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Description

The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission is the first NASA instrument to continuously measure daytime air pollution over North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and from Central Canada to Mexico City, using hyperspectral imagery. Together with the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R Series (GOES-R)—which provides visible to infrared multispectral information every 1-10 minutes—these geostationary sensors form a powerful constellation for understanding diurnal changes in aerosols, their sources, their movement over North America, and their impacts on air quality. 

TEMPO’s UV-visible observations make possible new geostationary aerosol products, including Aerosol Layer Height (ALH), UV Absorbing Aerosol Index (AAI), and hourly surface estimated PM2.5 concentration. In addition, the synergy between TEMPO and ABI enhances the existing geostationary Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Aerosol Detection Smoke/Dust mask products.

This training will provide an overview of TEMPO capabilities and available NOAA aerosol products generated using synergistic TEMPO and ABI observations. Instructors will demonstrate how to access near real-time and archived TEMPO aerosol products imagery on the NOAA AerosolWatch website. 

This training includes hands-on exercises that walk participants through accessing TEMPO aerosol products imagery on AerosolWatch, while also demonstrating how to interpret these observations to assess the scope of smoke and blowing dust aerosol hazards and their potential impacts on air quality.

Prerequisites

Objectives

By the end of this training attendees will be able to:

  • Describe the capabilities of the TEMPO instrument and its advantages and disadvantages compared to ABI on the GOES-R satellites.
  • Identify available TEMPO aerosol data products and recognize their characteristics, benefits, and limitations.
  • Use the AerosolWatch website to visualize near real-time and archived hourly TEMPO aerosol product imagery.
  • Interpret TEMPO aerosol imagery on AerosolWatch to analyze smoke and blowing dust events and anticipate their air quality impacts.

Target Audience

  • North American air quality managers & forecasters within the TEMPO field of regard
  • Aerosol, atmospheric composition, and air quality research scientists

Course Format

  • The complete course consists of two 90-minute parts, with part 1 offered on October 13, and part 2 on October 15, 2026.
  • On each day, there are two opportunities to take the course (identical offerings):
    • Session A: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
    • Session B: 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
  • Each part will include a 30-minute live Q&A.
  • Those who attend parts 1 and 2 and complete the homework by the due date will receive a certificate of attendance.

Sessions

Part 1: NOAA’s TEMPO Aerosol Products for Hourly Aerosol Monitoring over North America

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

  • About ARSET
  • Introduction
  • Geostationary instruments overview
  • TEMPO aerosol products
  • Summary
  • Q&A session

Name

Title

Affiliation

Caterina Mogno

ARSET Instructor

University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Amy Huff

Senior Scientist

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

Part 2: Analyzing TEMPO Aerosol Products Imagery for Smoke and Dust Case Study Events using NOAA’s AerosolWatch

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

  • Introduction
  • Case study 1: smoke event
  • Case study 1 exercise with AerosolWatch
  • Case study 2: dust storm event
  • Case study 2 exercise with AerosolWatch
  • Summary
  • Q&A session

Name

Title

Affiliation

Caterina Mogno

ARSET Instructor

University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Amy Huff

Senior Scientist

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

Citation

(2026). ARSET - Geostationary Remote Sensing of Aerosols for Air Quality Applications in North America. NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET). Geostationary Remote Sensing of Aerosols for Air Quality Applications in North America

Details

Last Updated

Aug. 19, 2026

Published

Aug. 19, 2026

Data Center/Project

Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET)
Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites