SpectralCalc.com

SpectralCalc.com provides tools for remote sensing research and education, featuring an interactive gas spectrum simulator. Scientists and teachers from all over the world use this to calculate high-resolution spectra of gases in laboratory settings or planetary atmospheres. Using the LINEPAK radiative transfer algorithms, the simulations are extremely fast and accurate. Spectra can be saved in a user’s online library, and can be easily combined and manipulated with our powerful tools. Besides the spectral calculator, the website provides many other useful tools including a blackbody simulator, a Sun position calculator, a spectral line atlas, and an extensible collection of model atmospheres.

» SpectralCalc Web Site

SOFIE-AIM

SOFIE is one of three instruments onboard the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite. Conceived by GATS scientists, SOFIE measures sunlight that has passed through the limb of the Earth's atmosphere. By spectrally analyzing this light, we infer the temperature and concentration of water vapor and other species. These measurements of the polar mesopause are revealing the behavior and properties of noctilucent clouds, helping us understand the impact of global climate change. GATS engineers operate the instrument, and our scientists are responsible for processing the science data.

» SOFIE Instrument Web Site

SABER-TIMED

SABER measures the infrared emission of the atmosphere in selected spectral bands. One of four instruments on NASA's TIMED satellite, SABER’s mission is to explore the region of the atmosphere known as the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Launched in 2001, SABER is still operating flawlessly and providing a comprehensive picture of the dominant processes and long term trends in this important but little-studied high altitude region. GATS flight operations team is responsible for the SABER instrument while in orbit, and all downlinked data are processed at the GATS Science Data Processing Center. The success of SABER has been possible thanks to a number of in-orbit calibration efforts to determine "detector memory" effects, off-axis response using lunar scans, detector deicing effects, high altitude thermal offsets, gain change due to gain-switching, scan rate and others, both past and under development.

» SABER Instrument Web Site

SAGE III-ISS

The SAGE III instrument is used to study and monitor stratospheric ozone, the global sunscreen that is essential to life on Earth. SAGE III-ISS is scheduled to launch in 2014 aboard one of the first Space-X flights to the International Space Station. From this vantage point, it will view the Sun through the Earth’s atmosphere during 15 sunrises and sunsets each day. From these measurements, the distribution of ozone, aerosols and other important gases in the atmosphere can be inferred. GATS flight operations engineers are helping test and integrate this instrument, and will operate the instrument once on the Space Station.

» SAGE III-ISS Instrument Web Site

SAGE-III-Meteor

SAGE-III was a fourth-generation satellite instrument and a crucial element in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Program. As part of the Earth Observing System, SAGE-III was launched in 2001 aboard the Russian Meteor-3M satellite. Its mission was to enhance understanding of natural and anthropogenic atmospheric processes by providing accurate long-term measurements of the vertical structure of aerosols, ozone, water vapor, and other important trace gases in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. The SAGE-III instrument was fully successful, and GATS provided mission operations support to this experiment throughout its life.

» SAGE-III-Meteor Instrument Web Site

HALOE

Launched in 1991 aboard UARS, HALOE measured the middle atmosphere for over fourteen years, until UARS was decommissioned in 2005. One of the many notable scientific accomplishments of HALOE was establishing the definitive link between CFCs and ozone depletion. With HALOE we were able to quantify the trends of many key chemical species in the stratosphere and mesosphere. GATS contributed in every phase of this flagship experiment, including instrument design, flight operations, data processing, and science analysis. GATS still maintains the website for this instrument’s data, which continue to be studied by scientists worldwide.

» HALOE Instrument Web Site

CALIPSO

The CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) mission science objective is to study clouds and aerosols from space, improving our understanding of climate and climate change. The lidar, wide-field camera and IR imaging radiometer are giving us a unique look at aerosol optical properties and cloud structure. The satellite was launched in 2005, joining NASA’s “A-Train” of satellites. GATS engineers developed the software for instrument operations, diagnosis, and control of the CALIPSO payload.