TOTE-VOTE: NASA DC-8 Airborne Lidar Ozone and Aerosol Profiles

NASA's TOTE-VOTE campaign collected Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) data from a DC-8 aircraft between December 1995 and February 1996. The dataset includes vertical profiles of ozone concentration, aerosol backscattering, aerosol depolarization ratio, aerosol extinction, and aerosol optical depth. Nineteen research flights targeted the Pacific region to study atmospheric transport between tropical, polar, and mid-latitude regions.

Use Cases

• Analyzing ozone filament transport in and out of the Arctic polar vortex based on DIAL O3 profiles.
• Studying aerosol properties and their role in atmospheric chemistry using backscattering, depolarization, and extinction data.
• Validating satellite retrievals of ozone and aerosol optical depth with high-resolution airborne lidar measurements.
• Investigating background atmospheric transport processes from tropical to mid-latitude regions.
• Correlating reactive nitrogen species (from NOxyO3 instrument) with ozone distribution patterns.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated NASA field campaign with 19 documented flights, providing structured observational coverage.
• Includes multi-parameter atmospheric measurements from a suite of instruments (DIAL, NOxyO3, FSSP, MTP, MASP) enabling cross-variable analysis.
• Campaign had a clear scientific objective focused on transport processes, ensuring data relevance for specific atmospheric dynamics studies.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, complicating direct technical use.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (1996 vs. 2026) suggests potential provenance or versioning issues.
• Dataset size, row count, and precise file formats are unspecified across all platforms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Remotely sensed data collected via the NASA Langley Airborne DIAL system onboard a DC-8 aircraft during a dedicated field campaign.

Time Range

December 1995 to February 1996

Freshness

2026-04 09 (from datagov, though this conflicts with the 1996 campaign end date)

Geography

Pacific region, focusing on tropical/polar to mid-latitude transport pathways