Pacific Ozone Vertical Profiles from 1991 Aircraft Lidar Campaign

NASA's Pacific Exploratory Mission West A collected Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) data onboard a DC-8 aircraft in September-October 1991. The campaign aimed to study atmospheric chemistry over the northwestern Pacific region. Data collection for this product is complete.

Use Cases

• Analyze vertical ozone (O3) profile variations from DIAL lidar measurements across flight paths.
• Study correlations between ozone concentrations and other in-situ measured precursors like nitrogen oxides (NOy) or carbon monoxide (CO).
• Model the influence of continental vs. marine sulfur sources using sulfur dioxide (SO2) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) measurements.
• Investigate seasonal contrasts in tropospheric outflow by comparing PEM-West A (Fall 1991) data with PEM-West B (Winter 1994) data.
• Validate satellite-derived ozone profiles over the ocean using high-resolution aircraft-based lidar observations.

Strengths

• Data collected during a dedicated NASA field campaign with a comprehensive instrument suite.
• Focus on a region considered relatively free from direct anthropogenic influence for baseline studies.
• Enables latitudinal, longitudinal, and vertical profile sampling across the northwestern Pacific.

Limitations

• Dataset is from a single campaign in 1991, limiting analysis of long-term trends.
• Specific row count, column details, and file formats are unknown.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to flight paths over the western Pacific during September-October 1991.

Provenance

Source

NASA Langley Research Center (LARC_CLOUD) via the Pacific Exploratory Mission (PEM) West A.

Collection Method

Remotely sensed data collected by a Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system onboard a NASA DC-8 aircraft.

Time Range

September-October 1991

Geography

Northwestern Pacific region, off the eastern coast of Asia.