USGCRP Home Library OCP FY2006 Images from Our Changing Planet FY 2006: Figures 2 and 20 Figure 2

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Updated 9 December 2005

Images from Our Changing Planet FY 2006

Figure 2: Aura TES Transect of Atmospheric Pollutants. The Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) on NASA's EOS Aura satellite is providing new observations of the vertical distribution of pollutants, including ozone, in the lowest part of the atmosphere. In this vertical slice taken in early September 2004 over the Atlantic, plumes of ozone that formed downwind of forest fires burning in both South America and Africa can be seen south of the equator from just above the surface to ~18 km. New measurements of pollutants and greenhouse gases such as ozone in the troposphere will allow scientists to estimate the impact of regional pollution events on global air quality and climate.

Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory.