Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator Aerosol Data from FIREX-AQ

The eMASL2AER dataset contains in-situ airborne measurements of trace gases and aerosols from wildfires and prescribed fires. Data was collected during the summer 2019 FIREX-AQ campaign using a NASA DC-8 aircraft equipped with a 38-channel instrument capable of sensing wavelengths from 0.445 to 13.844 um. The product is managed by NASA's Airborne Sensor Facility and stored in HDF-EOS format.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between aerosol optical properties (from 38 spectral channels) and fuel conditions at the emission source.
• Tracking chemical transformation of over 200 trace gases within fire plumes downwind to model air quality impacts.
• Validating satellite-derived estimates of wildfire emissions using detailed in-situ aerosol microphysical and chemical measurements.
• Characterizing conditions for plume rise by correlating atmospheric trace gas concentrations with fire intensity data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a controlled NASA airborne campaign (FIREX-AQ) with a documented instrument payload.
• Provides measurements across 38 spectral channels, offering detailed spectral information on aerosol properties.
• Includes concurrent measurements of over 200 trace gases alongside aerosol optical and chemical data.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column schema are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (2019-08 23 vs. 2026-03-13), indicating potential metadata inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Airborne Sensor Facility at NASA Ames Research Center.

Collection Method

In-situ measurements collected onboard a DC-8 aircraft during the FIREX-AQ field campaign.

Time Range

Summer 2019

Freshness

2026-03-13 03:04:49.080735

Geography

Areas overflown by the NASA DC-8 during FIREX-AQ campaign flights, targeting wildfire and prescribed fire regions.