Measuring the Atmosphere on ATom's Final Flight Around the World
- Written by:
- Ellen T. Gray
- Produced by:
- Kathryn Mersmann
- View full credits
Christina Williamson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies aerosols, tiny particles in the air, either blown up from Earth's surface or forming in the atmosphere. These particles can affect the climate and human health, so understanding them better can help improve models and quality of life.
Music: Pleasant Flight by David Backes [GEMA], Peter Moslener [GEMA]
Complete transcript available.
Reem Hannun operates the airborne formaldehyde instrument on ATom. The instrument uses laser spectroscopy to measure formaldehyde levels in the air, which can help researchers learn more about the lifespan of greenhouse gases like methane.
Music: Discreet Momentum by Theo Golding [PRS]
Complete transcript available.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Writer
- Ellen T. Gray (NASA/HQ) [Lead]
Producer
- Kathryn Mersmann (KBRwyle) [Lead]
Videographer
- Michael J. Agnew (Arcata)
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Related pages
ATom B-Roll
Jan. 31, 2017, 7 a.m.
Read moreATom 1 Flight Path || The Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission takes flight through Earth 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 || ATom 2 Flight Path || ATom 3 Flight Path || ATom 4 Flight Plan || DC-8 Flight Pattern || The second worldsurvey of the atmosphere has begun! NASA’s Atmospheric Tomography or ATom mission completed its first science flight to the equator and back on January 26. Tour the DC8 flying laboratory loaded withairsampling instruments and out intrepid science team. Credit: Chelsea Thompson || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || DC-8 Takeoff || Video by Steve Parcel || Video by Steve Parcel || Sea ice in the Arctic as seen from ATom’s DC-8 in Janaury, 2017.Credit: NASA / Róisín Commane || ATom is investigating the atmosphere above the remote oceans. Above the Atlantic ocean near Ascension Island, the research team saw haze from African fires during ATom’s February, 2017, flight.Credit: NASA || The DC-8 is a research laboratory that has inlets in place of windows to draw air into ATom’s 20 instruments while it flies through the air.Credit: NASA / Róisín Commane || The DC-8 at sunset on ATom’s second deployment in February, 2017.Credit: NASA / National Center for Atmospheric Research / Becky Hornbrook || The DC-8 flies over Terceira Island in the Azores of the North Atlantic ocean, February, 2017.Credit: NASA || Researcher photographing the sea ice as the DC-8 flies over the Arctic, January, 2017.Credit: NASA / National Center for Atmospheric Research / Sam Hall