Studying Asian monsoons

The air pollution was first obvious from satellite images, floating above the Asian continent during the monsoon season each summer. Satellites observed elevated levels of carbon monoxide and a few other chemicals, which suggested the presence of numerous pollutants. However, the satellite images could not unravel the complex mixture present. Now, a team of more than 80 researchers are working to understand what other elements may be reaching the earth's upper atmosphere from the yearly summer storm system and its associated weather. Among them are seven University of Miami researchers, including the team's leader Elliot Atlas, professor emeritus at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The team is stationed in South Korea this month alongside other scientists, who are using two specially equipped airplanes, as well as instrumented balloons, to capture air samples and make chemical and aerosol particle measurements from near the earth's surface to more than 60,000 feet over the western Pacific Ocean. It is all part of an effort led by the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to better grasp the potential impacts of the massive summer monsoon system.