ATom Mission interview clips

Released Monday, August 29, 2016

ID: 12350

- Written by:
- Ellen T. Gray

The ATom mission aboard NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory is sampling world-wide in one of the most extensive surveys of the atmosphere to date, measuring over 200 gases as well as airborne particles. The science team is particularly interested in methane, tropospheric ozone and black carbon particles, which have strong effects on climate and which all have both human and natural origins.

Below are interviews with four scientists participating in the research flights:
Donald Blake, UC Irvine
Róisín Commane, Harvard University
Tom Ryerson, NOAA
Jack Dibbs, University of New Hampshire

Follow along with all eight of our #EarthExpeditions here: http://www.nasa.gov/earthexpeditions

Snakes on a NASA plane! No, not that kind of snake. Donald Blake from the University of California Irvine with the #EarthExpedition ATom mission explains why "snakes" are part of the Whole Air Sampler from behind the scenes on the DC-8 aircraft.

Complete transcript available.

To measure the background atmosphere you need a sensitive instrument. Róisín Commane of Harvard University with the #EarthExpedition ATom mission explains how her instrument uses lasers to detect greenhouse gases.

Complete transcript available.

A flat line of data may not look interesting, but Tom Ryerson of NOAA with the #EarthExpedition ATom mission explains how it could reveal how tropospheric ozone is removed from the atmosphere.

Complete transcript available.

Flying into "clean" air during #EarthExpedition ATom mission, Jack Dibbs of the University of New Hampshire explains what he expects to find on his aerosol filters as they travel to the remotest parts of the atmosphere.

Complete transcript available.