1 00:00:00,666 --> 00:00:03,666 [music playing] 2 00:00:16,266 --> 00:00:19,233 - LAURA IS ONE OF OUR UP-AND-COMING, 3 00:00:19,233 --> 00:00:22,700 I WOULD SAY SUPERSTAR SCIENTISTS IN THE EARTH SCIENCE DIVISION. 4 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:25,300 CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR YOUNGER SCIENTISTS. 5 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:26,733 AND I CAN SAY THAT, BECAUSE TO ME, 6 00:00:26,733 --> 00:00:29,533 ANYBODY WHO LOOKS-- ANYBODY WHO'S YOUNGER THAN 50 7 00:00:29,533 --> 00:00:32,100 LOOKS YOUNG TO ME, SO... 8 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:34,033 LAURA'S BEEN WORKING IN ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY, 9 00:00:34,033 --> 00:00:37,300 AND SHE'S BEEN A REAL CATALYST HERE 10 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:39,833 IN LEVERAGING A UNIQUE COLLABORATION 11 00:00:39,833 --> 00:00:42,100 WE HAVE WITH OUR FRIENDS OVER HERE AT GOOGLE. 12 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:44,333 THEY HAVE A LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION 13 00:00:44,333 --> 00:00:46,366 CALLED H211, 14 00:00:46,366 --> 00:00:48,233 AND ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT, 15 00:00:48,233 --> 00:00:49,866 OR ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT, 16 00:00:49,866 --> 00:00:51,466 IS THEY HAVE AN ALPHA JET HERE, 17 00:00:51,466 --> 00:00:53,466 WHICH IS AN OLD GERMAN MILITARY JET 18 00:00:53,466 --> 00:00:55,400 THAT THEY USE FOR-- 19 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,900 SOME OF THEIR BIG PLAYERS USE FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. 20 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:00,166 AND ONE OF THE SIDE BENEFITS 21 00:01:00,166 --> 00:01:02,166 OF HAVING THAT AIRPLANE BASED HERE AT AMES 22 00:01:02,166 --> 00:01:05,133 IS WE GET TO HANG EARTH SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS ON IT 23 00:01:05,133 --> 00:01:06,833 AND GO DO COOL STUFF. 24 00:01:06,833 --> 00:01:08,900 AND ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING 25 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:12,333 WITH WELL OVER 100 FLIGHTS NOW OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS 26 00:01:12,333 --> 00:01:15,800 IS WE FOUGHT-- FLY VERTICAL PATHS 27 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,000 OVER INTERESTING PHENOMENA, 28 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,866 AND SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PHENOMENA, OF COURSE, 29 00:01:19,866 --> 00:01:23,766 IS MEASURING THE CARBON DIOXIDE AND METHANE EMISSION 30 00:01:23,766 --> 00:01:25,266 IN THE ATMOSPHERE. 31 00:01:25,266 --> 00:01:27,933 AND THESE ARE TWO OF THE PRIMARY CONTRIBUTORS 32 00:01:27,933 --> 00:01:29,600 TO CLIMATE CHANGE, 33 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,666 AND SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS HAPPENING VERTICALLY 34 00:01:32,666 --> 00:01:35,700 WHEN WE DO OUR DOWNWARD-LOOKING SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS 35 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,200 IS REALLY ESSENTIAL 36 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,200 IN COMBINING THAT WITH GROUND TRUTHING. 37 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,933 AND SO LAURA'S ONE OF OUR, NOT ONLY BEST SCIENTISTS 38 00:01:43,933 --> 00:01:46,633 IN EARTH SCIENCE, BUT SHE'S ONE OF OUR MOST EXUBERANT. 39 00:01:46,633 --> 00:01:48,933 AND I THINK YOU'LL-- THAT WILL COME ACROSS TODAY. 40 00:01:48,933 --> 00:01:50,200 SO THE REASON I'M UP HERE REALLY 41 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,433 IS I WAS TELLING JACOB THE STORY OF HER PRESENTATION 42 00:01:53,433 --> 00:01:55,633 AT A PROJECT TAG MEETING ON MONDAY. 