STRAT Ground Data: Atmospheric Tracer Measurements from Mauna Loa and Table Mountain

STRAT_Ground_Data contains ground site measurements from the NASA Stratospheric Tracers of Atmospheric Transport campaign, conducted from May 1995 to February 1996. The dataset features lidar and in-situ measurements from sites at Mauna Loa and Table Mountain, targeting long-lived tracers like ozone. It was collected to define transport rates of trace gases and to provide data for testing 2D and 3D atmospheric models.

Use Cases

• Modeling global-scale transport rates of HSCT exhaust emissions based on tracer measurements.
• Analyzing seasonal and latitudinal variations in ozone profiles from lidar data.
• Studying chemistry in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using in-situ measurements of HOx, NOy, and other trace gases.
• Validating satellite-derived atmospheric data with ground-based remote sensing observations.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused NASA field campaign with a clear scientific objective spanning a 10-month period.
• Includes measurements from multiple, specific ground sites (Mauna Loa, Table Mountain) and instruments (JPL ozone lidar, CPFM, AROTAL).
• Designed explicitly for testing two-dimensional and three-dimensional atmospheric models.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (1996 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about data currency or processing.
• Dataset size and row counts are not provided.

Provenance

Source

NASA STRAT campaign, organized by LARC_ASDC.

Collection Method

Surface-based remote sensing and in-situ measurements from ground sites, utilizing lidar and composition measurement instruments.

Time Range

May 1995 to February 1996

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:28:21.086633 (though this future date is likely a metadata error; a 1996 date also exists)

Geography

Ground sites at Mauna Loa and Table Mountain; campaign focused on the Northern Hemisphere.