TRACE-P: DC-8 Aircraft Lidar and In-Situ Atmospheric Data

The western Pacific region during March-April 2001 is the focus of this dataset from NASA's Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) campaign. It combines Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) remote sensing and in-situ instrument data from the DC-8 aircraft to measure trace gases, aerosols, ozone, and meteorological parameters. The dataset is part of the NASA Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE) and represents a completed, multi-instrument atmospheric survey.

Use Cases

• Analyzing aerosol optical properties and wavelength dependence based on DIAL measurements at 1064/587 nm.
• Studying the chemical evolution of Asian outflow by correlating in-situ trace gas measurements (e.g., CO, CH4, N2O, ozone) with location and meteorology.
• Validating satellite retrievals (e.g., from MISR and MOPITT) with coincident, high-accuracy aircraft-based lidar and in-situ profiles.
• Investigating photochemical processes by examining measured photolysis frequencies (j-values) alongside precursor gas concentrations.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete for a defined, intensive field campaign (TRACE-P, March-April 2001).
• Integrates multiple measurement techniques, including active remote sensing (DIAL lidar) and numerous in-situ instruments on a dedicated research aircraft.
• Part of a larger, well-documented multi-platform campaign involving a second aircraft (P-3B), ground sites, and satellites, enabling cross-validation.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are not provided in the available metadata, complicating initial analysis.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between platforms (2002 on NASA Earthdata vs. 2026 on Data.gov), creating uncertainty about metadata freshness.
• Dataset size, row counts, and precise file formats are unspecified across all sources.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and several US universities.

Collection Method

Data collected onboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft using instruments including the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL), Two Photon - Laser Induced Fluorescence (TP-LIF), and Differential Absorption of CO, CH4, N2O Measurements (DACOM).

Time Range

March 2001 to April 2001

Freshness

2026-04-10 19:55:54.541645 (from Data.gov, though this may reflect metadata refresh rather than data update)

Geography

Pacific region, focusing on air masses emerging from Asia to the western Pacific.