43 00:01:55,633 --> 00:01:58,600 AND SHE MAY ACTUALLY SAY THIS DURING THE PROCESS 44 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,700 BUT SHE SAID THAT SHE REALLY, YOU KNOW, 45 00:02:01,700 --> 00:02:04,300 LIKES FOREST FIRES AND WILDFIRES. 46 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:06,500 [laughter] AND SO SHE IMMEDIATELY 47 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:09,733 ABSORBED THE NICKNAME "BLAZE," 48 00:02:09,733 --> 00:02:11,833 WHICH I THINK IS QUITE APPROPRIATE HERE. 49 00:02:11,833 --> 00:02:15,300 SO LAURA RECEIVED HER PhD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO 50 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:17,833 IN ANALYTICAL AND ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY 51 00:02:17,833 --> 00:02:19,333 IN 1997. 52 00:02:19,333 --> 00:02:21,733 I CAN REMEMBER 1997. 53 00:02:21,733 --> 00:02:24,300 SO TODAY, SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH 54 00:02:24,300 --> 00:02:26,433 SHE'S BEEN DOING WITH THE AJAX MISSION, AS WE CALL IT. 55 00:02:26,433 --> 00:02:27,866 IT'S CALLED 56 00:02:27,866 --> 00:02:30,366 "UP IN THE AIR: METHANE AND OZONE OVER CALIFORNIA." 57 00:02:30,366 --> 00:02:33,533 WITH NO FURTHER ADO, BLAZE IRACI. 58 00:02:33,533 --> 00:02:36,533 [applause] 59 00:02:39,733 --> 00:02:41,066 - I THINK IT MAY BE CLUMSY IRACI. 60 00:02:41,066 --> 00:02:43,200 HANG ON WHILE I GET THE MIC FIXED. 61 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,600 THAT'S A NEW NICKNAME. I DON'T ANSWER TO IT YET. 62 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,600 SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE TO SHOUT 'EM OUT 63 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,066 A COUPLE OF TIMES FOR ME TO REALIZE 64 00:02:49,066 --> 00:02:50,866 IT'S MY NEW NICKNAME. 65 00:02:50,866 --> 00:02:52,933 IT IS PRETTY COOL THAT I GET TO STUDY ALL SORTS 66 00:02:52,933 --> 00:02:55,133 OF INTERESTING PHENOMENA IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, 67 00:02:55,133 --> 00:02:56,633 BUT SOMETIMES I FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY 68 00:02:56,633 --> 00:02:58,533 BECAUSE I GET EXCITED ABOUT THINGS UP IN THE AIR 69 00:02:58,533 --> 00:03:01,200 THAT ACTUALLY COME FROM PROBLEMS HAPPENING DOWN ON THE SURFACE, 70 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,166 SO I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE IN THE BEGINNING. 71 00:03:03,166 --> 00:03:05,466 I DON'T LOVE FOREST FIRES. 72 00:03:05,466 --> 00:03:08,366 I JUST LOVE THE POLLUTION THAT THEY MAKE. 73 00:03:08,366 --> 00:03:10,433 SO WITH THAT DISCLAIMER, I'M NOT A HORRIBLE PERSON. 74 00:03:10,433 --> 00:03:12,866 I'M JUST A REALLY GEEKY SCIENTIST. 75 00:03:12,866 --> 00:03:16,200 BUT AS DR. BICAY SAID, WE HAVE THIS REALLY NEAT COLLABORATION 76 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,100 WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED H211 77 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:20,000 THAT ALLOWS US TO DO SOMETHING THAT, 78 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,833 REALLY, NO ONE ELSE IN THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE COMMUNITY 79 00:03:21,833 --> 00:03:23,200 GETS TO DO. 80 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:24,700 SO I'M TOTALLY STOKED TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. 81 00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:26,700 AND I WILL PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE TOO FAST, 82 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:28,733 SO PEOPLE DOWN IN THE FRONT SHOULD SLOW ME DOWN, 83 00:03:28,733 --> 00:03:31,166 'CAUSE I CAN SEE THE PEOPLE DOWN IN THE FRONT. 