The Atmospheric Carbon and Transport (ACT)-America Mission

Abstract The Atmospheric Carbon and Transport (ACT)-America NASA Earth Venture Suborbital Mission set out to improve regional atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) inversions by exploring the intersection of strong GHG fluxes vigorous transport that occurs within midlatitudes. Two research aircraft instrumented with remote in situ sensors measure mole fractions, associated trace gases, state variables collected 1,140.7 flight hours data, distributed across 305 individual sorties, coordinated 121 days, spanning five 6-week seasonal campaigns central eastern United States. Flights sampled 31 synoptic sequences, including fair-weather frontal conditions, at altitudes ranging from boundary layer upper free troposphere. observations were complemented global flux model ensembles. We found midlatitude weather systems contain large spatial gradients patterns consistent as a function season altitude. attribute these combination terrestrial inflow continental boundaries. These observations, when segregated according altitude air mass, provide variety quantitative insights into realism CO 2 CH 4 realizations. ACT-America dataset ensemble modeling methods benchmarks for development inversion systems. As incorporate ACT-America’s findings methods, we anticipate will produce increasingly accurate precise subcontinental estimates.