Global Tropospheric Experiment Amazon Boundary Layer Expedition 2B (ABLE 2B) Langley ASDC Document Data Set Document

This document provides information on data products obtained during the GTE ABLE 2B atmospheric science expedition conducted over the Amazon during April-May, 1987. The objective of the mission was to obtain a quantitative chemical characterization of the temporal and spatial variability of trace gases and aerosols over the Amazon during the wet season. Measurements were made primarily by investigators' instruments located on the NASA Wallops Electra airborne laboratory. Also provided are a list of principal investigators, a brief summary of measurement techniques and a list of publications.

This document provides information for the following five data sets:

• GTE_A2B_Elec_Chem
• GTE_A2B_Tower
• GTE_A2B_Rawinsondes
• GTE_A2B_Balloons
• GTE_A2B_Merged_Data

NASA funded the investigators involved in the ABLE 2B mission.
The funded investigators, their organization and grant, agreement or contract number were:

Investigator	Organization	Grant
Aircraft:
M. O. Andreae	Florida State U	NAG-1-588
S. M. Beck	NASA Langley	N/A
Edward Browell	NASA Langley	N/A
M. Garstang	U of Virginia	NCC-1-95
Gerald Gregory	NASA Langley	N/A
R. C. Harriss	U of New Hampshire	NAG-1-1014
R. A. Rasmussen	Oregon Grad Ctr	N/A
Glen Sachse	NASA Langley	N/A
Hanwant Singh	NASA Ames	N/A
A. L. Torres	NASA Wallops	N/A
S. C. Wofsy	Harvard	NAG-1-55
Surface:
M. O. Andreae	Florida State U	NAG-1-588
David Fitzjarrald	State U of New York-Albany	NAG-1-692
R. C. Harriss	U of New Hampshire	NAG-1-1014
C. L. Martin	Simpson Weather Assoc	N/A
R. A. Rasmussen	Oregon Grad Ctr	N/A
Steven Wofsy	Harvard U	NAG-1-55
AGE:
R. C. Harriss	U of New Hampshire	N/A
P. A. Matson	NASA Ames	N/A
J. E. Richey	U of Washington	N/A
P. Vitousek	Stanford U	N/A

Aircraft data sets are available for each investigation for each flight. Ground-based data are usually available on a daily basis. Airborne measurements were typically obtained at constant altitude during transit flights (i.e. "survey" flights), and over multiple altitudes during flight from the intensive sites. Flight missions were conducted during ABLE 2B from April 1 through May 13, 1987. Section 4.b lists the flight dates. The duration, altitude range, ascent and descent rate, and flight path for each mission varied depending on mission objectives and environmental (weather) conditions. Ground-based measurements were made at sites shown in Harriss et al., [1990]. The automated ground sites provided daily measurements during the time frame when airborne measurements were being made and weekly averaged samples before and after. Further information about the measurement region and time frame may be found in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.95, No.D10, September 20, 1990.

This data set contains all of the data submitted to the GTE data archive by the ABLE 2B investigators listed in Section 1.d. Included are the atmospheric chemistry, meteorological and navigational data recorded aboard the NASA Wallops Electra airborne laboratory, data obtained from surface level sites, sonde and balloon data and all of the merged data sets. Note that the ASDC data link points the user back to the GTE data archive to obtain the data.

The atmospheric species and other parameters measured are listed in Section 4.c. Also listed for each are the name and affiliation of the principal investigator.

ABLE 2B investigators have individually reported the results of their investigations in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

There are data sets available from the Langley ASDC for 13 other GTE missions conducted from 1983 to 2001. See the GTE home page and/or the ASDC GTE Data Table for a description of the available data.

Global Tropospheric Experiment Amazon Boundary Layer Expedition 2B (ABLE 2B)

If the person is known to be retired, deceased or no longer at the organization originally responsible for the experiment, it is noted and the contact information may be omitted. The contact information provided was current during the mission, but may no longer be current.

