TOTE-VOTE: DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Measurements

Nineteen NASA DC-8 flights from December 1995 to February 1996 collected in situ aerosol data over the Pacific region to study transport between the Arctic polar vortex and tropical stratospheric reservoir. The dataset features particle size distributions from the Multiple-Angle Spectrometer Probe (MASP), 2D-C Aerosol Probe, and Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP). It was part of the TOTE-VOTE campaign which also utilized balloon sondes and ground-based instruments.

Use Cases

• Analyzing aerosol particle size distributions based on MASP, 2D-C, and FSSP probe data.
• Studying the transport of air filaments in/out of the Arctic polar vortex based on the campaign's flight tracks.
• Investigating stratospheric aerosol properties like backscattering and optical depth based on the described DIAL system measurements.
• Correlating aerosol concentrations with reactive nitrogen and ozone levels based on the described NCAR NOxyO3 instrument.

Strengths

• Data collection is explicitly stated as complete.
• Campaign involved 19 dedicated flights, providing a substantial observational record.
• Instruments are specifically named, including MASP, FSSP, 2D-C, DIAL, and NOxyO3, indicating detailed measurement capabilities.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown.
• Row count and dataset size are not provided.
• Two sources list conflicting last updated dates: 2026-04-09 and 1996-02-20.

Provenance

Source

NASA/LARC_ASDC

Collection Method

In situ measurements collected onboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft.

Time Range

December 1995 to February 1996

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:34:23.615519

Geography

Pacific region