84 00:03:31,166 --> 00:03:33,666 ALL RIGHT, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY. 85 00:03:33,666 --> 00:03:35,400 I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AJAX PROJECT 86 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,200 AS AN INTRODUCTION, AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU 87 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,700 ABOUT THE INSTRUMENTATION THAT WE CARRY ON THE ALPHA JET. 88 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:42,766 I WANT TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE 89 00:03:42,766 --> 00:03:44,800 BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL YOUR FACES 90 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,466 AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU WILL KNOW ALL THE JARGON 91 00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:50,766 THAT I'M GONNA FIND MYSELF USING, DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS. 92 00:03:50,766 --> 00:03:52,600 THEN I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT THREE OF THE THINGS 93 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,600 WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OZONE 94 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,833 THAT'S BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE, 95 00:03:56,833 --> 00:03:58,433 WHERE WE LIKE IT TO BE 96 00:03:58,433 --> 00:04:01,200 BUT THAT CAN AFFECT THE AIR QUALITY THAT PEOPLE BREATHE 97 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,366 IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE U.S. 98 00:04:03,366 --> 00:04:06,233 I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT COWS AND THEIR METHANE, 99 00:04:06,233 --> 00:04:08,333 BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY AN INTERESTING 100 00:04:08,333 --> 00:04:11,566 AND UP-AND-COMING TOPIC WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, 101 00:04:11,566 --> 00:04:13,266 AND IT GETS A GOOD GIGGLE, 102 00:04:13,266 --> 00:04:15,666 BECAUSE JUST IMAGINE WHERE THE METHANE COMES FROM 103 00:04:15,666 --> 00:04:17,933 AND INSERT YOUR OWN FAVORITE JOKE. 104 00:04:17,933 --> 00:04:19,933 AND THEN FOREST FIRES, AND THIS IS THE PART 105 00:04:19,933 --> 00:04:21,300 WHERE MY EYES ARE GONNA LIGHT UP, 106 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:23,300 BECAUSE WE GOT SOME GREAT DATA YESTERDAY AND LAST WEEK. 107 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:25,100 SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME REALLY FRESH DATA, 108 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:27,133 AND I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS 109 00:04:27,133 --> 00:04:29,000 ABOUT IT JUST YET, BUT I GOTTA SHOW YOU THE DATA, 110 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,466 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY COOL, AND THE TEAM'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD. 111 00:04:31,466 --> 00:04:34,266 SO LET'S HOP RIGHT INTO IT. 112 00:04:34,266 --> 00:04:35,833 SO THIS ARRANGEMENT THAT WE HAVE 113 00:04:35,833 --> 00:04:38,666 HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE ABOUT 2008. 114 00:04:38,666 --> 00:04:41,966 AND WE GET TO PUT INSTRUMENTS ONTO AN AIRCRAFT 115 00:04:41,966 --> 00:04:43,566 THAT CAN REACH 50,000 FEET, 116 00:04:43,566 --> 00:04:45,666 ALTHOUGH OUR INSTRUMENTS AREN'T QUITE THAT ROBUST. 117 00:04:45,666 --> 00:04:48,066 THE AIRCRAFT FLIES FOR ABOUT TWO TO TWO AND A HALF HOURS 118 00:04:48,066 --> 00:04:49,433 ON A FULL TANK OF FUEL, 119 00:04:49,433 --> 00:04:51,466 SO WE CAN GET MOST PLACES IN CALIFORNIA. 120 00:04:51,466 --> 00:04:53,700 WE CAN REACH INTO NEVADA. 