The AEROMMA job, a partnership between NOAA and NASA, is studying anthropogenic contamination in North American cities by flying NASAs DC-8 aircraft over these areas in summertime 2023. The AEROMMA project, which stands for Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas, is a joint initiative by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA. From late June through mid-August 2023, the researchers will employ NASAs DC-8 airplane, the worlds biggest flying science laboratory, to carry out low-altitude flights over numerous cities and gather data on contamination sources. The jobs low-altitude flights will be collaborated with high-altitude flights from airplane operated by NASAs Langley Research Center as part of STAQS, the Synergistic Tempo Air Quality Science job.
NASAs DC-8 aircraft flies low over urban places to gather data on air quality. Credit: NASA
The AEROMMA job, a collaboration in between NOAA and NASA, is studying anthropogenic pollution in North American cities by flying NASAs DC-8 aircraft over these areas in summertime 2023. Instead of car emissions, the research study focuses on emissions from everyday items like personal care and cleaning products. The job aims to measure emission flux over cities by combining numerous observation systems and designs, and by collaborating with other air quality research studies.
Moving Focus in Air Pollution Research
Generally, research on air quality and contamination has centered primarily on emissions from transport, especially vehicles, city areas now tend to experience less pollution from motor cars than in the past. In response, researchers heading the AEROMMA job this summertime are turning their attention towards other anthropogenic, or human-driven, sources of pollution.
Introducing the AEROMMA Project
The AEROMMA project, which represents Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas, is a joint effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA. From late June through mid-August 2023, the scientists will employ NASAs DC-8 airplane, the worlds largest flying science lab, to carry out low-altitude flights over numerous cities and collect information on contamination sources. This airplane is operated by NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center.
Project Aims and Methodology
The job aims to inspect the air quality over some of North Americas most largely inhabited areas, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Toronto. By using the DC-8 to execute a series of low-altitude flights, the team will check out city emissions and the climatic chain reaction that influence air quality and climate. These emissions sources include everyday items such as individual care products, cleaning agents, smaller sized gas-burning devices, and even landfills.
Everyday Products as Pollution Sources
Unlike transportation-related contamination, pollution from daily items remains proportionate to the population, since these items are universally utilized. Whether its a window cleaning representative or a dry shampoo for hurried mornings, the products we often utilize are developed to emit vapors into the environment, either to distribute aroma or help with finishes drying. These volatile components are typically fossil fuel derivatives and as a result impact our collective air quality, with the impact being measurable and particularly concrete in major cities.
Collaboration and Student Involvement
The AEROMMA job integrates air-borne, ground, and satellite observation systems, and leverages advanced air quality and climate designs to quantify the flux of anthropogenic emissions over North American cities. The tasks low-altitude flights will be coordinated with high-altitude flights from aircraft operated by NASAs Langley Research Center as part of STAQS, the Synergistic Tempo Air Quality Science job. In combination with other partners taken part in parallel air quality research studies– AEROMMA, STAQS, CUPiDS, GOTHAAM– the group aims to produce a synergistic observation system that is more detailed than any single mission might achieve on its own.
NASAs airplane personnel will supervise the projects security, while NOAA scientists will spearhead the clinical examinations. Moreover, both NASA and NOAA groups will coach undergraduate students from NASAs Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), as they add to research study during the Los Angeles flights.