Pandora Spectrometer Data from PACE-PAX Ship Campaign

Pandora spectrometer measurements were collected onboard the R/V Shearwater during the PACE-PAX airborne validation campaign in September 2024. The campaign aimed to validate and refine data products from the PACE satellite mission. Data collection is complete and was managed by the LARC_CLOUD organization.

Use Cases

• Validate PACE satellite aerosol optical depth retrievals using Pandora's direct-sun spectral measurements.
• Assess spatial representativeness of satellite data by comparing Pandora column measurements from a moving ship platform with satellite overpasses.
• Refine atmospheric correction algorithms for ocean color by analyzing Pandora's sky radiance and aerosol property data.
• Study coastal atmospheric processes by analyzing spectral data collected over Southern and Central California coastal regions.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete for the defined September 2024 campaign period.
• Campaign involved coordinated measurements with two aircraft and satellite overpasses for robust validation.
• Focuses on specific validation objectives including radiometric properties and high-aerosol load scenarios.

Limitations

• Specific data volume (rows), file formats, and column details are unknown.
• Geographic coverage is limited to Southern and Central California and nearby coastal regions from a single campaign.
• Temporal coverage is limited to the September 2024 campaign period.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (nasa_earthdata) platform, from LARC_CLOUD organization.

Collection Method

Collected by a Pandora spectrometer instrument deployed on the Research Vessel (R/V) Shearwater.

Time Range

September 2024

Freshness

Data was last updated in September 2025, indicating recent processing.

Geography

Southern and Central California and nearby coastal ocean regions.