M. O. Andreae
Florida State University
(Later address)
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
Postfach 3060
D-6500 Mainz
Federal Republic of Germany
Telephone: (11)49-6131-305-420
Fax: (011)49-6131-305-487
E-mail: biogeo@mpch-mainz.mpg.de

S. M. Beck (no longer at LaRC)
NASA Langley Research Center

Edward V. Browell
Mail Stop 401A
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton VA 23681-0001
Telephone: 757-864-1273
Fax: 757-864-7790
E-mail: e.v.browell@larc.nasa.gov

Gerald L. Gregory (retired)
NASA Langley Research Center

P. Artaxo Netto
University of Sao Paulo
Instituto de Fisica
Caixa Postal 66318
CEP 05389-970, Sao Paulo SP Brazil
Telephone: 55-11-818-7016
Fax: 55-11-818-6749

D. J. R. Nordemann
INPE
Departmento de Meteorologia
C. P. 515, 12.200
San Jose Dos Campos SP Brazil
Telephone: 55-123-229977
Fax: 55-123-21-8743

R. A. Rasmussen
Oregon Graduate Center
Department of Environmental Science
19600 N. W. Von Neuman Drive
Beverton OR 97006-1999
E-mail: rrasmus@ese.ogi.edu

John Ritter (no longer at LaRC)

Glen W. Sachse
MS 472
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton VA 23681-0001
Telephone: 757-864-1566
Fax: 757-864-8818
E-mail: g.w.sachse@larc.nasa.gov

Hanwant Singh
NASA Ames Research Center
Singh Group
Mail Stop 245-5
Moffett Field CA 94035
Telephone: 415-604-6769
Fax: 415-604-3265
E-mail: hb_singh@arc.nasa.gov

Robert W. Talbot
University of New Hampshire
Institute of Earth, Oceans, Space
Morse Hall
Complex Systems Research Center
Durham NH 03820
Telephone: 603-862-1546
Fax: 603-862-0188
E-mail: rwt@christa.unh.edu

A. L. Torres (retired)
NASA Wallops

S. C. Wofsy
Center for Earth and Planetary Physics
Pierce Hall
29 Oxford Street
Harvard University
Cambridge MA 02138
Telephone: 617-495-4566
Fax: 617-495-9837
E-mail: scw@io.harvard.edu

P. M. Crill
Bionetics Corp.
(Later address)
University of New Hampshire
ISEOS
Science and Engineering Research Building
292 College Road
Durham NH 03824
Telephone: 603-862-3519
E-mail: patrick.crill@unh.edu

E. M. C. Cutrim
Federal University of Para
(Later address)
Western Michigan University
Geology Department
Kalamazoo MI 49008
Telephone: 608-263-3434
Fax: 608-262-5974
E-mail: elen.cutrim@wmich.edu

D. R. Fitzjarrald
Atmospheric Sciences Research Center
SUNY-Albany
100 Fuller Road
Albany NY 12005
Telephone: 518-442-3838
Fax: 518-442-3867
E-mail: fitz@asrc.cestm.albany.edu

M. Garstang
University of Virginia
Department of Environmental Sciences
Clark Hall
Charlottesville VA 22903
Telephone: 804-979-3571
Fax: 804-979-5599
E-mail: mxg@thunder.swa.com

V. W. J. H. Kirchhoff
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
C. P. 515
12201 Sao Jose dos Campos
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Telephone: (55) 123-41-8977
Fax: (55) 123-21-8743

L. C. B. Molion
INPE
(Later address)
Federal University of Alagoas
Cidade Universitaria - BR 101 KM. 14
57.072-970 Macio
Alagoas Brazil
Telephone: 55-82-322-2277 ext. 2060
Fax: 55-82-322-2345

L. M. Moreira-Nordemann
INPE

P. Artaxo Netto
University of Sao Paulo
(See prior above entry)

A. Nobre
INPA/CPCA
Al.Cosme Ferreira, 1756
Manaus AM 69083-000 Brazil
Telephone: 55-926-43-3153
Fax: 55-926-43-3095
E-mail: anobre@cr-am.rnp.br

B. A. Nobre
INPE

D. J. R. Nordemann
INPE
(See prior above listing)

H. S. Pinheiro
Federal University of Para

R. A. Rasmussen
Oregon Graduate Center
(See prior above listing)

A. W. Setzer
University of Sao Paulo
(Later address)
INPE
Department of Meteorologia
C.P. 515, 12.201
Sao Jose Dos Campos
Sao Paulo Brazil
Telephone: 011-55-123-22-9977
Fax: 301-286-9200

R. W. Talbot
(See above prior entry)

S. C. Wofsy
(See above prior entry)

R. C. Harriss
Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space
Science and Engineering Research Center
University of New Hampshire
929 College Road
Durham NH
Telephone: 603-862-3875

J. E. Richey
University of Washington
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences
Seattle WA 98195
E-mail: jrichey@u.washington.edu