121 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:55,266 AND THERE ARE LOTS OF INTERESTING QUESTIONS 122 00:04:55,266 --> 00:04:56,766 THAT ALSO WE CAN ADDRESS 123 00:04:56,766 --> 00:04:58,433 BY GOING OUT OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 124 00:04:58,433 --> 00:05:00,500 SO WE'RE REALLY LOCATED IN A GREAT SPOT, 125 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:02,366 AND WE GET TO FLY, LIKE, THREE OR FOUR TIMES A MONTH. 126 00:05:02,366 --> 00:05:03,833 I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING. THE AMOUNT OF DATA 127 00:05:03,833 --> 00:05:05,400 THAT WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING IS REALLY ASTOUNDING. 128 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,400 AND TO BE DOING IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW 129 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,266 IS REALLY A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY. 130 00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:11,100 THE CREW THAT WE WORK WITH, 131 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:13,233 SCIENCE TEAM AND AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL, 132 00:05:13,233 --> 00:05:14,866 ARE JUST SUPER DEDICATED, 133 00:05:14,866 --> 00:05:16,633 AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE DATA THAT WE GET. 134 00:05:16,633 --> 00:05:17,866 IT'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF DATA, 135 00:05:17,866 --> 00:05:20,000 AND THE TURNAROUND TIMES ARE CRAZY. 136 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,933 SO WE'RE ON A ROLL. WE'RE FULLY CAFFEINATED. 137 00:05:22,933 --> 00:05:24,733 AND WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING 138 00:05:24,733 --> 00:05:27,133 THAT I JUST REALLY WANT TO SHARE IT ALL WITH YOU TODAY. 139 00:05:27,133 --> 00:05:29,433 SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING, 140 00:05:29,433 --> 00:05:32,200 LET ME SHOW YOU-- THIS IS OUR WING--OH, OKAY. 141 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,766 SEE, I'VE ALREADY FORGOTTEN. THAT'S THE AIRPLANE. 142 00:05:34,766 --> 00:05:38,033 AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S UNUSUAL IN THAT IT'S ASYMMETRIC. 143 00:05:38,033 --> 00:05:40,566 YOU SEE THERE'S TWO PODS ON ONE SIDE AND ONE ON THE OTHER. 144 00:05:40,566 --> 00:05:43,033 YOU'RE LOOKING UP UNDERNEATH THE AIRCRAFT. 145 00:05:43,033 --> 00:05:46,133 THE OUTBOARD PODS ARE FUEL. 146 00:05:46,133 --> 00:05:48,366 THE INBOARD ON WHAT IS THE STARBOARD SIDE, 147 00:05:48,366 --> 00:05:50,800 ALTHOUGH YOU CAN'T TELL FROM UNDERNEATH, 148 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,866 YOU'LL SEE THERE'S THREE BRIGHT, SHINY SPOTS. 149 00:05:53,866 --> 00:05:56,200 THAT'S THE UNDERSIDE OF OUR SENSOR POD. 150 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,033 THOSE BRIGHT, SHINY SPOTS ARE-- ACTUALLY ARE WINDOW PLATES, 151 00:05:59,033 --> 00:06:01,366 ALTHOUGH AT THE MOMENT, THEY JUST HAVE GAS INLETS ON THEM. 152 00:06:01,366 --> 00:06:02,800 THEY DON'T HAVE GLASS FOR OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS. 153 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,333 SO THOSE THREE SHINY SPOTS ARE THE DEAD GIVEAWAY. 154 00:06:05,333 --> 00:06:07,533 IF YOU SEE THIS FLYING OVERHEAD, LOOK UP. 155 00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:09,233 SEE IF IT HAS THREE PODS ON IT. 156 00:06:09,233 --> 00:06:11,733 IF IT DOES, IT'S DOING SCIENCE FOR US. 157 00:06:11,733 --> 00:06:13,966 ALL RIGHT, THOSE THREE SHINY SPOTS-- 158 00:06:13,966 --> 00:06:16,433 AND I'M GONNA PUT THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT-SIDE UP AGAIN. 159 00:06:16,433 --> 00:06:18,733 HERE'S A SCHEMATIC DRAWING FOR YOU IN THE BOTTOM. 160 00:06:18,733 --> 00:06:21,566 THE TAILFIN WILL GET YOU ORIENTED. 