National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
United States Department of Commerce

Remotely Operated Aircraft Measure Arctic Soot

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May 22, 2014
June 21, 2011

Scientists and engineers at PMEL recently returned from an expedition in the Arctic where they launched two small, new, remotely-operated, unmanned aircraft to measure black soot. The soot is produced by burning diesel fuel, agricultural fires, forest fires, and wood-burning stoves, and is transported by winds to the Arctic, where it darkens the surface of snow and ice, enhancing melting and solar warming.

Visit the Atmospheric Chemistry page for more information and watch the YouTube video above.

PMEL Project: 
Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering