ASDC Request for New GCMD Project Keywords

[ASDC - mebuzano]

The ASDC would like to request the following be added GCMD Project Keywords:

Short Name: BalNeO
Long Name: Balloon Network for stratospheric aerosol Observations
Description: The stratospheric aerosol layer is an important component of the Earth’s climate system, with global implications on surface temperature and the hydrological cycle. Due to its high variability, regular observations are needed to understand the layer’s different sources. While optical properties have been monitored via satellite observations for more than four decades, these measurements suffer from limited vertical, horizontal and temporal resolutions and require several assumptions to derive aerosol concentrations. In Situ measurements have focused mostly on the Northern Hemisphere, with a lack of coverage over the tropical region.
The Balloon Network for stratospheric aerosol Observations (BalNeO) aims to fill those gaps by bringing together research laboratories from the United States, Brazil, France, and India to profile aerosol concentration from the ground to the stratosphere. BalNeO features observations from several different field campaigns, which provide insights on stratospheric aerosol variability and its impact on climate. BalNeO is a heritage of balloon deployments across the world funded by the Upper Atmospheric Composition Observation program at NASA Langley Research Center.

Reference: https://science.larc.nasa.gov/balneo/

Short Name: AirSHARP
Long Name: Airborne aSsessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance
Background: NASA’s Airborne aSsessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance (AirSHARP) observed the atmosphere and ocean for validating the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite’s Ocean Color Instrument (OCI). During October 2024 and May 2025, AirSHARP conducted simultaneous airborne and seaborne campaigns to collect data under different environmental conditions, validating as much of OCI’s range as possible. Over the two deployments, 14 flights were conducted utilizing the NPS CIRPAS Twin Otter Aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with facility instruments measuring meteorological and navigation parameters, along with the Spectrometer for sky-scanning sun Tracking Atmospheric Research B (4STAR-B) instrument. Additional radiometer package, C-AIR (Coastal Airborne In-Situ Radiometers), for sampling the water leaving radiances and remote sensing reflectances of the Monterey Bay were on board the Twin Otter during AirSHARP.

Reference(s): https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/ames/ames-science/by-air-and-by-sea-validating-nasas-pace-ocean-color-instrument/

If there's any questions just let me know!

[GCMD - tstevens]

Thank you for submitting the keyword request. We will review it and let you know when it is complete.

[GCMD - tstevens]

The new project keywords have been added; please review:

BalNeO > Balloon Network for stratospheric aerosol Observations: https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/deabab53-cd2e-4899-98f2-8279ae436c9c?format=json&version=draft

AirSHARP > Airborne aSsessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance: https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/96659da1-ab86-4196-b659-033290ed9bb4?format=json&version=draft

[ASDC - mebuzano]

Hi Tyler,

BalNeo looks great! I have one request for AirSHARP. Would it be possible to update the long name to Airborne aSsessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance Product Performance for PACE?

If that is too long, we can leave the current long name as is.

Thanks!

[GCMD - tstevens]

Yes, I can update that.

[ASDC - mebuzano]

Awesome, thanks Tyler!

[ASDC - mebuzano]

If that update has been made, then I approve the keywords and they are good to publish.