80NSSC18M0091

We propose a five-year study to develop long-term (27.5 year) Earth System Data Records (ESDRs) of global formaldehyde, glyoxal, and water vapor vertical column densities.

We will produce unified, coherent, and validated long-term ESDRs from July 1995 to November 2022 by applying our well-established retrieval algorithms to measurements in the ultraviolet and visible spectral regions (325-480 nm) from the GOME, SCIAMACHY, OMI, GOME-2A, GOME-2B, and OMPS-NM satellite instruments.

These ESDRs will be generated in NASA Earth Science Data System standard HDF-EOS5 file format. All data products will include key ancillary information, including retrieval quality flags, vertical sensitivity information (scattering weights), retrieval errors, a priori information (vertical profiles and surface properties), and cloud information.

To ensure the uniformity, coherence, and high quality of these proposed ESDRs, substantial effort will be devoted to the following:
(1) Using consistent retrieval algorithms across instruments and generating standardized outputs;
(2) Deriving an improved solar irradiance reference, performing accurate wavelength and instrument response function calibrations, and removing noise by appropriate averaging;
(3) Homogenizing a priori information in air mass factor;
(4) Optimizing retrieval consistency across instruments and time using overlapping time periods and through validation, intercomparison, and analysis of background values;
(5) Developing consistent global maps of regularly gridded ESDRs (Level 3).

To significantly facilitate the usage of these long-term ESDRs and to seek community scrutiny, review, and feedback of product quality and acceptability during the duration of the proposal, we will host a dedicated web server. Through it, we will distribute our new, consistent Level 2 retrievals and monthly gridded Level 3 data, along with reading, subsetting, and gridding software.

Finally, we propose to support ongoing data system evolution efforts through active participation in the activities of ESDS Working Groups (ESDSWGs) and support ongoing improvement of instrument calibration through active participation in Instrument Scientific Advisory Group meetings and scientific meetings.

The proposed developments of ESDRs from instruments operated by three agencies directly respond to the overall objective of MEaSUREs. It addresses the major need of developing long-term, consistent, and calibrated data products that are valid across multiple missions and satellite sensors in the NASA Earth Science Research Strategy. It also addresses the goal of the CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites) ACC (Atmospheric Composition Constellation) to have measurements from different satellites analyzed in a consistent fashion in order to improve the long-term data record.

Our proposed ESDRs of H2CO, CHOCHO, and H2O align with ACC major themes and NASA strategic objective: advance knowledge of Earth as a system to meet the challenges of environmental change and to improve life on our planet, and NASA Science Plan: advance the understanding of change in the Earth's radiation balance, air quality, and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition.

This research will directly benefit future similar ESDRs derived using LEO measurements from the US operational JPSS missions, EUMETSAT METOP-C, Sentinel-5P, Sentinel 5, and the global constellation of air quality geostationary satellites: TEMPO (NASA), GEMS (KARI), and SETINEL-4 (ESA).

These improved long-term ESDRs address all of the five research questions within the NASA Atmospheric Composition Roadmap.

Smithsonian Institution

NOT APPLICABLE

43.001 - Science

Shared Services Center (NSSC) [NASA]

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-1516 United States

Single Zip Code

NOT APPLICABLE

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 06/07/23 to 06/07/25 and the total obligations have increased 417% from $615,000 to $3,177,000.