Abstract:

In this project, we compare and analyze different kinds of available data on atmospheric aerosols and ozone. By retrieving and processing different kinds of data, we are looking to understand trends in New York and to compare it to a National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Model. Aerosols have a large impact on climate and together with ozone can have hazardous effects on human health. Furthermore, aerosols come in so many different physical and chemical types that characterizing their behavior presents a challenge. Therefore, it is important to try to bring together available data to understand their dynamics.
For our study, we are drawing data from a number of resources including The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), City College of New York, and the NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET).
In addition to more conventional surface measurements, we explore the vertical structure of particulates using an instrument called a ceilometer. To ensure ceilometer backscatter can be used to quantify aerosols, we demonstrate strong correlations between them, indicating that, while they measure different aerosols and aerosol properties, they still trend together. Furthermore, we show diurnal trends for both aerosol and ozone and a strong dependence for aerosols on location in New York State. When compared to data forecasts from the NCEP Model, we have been able to validate some of the predictions but also find some inconsistencies that we hope to be able to understand further. Another resource that we have hope to include are satellite data on Aerosol Optical Depth to explore the large scale aerosol distributions in Megacities in comparison to CMAQ

Abstract:

Six areas within the New York State were selected based on their geographical locations as urban (2 areas), suburban (2 areas) and rural (areas). These areas were selected to compare the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and surface particulate matter (PM2.5). AOD was measured by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) Aerosol/Smoke Product (GASP) instruments while surface particulate matter (PM2.5) was measured by Tapered Element Oscillating MicroBalance (TEOM).
Overall, the results showed varying degrees of correlation. The R2 of PM2.5 between two areas ranged from a low 0.303 to a moderately strong 0.723. This result suggested that when the PM2.5 between two areas is being compared, the R2 becomes weaker as the distance between the areas increases. However, the R2 of MODIS AOD between two areas ranged from a moderately strong 0.69 to a very strong 0.919.
It was also found that the correlation (r) between PM2.5 and MODIS AOD in each selected area was ranging from a moderately strong 0.64 to a very strong 0.93 with the exception of urban areas (City College of New York (CCNY) and Maspeth) where r was not available. However, the correlation (r) between PM2.5 and GASP AOD in each selected area was ranging from a very weak -0.05 to a moderately weak 0.23. This results shows that MODIS AOD and GASP AOD were not consistent in measuring PM2.5.
It can be said that TEOM and MODIS AOD posted a moderately strong to a very strong correlation in measuring PM2.5 while GASP AOD did not.

Abstract:

Coherent pulsed LIDAR is receiving increasing attention as a method for detecting aerosol concentration in the air and detecting wind speed. Wind speed detection, in particular, is essential to modeling air flow patterns to analyze pollution transmission and determine optimal locations for wind turbines. City College of New York is currently developing a mobile coherent Doppler LIDAR station to detect wind speed. In Doppler sounding with coherent LIDAR, pulses are transmitted into the atmosphere. These pulses reflect off aerosol particles in the sky and return to the system. The motion of these aerosols can be measured based on the Doppler shift of the wavelengths transmitted. With a mobile system, it is possible to point at the same location from three or more different directions, and thus to calculate an accurate vector wind speed for the area.
  The station in development at City College of New York uses a 1.54 μm near-infrared pulsed beam. This wavelength is safe to the eye and provides an efficient balance of back-scattering and absorption. Signal analysis and detection is accomplished using heterodyne detection. In this process, two signals of slightly different frequency are created. Shifting can then be detected by comparing the initial modified frequency to the return frequency. Finally, a basic wedge prism i0073c is used to control the zenith angle of the beam as it is transmitted to the atmosphere. This will enable data to be taken from a variety of directions.

Abstract:

Ozone (O3) and Ammonia (NH3) are air pollutants which pose a threat to human beings. They are some of the main causes for lung cancer and respiratory damage. In order to prevent future illnesses we first need to understand what is in our atmosphere and in what quantities they come in. As the world is rapidly industrializing, more pollutants are being released into the air. Quantum Cascade Lasers is a technology of the late 20th century and is promising in its role in remote sensing. Along with mid-infrared technologies, this experiment aims to accurately retrieve the atmospheric concentration of gases as a first step in humans race to understand our environment.

Abstract:

There is a growing concern that our planet’s climate is changing dramatically due to the aerosols in our atmosphere. Aerosols are small solid and liquid particles suspended in gas that can reflect sunlight and alter cloud formations. On a global scale, they can dramatically affect global warming while on a local scale, modify precipitation as well as having an adverse impact on health. To measure particles directly on a large scale is impossible so remote sensing techniques that measure the optical response to aerosols must be used. The most useful “proxy” for air-pollution is the attenuation of light through the atmosphere (i.e Aerosol Optical Depth).

