NASA, through its Earth Science Data Systems, supports the NASA Earth Science research community by providing Earth science data products and services driven by NASAÂ’s Earth Science goals. NASAÂ’s Earth Science Program is dedicated to advancing Earth remote sensing and pioneering the scientific use of satellite measurements to improve human understanding of our home planet, in order to inform economic and policy decisions and improve operational services of benefit to the Nation. Through the MEaSUREs Program, NASA is continuing its commitment to expand understanding of the Earth system using consistent records. NASA has begun to deploy new types of sensors to provide three-dimensional perspectives of EarthÂ’s atmosphere and surface. Emphasis is on linking together multiple satellites into a constellation, developing the means for using a multitude of data sources to form coherent time-series, and facilitating the use of extensive data in the development of comprehensive Earth system models.
As part of the ROSES-2006 announcement, MEaSUREs proposals were solicited to focus on the creation of Earth System Data Records (ESDRs), including Climate Data Records. An ESDR is defined as a unified and coherent set of observations of a given parameter of the Earth system, which is optimized to meet specific requirements for addressing science questions. These records are critical for understanding Earth System processes; for the assessment of variability, long-term trends, and change in the Earth System; and for providing input and validation means to modeling efforts. The solicitation resulted in the selection in October 2007 of 30 projects for funding.
MEaSUREs Projects at the GES DISC |
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Project Information |
Project Title: Consistent Long-Term Aerosol Data Records over Land and Ocean from SeaWIFS
PI Name: Christina Hsu
Project Description: One of the key components of NASAs Earth Science Research Strategy to better understand the complex nature of Earths climate is the determination of the global radiation balance. Comprehensive regional-to-global climate models (R/GCM) are playing an ever-greater role in addressing this issue. Because of their important role in modifying the radiative energy balance, the characteristics of aerosols, especially near their sources and sinks, are essential parameters to the R/GCMs. Many EOS era instruments (e.g., SeaWiFS, MODIS, MISR, etc.) are designed to provide such information with a high degree of fidelity.
Visualization Tools Available SeaWiFS RGB Imagery With Option to Simultaneously Examine AOT from Different Sensors The SeaWiFS RGB Imagery is a web-based application allowing easy access to true-color images from the SeaWiFS instrument for visual detection of aerosol events. Maps of Aqua-MODIS and SeaWiFS aerosol optical thickness at 550 nm (land) are also available for a selected scene. The SeaWiFS Deep Blue products exist only for February 1-7, 2006 at this time.
Giovanni Giovanni is a web-based application developed by the GES DISC that provides a simple and intuitive way to visualize, analyze, and access vast amounts of Earth science remote sensing data without having to download the data. Giovanni is comprised of a number of instances tailored to a specific scientific community including the following aerosol instances:
Formats: HDF 5
Readme Document: README for SWDB Data Products |
Data Access Methods
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GES DISC POC for this Project: Dana Ostrenga Dana.Ostrenga@nasa.gov |