P. Vitousek
HERRIN LABS RM 498A
Mail Code 5020
Stanford, California, 94305-5020
Telephone: 650) 725-1866
Fax: (650) 725-1856
E-mail: vitousek@stanford.edu

John D. Barrick
MS 483
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton VA 23681-0001
Telephone: 757-864-5831
Fax: 757-864-5841
E-mail: j.d.barrick@larc.nasa.gov

R. C. Harriss
(See prior above listing)

R. C. Harriss
(See prior listing above)

S. C. Wofsy
(See prior listing above)

M. Garstang
(See prior listing above)

L. C. B. Molion
(See prior above listing)

Robert J. McNeal (retired)
NASA Headquarters

James M. Hoell, Jr. (retired)
NASA Langley Research Center

J. R. B. Coelho
Departamento de Meteorologia
INPE
C. P. 515
12.200 - Sao Jose Dos - SP
Brazil

M. Garstang
(See prior above listing)

Richard J. Bendura (retired)
NASA Langley Research Center

S. M. Beck
(See prior above listing)

R. L. Navarro (retired)
NASA Wallops

Joseph W. Drewry (retired)
NASA Langley Research Center

P. A. Matson
NASA ARC
Mail Stop 239-12
Moffett Field, CA 94035
Telephone: 415-694-6884

Potential usage and applications of the described data sets can be seen in the articles that comprise the Journal of Geophysical Research ABLE 2B Special Section (Vol.95, No. D10 September 30, 1990) and the 1988 Spring AGU Meeting.

For convenience of the users, the calculated variables below are provided.

Mach Number, M:
	M = Mach Number Ps = Static Pressure Qc = Differential Pressure

Static Air Temperature, Ts:
	TS = Static Air Temperature (°K) TT = Total Air Temperature (°K) γ = 1.4, ratio of specific heat of air at constant pressure and volume

True Air Speed, TAS:
	TAS = True Air Speed (knots) TS = Static Air Temperature (°K) M = Mach Number a = Speed of Sound

Potential Temperature, θ:
	θ = Potential Temperature (°K) TS = Static Air Temperature (°K) Ps = Static Pressure (mb)

Vapor Pressure, e :

e_water (mb) = [1.0007 + (3.46 * 10^-6 * P_S)] * 6.1121* EXP[17.502 * T/(240.97 + T)]

e_ice (mb) = [1.0003 + (4.18 * 10^-6 * P_S)] * 6.1115* EXP[22.452 * T/(272.55 + T)]

e = Partial Pressure of Water Vapor (mb)
P_S = Static Pressure (mb)
T = Static Air Temperature (°C) for Saturation Vapor Pressure
or
T = Dew/Frost Point (°C) for Partial Pressure of Water Vapor

Note:

1. ProjDP of zero or greater should be used to derive the partial pressure of water vapor w.r.t water (e_water ) and the ProjDP less than zero should be used to derive the partial pressure of water vapor w.r.t ice (e_ice).

2. StatTempDegC and ProjDP parameters recorded in the P-3B data set are substituted to calculate saturation vapor pressure and partial pressure of water vapor, respectively.

3. TSDEGC and ProjDP parameters recorded in the DC-8 data set are substituted to calculate saturation vapor pressure and partial pressure of water vapor, respectively. Also notice in the DC-8 data set there is a redundant static air temperature measurement, TSCALC, which is calculated by DADS. Although TSDEGC and TSCALC track closely they can diverge by ≈ 1° at the low and high ends of the measurement range.

Specific Humidity, q:
Mixing Ratio, r:
Note: ppmv = 1.608 * ppmw ppmw = 0.622 * ppmv

Relative Humidity, %:
w.r.t. water,	w.r.t. ice,

See the GTE Data Format Document

A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary. Aircraft data sets are available for each investigation for each flight. Surface level data are available on a daily basis.

All data available for the ABLE 2B mission are listed in the ABLE 2B Data Table. No additional data products relevant to ABLE 2B are anticipated.

The ABLE 2B data are available online through the GTE Data Archive or on a CDROM which can be ordered online throught the LaRC ASDC.

The Atmospheric Science Data Center at NASA's Langley Research Center.

Science, Users and Data Services Group
Atmospheric Science Data Center
MS 157D
Langley Research Center
Hampton, VA 23681 USA
Phone: 757-864-8656
Fax: 757-864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
Internet: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov

Publication of a portion(s) of the data archive should acknowledge the principal investigator(s) responsible for the data by referencing the appropriate manuscript in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

Airborne measurements were made over the NASA Wallops Electra airborne laboratory. A more detailed description of the surface level environmental characteristics for the experiment region is provided in the individual papers for each investigation included in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990. Additional information may be found in other publications authored by the principal investigators or on the GTE home page.