Our study focuses on evaluating the quality of air by measuring the Aerosol Optical Depth with a Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR). A MFRSR is an instrument that simultaneously measures direct, diffuse, and total irradiance at six different wavelengths (415, 500, 615, 673, 870, and 940 nm). By identifying the irradiance at the ground and the position of the sun in the sky (the zenith angle), we can calculate the Atmospheric Optical Depth using Langley Regression; then ultimately calculate the Aerosol Optical Depth by subtracting the Molecular Optical Depth. With a measurement of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), it’s possible to estimate aerosol properties including size, type, and amount of the aerosols in the atmosphere. For our study, we focused on the AOD levels for Lamont-Doherty.

Abstract:

This study focused on measuring the quantity and quality of vegetation growth throughout the state of Iowa as well as examining the most impacted region in the state, the region in and around Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, through remote sensing. The study utilized three types of data: surface reflectance, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). LAI revealed that, during the flood period, vegetation levels in 2008 were at a lower level than those of 2007. It also, unexpectedly, indicated that a post-July vegetation boom for 2008, giving it a conspicuously higher vegetation value than that of 2007. NDVI data corroborated previous findings even though it differentiated between healthy, unhealthy, and dead vegetation. In general, we expect our findings to be supported in the near future and anticipate results on how long the soil was saturated after the flood to maybe help explain the findings of this study.

Abstract:

Within our very beaches exist prehistoric plant-like beings known as Algae. They are a hazard to humans, a danger to marine life and a nuisance to coastal businesses. Because of this, they must be tracked down and identified using satellite sensors and different techniques using those sensors. We will investigate the difference between various atmospheric signals and analyze the image produced by distict imaging techniques. We have cound there to be little to no difference between the top and bottom of the atmosphere signal as well as many flaws in a popularly used imaging technique. we also analyzed two possible techniques that might be the solution to those very problems, together being an extremely powerful tool in thesearch for Harmful Algal Blooms.

Abstract:

The main purpose of this project is to verify that CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) data, is correct. CMAQ is microphysical data retrieved using actual measurements of aerosols in conjunction with models that use optical properties to predict that data. The primary focus is to use instruments at City College to retrieve data and create new models that will be tested against those of CMAQ. By using the optical properties of aerosols, it might be possible to predict the empirical measurements of air quality and pollution over a specific area. The problem is that there are quite a few variables that must be considered when creating these models. Some of thes properties can only be gained through empirical measurements; however there are some that can be computed mathematically.

Abstract:

Karenia brevis (K. brevis) blooms occur regularly on the Florida Coast. However, detection still remains a challenge from space due to the uncertainty of atmospheric correction, and interference from high concentrations of organic and inorganic materials in optically complex coastal waters. Our results show that Fluorescence Line Height (FLH) algorithm gives inaccurate results in highly scattering waters. So we used a simple red band difference technique (RBD) and a normalized difference technique, K. brevis bloom index (KBBI), proposed by Amin et al., 2008, to detect and classify the potential areas of K. brevis blooms from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). We applied these algorithms to satellite images for the blooms documented in the literature and our analysis shows that the RBD and KBBI detect, monitor and classify K.brevis blooms more precisely than FLH.

Abstract:

Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a technique in which a beam of light is used to make range-resolved remote measurement. A lidar emits a beam of light, that interacts with the medium or object under study. Some of this light is scattered back toward lidar. The backscattered light captured by the lidar receiver is used to determine some properties. Lidar for Atmosphere Remote Sensing gives a general introduction to lidar, it focus on the differential absorption and techniques as well as monitoring aerosols, water vapor and minor species in troposphere and lower stratosphere.

Abstract:

Climatological studies for temperature trends in coastal urban environments in the Northeast have been largely uninvestigated. Past research has shown that Diurnal Asymmetrical Warming (DAW) has been occurring along western coast of the United States. Previous results showed that average minimum temperatures have been rising are a higher rate than the rate of increase of maximum temperatures in coastal urban environments. This study explored how surface temperatures react to increasing regional coastal temperatures under an urban environment such as New York. This project involved temperature data analysis of 27 weather stations in and around the New York City region, as well as sea surface temperature analysis. Findings were often consistent with the DAW previously discussed. Overall, in urban coastal areas there was a generally greater increase in minimum temperatures, compared to maximum temperatures, while this was often not the case in corresponding rural regions.