment is complete.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite column observations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde based on surface-level measurements.
• Analyze diurnal variability of atmospheric pollutants using surface-level measurement data.
• Explore horizontal scales of variability, such as urban plumes and steep gradients, using targeted airborne observations.
• Diagnose ground-level conditions influencing air quality using in-situ spiral profiling data from aircraft.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete for the Maryland deployment.
• Campaign involved multiple NASA research centers and universities over four years.
• Incorporates measurements from aircraft, ground-based platforms, and existing surface monitor networks.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is specific to the Maryland deployment and does not cover other DISCOVER-AQ regions.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected via ozonesonde launches at Beltsville, Edgewood, and Fairhill ground sites during the Maryland deployment.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:21:10.890261; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region (Maryland deployment).