DCOTSS-Model-Output: NASA Stratospheric Convection and Chemistry Data

NASA's Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) model output features trajectory calculations, convection-permitting simulations, and chemistry model data from a sub-orbital aircraft campaign. The data is based on ER-2 aircraft flights from Salina, KS, during early to late summer deployments. Data collection is ongoing and currently features the first deployment.

Use Cases

• Modeling air parcel transport pathways based on backward and forward trajectory calculations.
• Evaluating numerical model performance in representing overshooting convection based on WRF-Chem simulations.
• Analyzing the chemical impact of pollutants transported to the stratosphere based on chemistry model output.
• Studying the North American Monsoon Anticyclone's role in isolating air masses based on the described atmospheric dynamics.

Strengths

• Data originates from a NASA Earth Venture Suborbital research project, ensuring authoritative collection.
• Includes multiple model outputs: trajectory calculations, convection-permitting simulations, and chemistry data.
• Trajectory products are initialized with high temporal resolution (every second for flights, every 10 minutes for overshoots).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data collection is ongoing; the current product only features the first deployment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Numerical model output from the DCOTSS field campaign, utilizing the TRAJ3D trajectory model and WRF-Chem.

Time Range

Early to late summer deployments.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:00:31.490094; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Focus on the North-Western Hemisphere, specifically the North American Monsoon Anticyclone region; flights based out of Salina, KS.