The southern African atmosphere is particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to a persistent high-pressure system there.
African smog is a soup of smokes from industry, mining, agricultural burning and other sources.
We want to better understand the effects that smoke, haze and trace gases have on the African and global climate. We also want to help improve remote measurements of the Earth's surface, for example, measurements of vegetation and ocean color. Flights and science activities are based in Pietersburg, Republic of South Africa. The sunphotometer measures the amount of sunlight that penetrates smoke and other aerosols in the atmosphere at different wavelengths, including ultraviolet, visible and infrared light. Russell's researchers will match airplane flights with satellite overpasses, and will sample smokes from burning vegetation as well as industrial emissions.