Around the World in 11 Research Flights: Behind the Scenes of the ATom Mission
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- Written by:
- Ellen T. Gray
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- Produced by:
- Kathryn Mersmann
- View full credits
For the Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission, researchers and flight technicians from NASA and its partners are flying around the world, collecting atmospheric samples and studying air quality.
This is the the third ATom campaign, studying the atmosphere during autumn in the northern hemisphere.
ATom campaigns last a long time -- almost a full month -- and require the researchers and crew to travel the whole time. Rather than work from one static location, the ATom team uses NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory as a home base.
Atmospheric scientist Róisín Commane and ATom principal investigator Steven Wofsy gave a look behind the scenes at a month on a research plane.
ATom principal investigator Steven Wofsy and atmospheric scientist Róisín Commane explain how they pack for a trip that takes them all around the world.
Music: Digital Lives by Ben Wheeler [PRS], Theo Golding [PRS]
Complete transcript available.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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Writer
- Ellen T. Gray (NASA/HQ) [Lead]
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Scientist
- Roisin Commane (Harvard University)
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Producers
- Kathryn Mersmann (KBR Wyle Services, LLC) [Lead]
- Chelsey Ballarte (NASA/WFF)
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Principal investigator
- Steven Wofsy (Harvard University)
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Related pages
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ID: 12488 B-Roll
ATom B-Roll
Read moreThe Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission takes flight through Earth's atmosphere to understand how short-lived greenhouse gases like ozone and methane contribute to climate change. A suite of instruments aboard NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory will be taking measurements as the science team flies down the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, then north up the Atlantic to Greenland to measure more than 200 gases and particles in the air and their interactions around the world. B-roll available here is from the July 28, 2016, science flight from to the equator and back from Palmdale, California.For more information: NASA Airborne Study Surveys Greenhouse Gases in World Tour: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-airborne-study-surveys-greenhouse-gases-in-world-tourNASA Airborne mission Chases Air Pollution Through the Seasons: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-airborne-mission-chases-air-pollution-through-the-seasons ||
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ID: 12350 Produced Video
ATom Mission interview clips
Read moreThe ATom mission aboard NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory is sampling world-wide in one of the most extensive surveys of the atmosphere to date, measuring over 200 gases as well as airborne particles. The science team is particularly interested in methane, tropospheric ozone and black carbon particles, which have strong effects on climate and which all have both human and natural origins.Below are interviews with four scientists participating in the research flights:* Donald Blake, UC Irvine* Róisín Commane, Harvard University* Tom Ryerson, NOAA* Jack Dibbs, University of New HampshireFollow along with all eight of our #EarthExpeditions here: http://www.nasa.gov/earthexpeditions ||
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