NASA ABC-2: High-Altitude Microbial Aerosol DNA Sequences

Two research flights over the Sierra mountains in 2026 collected bioaerosol samples at altitudes from 10,000 to 40,000 feet. DNA was extracted from these samples and sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq 500. The dataset is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Use Cases

• Analyzing microbial community composition based on DNA sequences from high-altitude aerosols.
• Investigating altitude-dependent patterns in airborne microbial diversity based on the stair-step sampling method.
• Studying long-range atmospheric transport of viable cells and microbial DNA based on the bioaerosol collection.
• Training models to classify or predict microbial sources based on genomic data from aircraft-collected filters.

Strengths

• Samples were collected at four distinct altitudes (10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 feet) during each flight.
• DNA was sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq 500, a standard high-throughput platform.
• Data originates from NASA's C-20A Gulfstream III aircraft, a controlled sampling platform.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset description does not specify the number of samples or sequencing depth.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Bioaerosols collected on gelatinous filters using the Aircraft Bioaerosol Collector (ABC) during two stair-step pattern flights.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:41:43.133776; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern California/Nevada region over the Sierra mountains.