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Satellite Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Pollution: the Far-Reaching Impact of Burning in Southern AfricaWhen the first observations of a tropospheric trace gas were obtained in the 1980s, carbon monoxide enhancements from tropical biomass burning dominated the observed features. In 2005, an active remote-sensing system to provide detailed information on the vertical distribution of aerosols and clouds was launched, and again, one of the most imposing features observed was the presence of emissions from tropical biomass burning. This paper presents a brief overview of space-borne observations of the distribution of trace gases and aerosols and how tropical biomass burning, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, has provided an initially surprising picture of the distribution of these species and how they have evolved from prevailing transport patterns in that hemisphere. We also show how interpretation of these observations has improved significantly as a result of the improved capability of trajectory modeling in recent years and how information from this capability has provided additional insight into previous measurements form satellites. Key words: pollution; biomass burning; aerosols; tropical trace gas emissions; Southern Hemisphere; carbon monoxide.
Document ID
20100004831
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Fishman, Jack
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Al-Saadi, Jassim A.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Neil, Doreen O.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Creilson, John K.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Severance, Kurt
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Thomason, Larry W.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Edwards, David R.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Optical Engineering and Applications
Publisher: International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume: 7089
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
LF99-7449
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 698671.01.07.99.08
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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