HR: 0800h
AN: A21B-0744    [Abstracts]
TI: New Satellite Observations of Upper Tropospheric/Lower Stratospheric Aerosols: Case Studies over the U.S. and Canada
AU: * Diner, D J
EM: David.J.Diner@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Intitute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Fromm, M D
EM: mike.fromm@nrl.navy.mil
AF: Computational Physics, Inc., 8001 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22151 United States
AU: Torres, O
EM: torres@qhearts.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 United States
AU: Logan, J A
EM: jal@io.harvard.edu
AF: Harvard University, Pierce Hall, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 United States
AU: Martonchik, J V
EM: John.V.Martonchik@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Intitute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Kahn, R A
EM: Ralph.A.Kahn@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Intitute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Moroney, C M
EM: Catherine.M.Moroney@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Intitute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Mazzoni, D M
EM: Dominic.M.Mazzoni@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Intitute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Averill, C
EM: caverill@sdsio.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Raytheon Technical Services Co., 299 North Euclid Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 United States
AB: During the past few years, a near-UV aerosol index derived from Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data has been used to detect aerosol plumes carried to high altitudes by intense convective activity. Using data from the Terra Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), we can directly measure the heights of certain of these upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric (UTLS) plumes. Stereoscopic height retrievals are performed routinely and globally as part of the MISR data product generation system, using imagery from the instrument's nadir and near-nadir cameras to minimize the computer processing load. On a case-by-case basis, the stereo capability can be enhanced by using very oblique views, thereby increasing aerosol visibility and improving stereo height resolution and plume spatial coverage. In addition, MISR aerosol retrievals provide information on column-integrated particle abundances and microphysical properties such as size distribution and shape. We present case studies of TOMS-MISR observations of UTLS plumes, including an extensive smoke layer originating from the Chisholm fire in Alberta in May 2001, and an aerosol layer identified in TOMS data over the midwestern U.S. in August 2002, and subsequently explored using MISR data. The global prevalence of high-altitude (i.e., above 5 km) smoke- or dust-laden aerosols is unknown. A systematic investigation combining these satellite data sets would lead to new insights regarding plume origins, atmospheric residence times, climatic and environmental significance, and long-range particulate transport.
DE: 3360 Remote sensing
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting