Hydrogen chloride (HCl) in the atmosphere as measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on NASA's Aura satellite. MLS can simultaneously measure several trace gases and ozone-destroying chemicals in the upper troposphere and photosphere. In this series of animations we present chlorine monoxide (ClO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O) and temperature measurements. These are 'first light' data taken when the MLS was operated for the first time. Ozone-destroying chlorine (Cl) atoms are neutralized when they bond with hydrogen (H) to form HCl. ||

Nitric Acid (HNO3) in the atmosphere as measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on NASA's Aura satellite. MLS can simultaneously measure several trace gases and ozone-destroying chemicals in the upper troposphere and photosphere. In this series of animations we present chlorine monoxide (ClO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O) and temperature measurements. These are 'first light' data taken when the MLS was operated for the first time. Nitric acid is created from the nitrogen oxide emitted by automobiles. ||

Water vapor (H2O) in the atmosphere as measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on NASA's Aura satellite. MLS can simultaneously measure several trace gases and ozone-destroying chemicals in the upper troposphere and photosphere. In this series of animations we present chlorine monoxide (ClO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O) and temperature measurements. These are 'first light' data taken when the MLS was operated for the first time. ||

This animation shows temperature in the atmosphere from August 13 through October 15, 2004. Red represents higher temperatures; blue represents lower temperatures. The spatial resolution is low: each pixel covers an area of 5 degrees longitude by 2 degrees latitude, so the entire world (except for 1 degree at each pole) is covered by the 72x89 pixel images.This product is available through our Web Map Service. || temp-movie.gif (72x89) [227.1 KB] || temp.png (80x40) [5.0 KB] || temp.jpg (320x396) [8.3 KB] || gal.png (160x80) [16.1 KB] || temp_searchweb.jpg (320x180) [56.3 KB] || temp.2004.0034.png (72x89) [4.4 KB] || temp-movie.webmhd.webm (960x540) [36.2 KB] || 72x89 (72x89) [4.0 KB] || temp-movie.m1v (72x88) [119.4 KB] ||

Ozone (O3) in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere as measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on NASA's Aura satellite. MLS can simultaneously measure several trace gases and ozone-destroying chemicals in the upper troposphere and photosphere. In this series of animations we present chlorine monoxide (ClO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O) and temperature measurements. These are 'first light' data taken when the MLS was operated for the first time. ||

The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) measures the chemistry of the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. Measuring concentration of chlorine monoxide and other chemicals. Chlorine monoxide (CIO) is formed by the photolysis of CFCs in the stratosphere and the subsequent destruction of an ozone molecule, these radicals can act as a catalyst in the destruction of ozone while not being destroyed themselves. ||

MLS measures lower stratospheric temperature and concentrations of H2O, O3, ClO, BrO, HCl, OH, HO2, HNO3, HCN, and N2O, for their effects on (and diagnoses of) ozone depletion, transformations of greenhouse gases, and radiative forcing of climate change. ||

Data from NASA satellites establishes a 40 year record of stratospheric ozone measurements. The stratospheric ozone layer shields life on Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Research shows that excess exposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer and eye problems and impacts plant growth. Global stratospheric ozone has decreased by 3 percent globally between 1980 and 2000 and has thinned by 50 percent over Antarctica in winter and spring. Depletion of the ozone layer allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface. This animation shows the ozone layer blocking harmful UV radiation from the Earth's surface. The hole in the ozone is seen in purple. ||

Data from NASA satellites establishes a 40-year record of stratospheric ozone measurements. The stratospheric ozone layer shields life on Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Research shows that excess exposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer and eye problems and impacts plant growth. Global stratospheric ozone has decreased by 3 percent globally between 1980 and 2000 and has thinned by 50 percent over Antarctica in winter and spring. Depletion of the ozone layer allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface.This animation shows the ozone layer blocking harmful UV radiation from the Earth's surface. The hole in the ozone is seen in purple. The location, size, and shape of the polar vortex is derived from potential vorticity data, PV. The PV, shown in white at 550 degrees Kelvin, is an atmospheric regional event that isolates polar air from the air at lower latitudes, producing conditions favorable for wintertime polar ozone depletion. The animation shows that most of the low-temperature and chemically-perturbed region is confined within the polar vortex during the Antarctic winter. ||

Aura's instruments study tropospheric, or low-level atmospheric chemistry. Many different organizations monitor regional areas of the troposphere, but Aura is the first to record daily global measurements. ||