Global Atmosphere Observations

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Sustained Observations for Atmospheric Research (SOAR): Leveraging Commercial Platforms for Transformational Scale

The atmosphere is a domain of critical importance for public safety, economic competitiveness and global security. Large gaps in satellite and surface-based sensing capabilities limit our ability to improve projections, monitor and regulate activity in the atmosphere and protect American communities as efforts emerge around the world to alter it. Leveraging commercial ships and aircraft in innovative public-private partnership, we can rapidly scale a dynamic global sensing network to support science and innovation for a safe and secure future.

SOAR: Aircraft of Opportunity

A United Airlines airplane flying over an ocean and coastline with mountains and clouds in the sky.

In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the SOAR-AIR initiative supports the pilot and development of a network of atmospheric observing instruments on commercial aircraft to address critical data gaps in gases and other atmospheric measurements. With routes arcing from the Earth’s surface to the upper atmosphere and back, aircraft platforms could transform observations for advance weather forecasting, contrail projection and gas source emissions from the surface of the Earth, including feedbacks from natural systems, as well as urban, industrial and other sources. These reference-grade measurements of the atmospheric column from the Earth’s surface to cruising altitudes, flown continuously, could also enhance the power of satellite images, providing exponential value in improving atmospheric data.

In 2021, NOAA led an engineering effort and regulatory approval process to install a package of sophisticated greenhouse gas and atmosphere observing instruments on a commercial aircraft, culminating in a pilot flight on the Alaska Airlines Boeing Ecodemonstrator. In 2024, NOAA and United Airlines announced a partnership to deploy the first instrument on a Boeing 737 as a step toward an expanded network of observations on United planes. These partnerships showcase the opportunities for American airlines and federal agencies to work together to advance both scientific capabilities and industry innovation. Through dynamic public-private collaboration, NOAA, SilverLining and other collaborators are developing a roadmap of requirements and plans for the development of instrument packages, operational models and carrier partnerships to develop a scaled network of observations. 

SOAR: Ships of Opportunity

A large cargo ship with colorful containers on the ocean. Logos of NOAA, NASA, Ocean X, and Maersk at the top, and the title 'Sustained Observations for Atmospheric Research'.

The scarcity of observational data on gases and aerosols in the marine atmosphere poses a significant challenge in modeling and evaluating their influences on the Earth system and projecting future Earth system changes.

Building on decades of successful U.S. investment in atmospheric research, SilverLining partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Accenture, and the Dutch maritime nonprofit OceansX, in an innovative public-private partnership to pilot gas and aerosol radiative measurement instruments on vessels operated by global shipping company Maersk. 

The objective is to leverage learning from these pilots to design a global shipborne observing network and to develop American-engineered instrument packages that have the advanced features of today’s custom research instruments as well as the operational features and cost profile required for scale.

SilverLining developed SOAR-MARINE, this collaborative network of atmospheric science, engineering, operations experts and other university, intergovernmental and US science agency leaders to analyze scientific requirements, instrument capabilities and possibilities for piloting and developing a global network of ship-based observations of gases and aerosols in the marine atmosphere. The goal of SOAR-MARINE is to leverage NOAA’s world leading instrument systems and existing atmospheric observation data networks to expand coverage of the marine atmosphere, and particularly of remote and sensitive regions, to help address some of the largest uncertainties in the projections of weather and long term Earth systems, particularly the influence of aerosol on clouds.These reference-grade measurements of the atmosphere from ocean surface to the boundary layer, from continuously traversed routes across global oceans, will also enhance the power of satellite images, providing exponential value in improving atmospheric data.

Early pilots provide operational insight & valuable science data:

World map showing current SOAR pilot routes with colored markers and lines indicating different satellite missions: purple for Maersk Rubicon, red for Smyril Mykines, green for Maersk San Marco, and orange for upcoming Maersk Kentucky, along with lines illustrating the routes.

  • The Maersk San Marco's observations are crucial for understanding aerosol impacts on the Earth system, particularly over the equatorial ocean, a region that is not well observed but where aerosol interactions significantly affect dynamics. This data helps validate satellite measurements and improves aerosol transport models, which are essential for assessing Earth's energy balance.

  • The Maersk Rubicon is taking reference measurements of GHGs in the tropical Pacific, the least-observed region in the world for in situ gas concentrations. This data will be made available to scientific researchers worldwide via NOAA.

  • The Smyril Mykines is capturing critical data from the Sundhnúkur volcanic plume, a natural experiment to better understand the impacts of aerosols on the Earth system, a phenomenon currently not well understood. Open access to this data via NASA’s Maritime Aerosol Network can ensure accurate global Earth system modeling and helps track the effects of aerosols on Earth system changes.

Our Collaborators

A growing network of institutions and collaborators is advancing SOAR. Our collaborative ecosystem includes the scientific user community, which collaboratively drives the definition and development of the data, instruments, network design and products. The private commercial sector provides Platforms of Opportunity operationalization, logistics and compliance, to turn science priorities into operational capabilities. Partnerships with public sector agencies provide critical instrument development capabilities, data streams and ultimately, users of the information SOAR generates while keeping America at the forefront of atmospheric monitoring technology.

Collaborators: Oceans X, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, University of Washington, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Accenture, MAERSK and Smyril Line.

Media

  • View from an airplane window showing snow-capped mountains, clouds, and a river or lake below, with the airplane wing visible on the right.

    NOAA and United Airlines partner to measure gases, pollutants with high-tech flight instruments

    Press Release, July 2024

    Click Here
  • World map showing NOAA GML Carbon Cycle measurement programs with various symbols representing aircraft, surface continuous, tower, observatory, and surface discrete sites, with NOAA logo at bottom right.

    NOAA: Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network

    Website

    Click Here
  • A person wearing a beige hat, blue shirt, gray pants, and black boots leaning over a riverbank, taking measurements with a yellow measuring tape and holding a clipboard under a cloudy sky.

    International Monetary Fund: Bridging Data Gaps Can Help Tackle the Crisis

    Article, November 2022

    Click Here