TOLNet_UAH_Data: Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Profiles

TOLNet, an interagency network operating since 2011, provides high spatio-temporal ozone measurements from near the surface to the upper troposphere using Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL). This dataset contains profiles from the mobile RO3QET lidar at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, part of a network of seven unique instruments. The data supports studies of air pollution, climate modeling, and satellite validation due to ozone's dual role as a harmful pollutant and a greenhouse gas.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite observations of atmospheric composition using high-resolution vertical ozone profiles.
• Studying air quality and pollution transport events with data from a mobile, deployable lidar system.
• Improving atmospheric chemistry and climate models by assimilating near-real-time ozone measurements.
• Assessing human health and vegetation exposure to ground-level ozone pollution.

Strengths

• Data collection is described as ongoing, suggesting continuous temporal coverage.
• Part of a multi-agency network (NASA, NOAA, EPA) with seven specialized instruments, indicating a coordinated, high-quality measurement standard.
• Provides high spatio-temporal resolution measurements, a primary objective of the TOLNet network.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown across all sources, limiting immediate usability.
• Exact temporal coverage, spatial extent, and data volume (rows/size) are not specified.
• Metadata completeness varies between platform entries, with some lacking license, author, and update information.

Provenance

Source

Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet), specifically the RO3QET lidar at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Collection Method

Collected via Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technology.

Time Range

Data collection is ongoing; the network has been operating since 2011.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-09 according to nasa_earthdata and datagov.

Geography

Primary location is Huntsville, Alabama, USA; the RO3QET lidar is a mobile system capable of deployment to remote locations.