NASA’s Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) investigation seeks to understand how different types of air pollution affect human health.
Mission Overview and Goal
The Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) represents the first time NASA has partnered with epidemiologists and health organizations to use space-based data to study human health and improve lives. The goal of MAIA is to improve our understanding of the health effects of different mixtures of particulate air pollution.
Instrument Description
The MAIA satellite instrument is designed to view Earth with a spectropolarimetric camera mounted on a two-axis gimbal. As the instrument flies overhead on the PLATiNO-2 spacecraft (provided by the Italian Space Agency, ASI), each of MAIA's target areas is imaged multiple times at different viewing angles by successive repointing of the camera by the gimbal (a mode referred to as step-and-stare), or is imaged by slewing the gimbal slowly as the spacecraft overpasses the target (a mode referred to as sweep). Observations are captured in 14 wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the shortwave-infrared, and polarimetric information is also captured in three of these wavelengths.
Surface Monitor Network
Complementing the satellite instrument is a network of surface monitors that measure mass concentrations of ambient particulate matter, notably PM10, PM2.5, and chemically speciated PM2.5. Spatially and temporally matched measurements from these in-situ monitors with satellite measurements will help calibrate the transformations between MAIA’s satellite-based aerosol data and near-surface PM. In Italy, Spain, South Korea, and the US, data processing will make use of PM2.5 speciation networks operated by national and regional environmental agencies, while in other countries the MAIA project has deployed filter-based and real-time PM2.5 speciation samplers. The combined network is currently acquiring prelaunch time series of total and speciated PM concentrations.
Planned MAIA Data Products
The MAIA project will deliver the following data products, which will be generated, stored, and distributed at NASA's Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC). MAIA's core data products will be produced in NetCDF format, with metadata conforming to ISO-3166-1 & ISO-8601 and ISO Metadata Evolution for NASA Data Systems (MENDS) standards. Browse imagery and other ancillary products will also be produced.
|
MAIA Simulated Data Products
Before launch, the MAIA team will work to test the software that will produce the MAIA data products and to generate simulated data in selected target areas in the same format as will be used during the actual mission. These simulated data products are available to MAIA Early Adopters with the goal of facilitating the use of MAIA data post-launch. Early Adopters can determine whether the MAIA products contain the information needed for their work, and begin development of any code, tools, or procedures needed to integrate MAIA data into their workflow.
Target Areas
Generation of all levels of data products will occur in the Primary Target Areas (PTAs) and selected Secondary Target Areas (STAs). Only some product levels will be available in other STAs, Calibration/Validation Target Areas (CVTAs), and Targets of Opportunity (TOOs). A map of MAIA PTA, STA, and CVTA locations is available and additional details, including locations of surface particulate matter monitors and associated pollution concentrations are available. Surface monitor data can also be ordered through NASA Earthdata.