BBFCGGP

Balloon-Borne Full-column Greenhouse Gas Profiling

1 March 2014 - 28 February 2015

Lead Scientist: Marc Fischer

Observatory: SGP (Southern Great Plains)

In this DOE-NOAA collaboration, we produced vertically resolved measurements of atmospheric carbon-cycle gases (CO2, CH4, and possibly CO) at ARM-SGP. These measurements provided key constrains for remote sensing from the ground (e.g., AERI and TCCON) and space-borne (e.g., GOSAT, and OCO-2) platforms. In-situ sampling from a balloon-borne platform and ground-based analysis was used to quantify the vertical profiles though 99% of the atmospheric column (up to 30km). We had previously demonstrated the technology and procedures in research mode at a site in Colorado. Over the course of this two-year project we evaluated the feasibility for first research–mode and then operational balloon-borne sampling, reliable recovery, and on-site trace-gas analysis at ARM-SGP. This provided data to support key DOE-SC radiative-forcing science objectives. Support for research associated with the campaign was provided by DOE’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Science program.”