SEAC4RS Merge Data: Airborne Atmospheric Measurements from 2013

SEAC4RS airborne field study data was collected from aircraft based in Houston, Texas, during August and September 2013. The dataset contains merged in-situ and remote sensing measurements of trace gases, aerosols, clouds, radiative fluxes, and meteorological parameters from the NASA DC-8 and ER-2 aircraft. It was designed to study pollutant redistribution by convection, aerosol-climate interactions, and to validate satellite instruments.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the vertical distribution of pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) based on merged trace gas measurements from the DC-8 and ER-2.
• Studying aerosol-climate feedbacks by correlating aerosol properties (e.g., sulfate, organic particles) with radiative flux and cloud condensation nuclei data.
• Validating satellite-derived atmospheric composition products using the coordinated, multi-platform airborne measurements as a reference.
• Investigating deep convective transport processes by examining the evolution of gases and aerosols in upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric (UT/LS) samples.
• Characterizing the influence of biomass burning and anthropogenic pollution plumes on regional meteorology and atmospheric heating.

Strengths

• Data collection is explicitly stated as complete, providing a finalized observational record.
• Covers a specific, intensive field campaign (SEAC4RS) with coordinated measurements from three aircraft platforms (DC-8, ER-2, SPEC Learjet).
• Contains merged data products, suggesting pre-processed integration of measurements from multiple instruments for easier analysis.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, hindering detailed assessment of usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2013-09 vs. 2026-04) create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• Exact row counts, file sizes, and detailed documentation are not provided.

Provenance

Source

LARC_ASDC (NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center)

Collection Method

Airborne in-situ and remote sensing measurements collected during the SEAC4RS field campaign.

Time Range

August - September 2013

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:33:38.305590 (most recent update across platforms, though conflicting with an earlier date)

Geography

Operations based in Houston, Texas; flight coverage region not specified but likely focused on the southeastern and central United States.