Flight missions were conducted during April and May 1987. The duration, altitude range, ascent and descent rate, and flight path of each mission varied depending on mission objective and environmental (weather) conditions. The nominal air speed ranged from 298 knots (approximately 342 mph) at 6.13 km altitude to 213 knots (approximately 245 mph) at 0.09 km.

Data Set Name	Min Lat	Max Lat	Min Lon	Max Lon
GTE_A2B_Elec_Chem	84.07S	37.53N	81.46W	31.29W
GTE_A2B_Tower	2.57S	2.93S	59.66W	60.02W
GTE_A2B_Rawinsondes	1.38S	12.73S	48.48W	61.00W
GTE_A2B_Balloons	2.57S	2.93S	59.66W	60.02W
GTE_A2B_Merged_Data	84.07S	37.53N	81.46W	31.29W

Resolution varies for each measurement. See the individual headers associated with each data file for specific information.

No data gridding or binning of data to a geographic grid occurred during data processing.

ABLE 2B aircraft missions were conducted from April 1 through May 13, 1987.

Data Set Name	Begin Date	End Date
GTE_A2B_Elec_Chem	4/1/87	5/13/87
GTE_A2B_Tower	4/4/87	5/9/87
GTE_A2B_Rawinsondes	4/13/87	5/13/87
GTE_A2B_Balloons	4/13/87	5/13/87
GTE_A2B_Merged_Data	4/1/87	5/13/87

Not all of the parameters are in each data set granule. Also, the ranges vary between data sets and between granules within each data set. Species measured are given in Harriss et al., [1990].

Parameter Description

The variables measured are standard atmospheric chemical and meteorological species requiring no further elaboration here.

Unit of Measurement

The units of measure vary widely depending on species and measurement environment and are addressed in the individual papers for each investigation included in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

Parameter Source

The instruments used in making the measurements are listed in the individual papers for each investigation included in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

Parameter Range

The ranges of data vary widely depending on species and measurement environment and are addressed in the individual papers for each investigation included in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

Sample Data Record

The GTE Data Format Document contains examples of each data set type.

The sources of error vary depending on species and measurement environment and are addressed in the papers included in the ABLE 2B special issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990, and/or papers referenced in that publication and readme files and/or header records associated with each data file.

1. Known Problems with the Data

   None reported for the current archive version. See the readme files and header records included with each data set for information provided by the responsible investigator.

2. Future Modifications and Plans

   The data sets submitted to the ASDC are considered final and no further updates are planned. However, modifications will be considered if requested by the investigators or otherwise justified.

Details of data acquisition and materials are addressed in the Journal of Geophysical Research ABLE 2B Special Section (Vol.95, No. D10, September 30, 1990) and the 1988 AGU Spring Meeting.

1. AGU Spring Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 16-20 May 1988.

2. ABLE 2B Special Section, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 95, No. D10, September 20, 1990.

3. GTE Bibliography

4. Harriss, R. C., M. Garstang, S. C. Wofsy, S. M. Beck, R. J. Bendura, J. R. B. Coelho, J. W. Drewry, J. M. Hoell, P. A. Matson, R. J. McNeal, L. C. B. Molion, R. L. Navarro, V. E. Rabine, and R. L. Snell, The Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment: Wet Season 1987, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 95, No. D10, 16721-16736, 20 September, 1990.

EOSDIS Acronyms | EOSDIS Glossary.

ABLE 2B - Amazon Boundary Layer Expedition - Wet Season
AGE - Amazon Ground Emissions Program
AGU - American Geophysical Union
ASDC - Atmospheric Science Data Center
CPCA - Coordenacao De Pesquisas Em Ciencias Agromonicas (Department of Agronomic Sciences)
DADS - Data Acquisition and Display System
EOSDIS - Earth Observing System Distributed Information System
GTE - Global Tropospheric Experiment
IMS - Information Management System
INPA - Instituto de Pesquisas de Amozonia (National Research Institute for Amazonia)
INPE - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute for Space Research)
ISEOS - Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space
LaRC - NASA Langley Research Center
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
ProjDP - Project Dew Point
TSCALC - Static temperature, calculated by DADS
TSDEGC - Static temperature, measured directly, in Celsius

Creation Date: November 2003
Revision Date:
Review Date:
Identification:
Curator: Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
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