LATEST NEWS

The Meteor-3M mission, along with the SAGE III mission, was terminated on March 6, 2006, because of a power supply system failure resulting in loss of communication with the satellite.

The Version 3 revised data set, which include improvements to its solar ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and aerosol extinction products is publicly available at NASA Langley's Atmospheric Science Data Center. The data set also includes the release of a cloud presence identifier and lunar data products. These data will cover the period 27 February 2002 - Present. IDL users will need to access the reader software that must be matched with this version of the data set.

ABOUT SAGE III

SAGE III is a fourth generation, satellite-borne instrument and a crucial element in NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). Its mission is to enhance our understanding of natural and human-derived atmospheric processes by providing accurate long-term measurements of the vertical structure of aerosols, ozone, water vapor, and other important trace gases in the upper troposphere and stratosphere.

Human-derived changes in climate and ozone threaten the health of our planet. They also threaten global economic development and the use of new technologies like high-speed aircraft.

By understanding the effect of human activities on the atmosphere, national and international leaders can make informed policy that mitigates or prepares for future climate change.

Image right: The image on the right shows a sunrise over Pecos, Texas, as photographed from the space shuttle. Clouds (blue-white) and the stratospheric aerosol layer (red) are clearly visible in this image. SAGE III measures the obscuration of the sun by the Earth's atmosphere from a geometry similar to that in this image. The dependence of the obscuration on the color of light and altitude permits us to derive vertical profiles of aerosol, ozone, and other trace species.

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