VIRGAS: Aircraft Trace Gas Measurements for Volcanic Plume Readiness

October 2015 field campaign based from Houston, TX, involving six science flights. The dataset contains in-situ measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and meteorological parameters collected to test instrument readiness for investigating major volcanic eruptions. It aims to help researchers assess volcanic impacts on stratospheric aerosols and the ozone layer.

Use Cases

• Testing instrument readiness for volcanic plume investigation based on the campaign's primary objective.
• Analyzing sulfur dioxide concentrations from volcanic emissions using the LIF-SO2 instrument data.
• Studying ozone layer interactions with volcanic plumes using the UASO3 photometer measurements.
• Correlating trace gas data with atmospheric conditions using the 1 Hz and 20 Hz temperature, pressure, and wind data from the MMS.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete for a defined campaign with six science flights.
• Includes high-frequency (1 Hz and 20 Hz) measurements for key meteorological and chemical parameters.
• Led by recognized experts from NOAA CSL and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-04-09 vs 2015-11-01) across platform entries create uncertainty about metadata freshness.
• Specific row counts and file sizes are not documented.

Provenance

Source

NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, with participants from NASA Ames, BAERI, and University of Miami.

Collection Method

In-situ data collection from the WB-57 aircraft using the LIF-SO2, UASO3, and MMS instruments.

Time Range

October 2015

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:53:39.561957

Geography

Flight operations based from Houston, TX; specific flight paths not detailed.