161 00:06:21,566 --> 00:06:23,866 THE OTHER END IS THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT. 162 00:06:23,866 --> 00:06:25,633 STARTING FROM THE BACK, SOME ELECTRONICS, 163 00:06:25,633 --> 00:06:28,400 IMPORTANT BUT NOT VERY EXCITING, SAME WITH THE PUMP. 164 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,533 BUT IN THE MIDDLE, THE MAIN VOLUME 165 00:06:30,533 --> 00:06:32,266 THAT'S TAKEN UP IN THAT WING POD 166 00:06:32,266 --> 00:06:34,000 IS A GREENHOUSE GAS SENSOR. 167 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,966 IT MEASURES CO2 AND METHANE, AND WE ALSO GET WATER VAPOR 168 00:06:36,966 --> 00:06:39,200 FOR SOME CORRECTIONS. 169 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,133 IN FRONT OF THAT IS AN OZONE SENSOR. 170 00:06:41,133 --> 00:06:43,133 AND THEN TOWARDS THE FRONT, SORT OF 171 00:06:43,133 --> 00:06:45,466 FROM WHERE IT STARTS TO CURVE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NOSE 172 00:06:45,466 --> 00:06:47,666 IS A METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM. 173 00:06:47,666 --> 00:06:49,666 AND I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION 174 00:06:49,666 --> 00:06:51,333 ON EACH OF THESE, 175 00:06:51,333 --> 00:06:53,400 UNTIL I REALIZE I'VE TALKED FOR WAY TOO LONG. 176 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,200 BUT I THINK WE'RE OKAY. 177 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:56,666 ALL RIGHT, SO THE OZONE INSTRUMENT 178 00:06:56,666 --> 00:07:00,766 IS A COMMERCIAL, OFF-THE-SHELF, STANDARD UV VISIBLE ABSORPTION-- 179 00:07:00,766 --> 00:07:02,600 UV ABSORPTION TECHNIQUE. 180 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,333 IT'S A DUAL CHANNEL, ONE CHANNEL SCRUBBED 181 00:07:04,333 --> 00:07:07,366 AND ONE CHANNEL IS NOT, AND IT'S CALIBRATED 182 00:07:07,366 --> 00:07:09,366 TO THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION SCALE, 183 00:07:09,366 --> 00:07:11,633 WHICH IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE STUDIES 184 00:07:11,633 --> 00:07:13,400 THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE DATA WITH OTHER GROUPS. 185 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,033 IF YOU WANT YOUR DATA IN CALIFORNIA 186 00:07:15,033 --> 00:07:17,100 TO BE COMPARABLE TO DATA COLLECTED IN OTHER PLACES, 187 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:18,500 YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO A STANDARD. 188 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:21,466 AND SO WE CALIBRATE BACK TO THE WMO STANDARD ON OZONE. 189 00:07:21,466 --> 00:07:24,200 WE'VE COMPARED IT AGAINST CHEMICAL-- 190 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,766 ELECTROCHEMICAL SONDES, 191 00:07:25,766 --> 00:07:27,666 WHICH ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED METHOD 192 00:07:27,666 --> 00:07:29,533 FOR MEASURING OZONE IN THE ATMOSPHERE. 193 00:07:29,533 --> 00:07:32,266 NOAA HAS A SITE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 194 00:07:32,266 --> 00:07:33,966 THAT WE COMPARE TO. 195 00:07:33,966 --> 00:07:35,700 SO THIS INSTRUMENT'S BEEN A REAL WORKHORSE FOR US, 196 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:39,566 VERY RELIABLE, AND A VERY IMPORTANT CHEMICAL TRACER. 197 00:07:41,266 --> 00:07:43,400 OUR GREENHOUSE GAS SENSOR IS MANUFACTURED BY A COMPANY 198 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,100 CALLED PICARRO. THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOCAL, 199 00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:47,100 WHICH HAS BEEN FANTASTIC, BECAUSE WE HAD TO MODIFY IT. 200 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:49,033 IT'S BUILT 19 INCHES WIDE, 201 00:07:49,033 --> 00:07:51,066 LIKE ALMOST EVERY INSTRUMENT IN THE WORLD IS BUILT. 202 00:07:51,066 --> 00:07:54,333 BUT THE WING POD IS ONLY 12 INCHES WIDE. 203 00:07:54,333 --> 00:07:56,333 SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT 204 00:07:56,333 --> 00:07:58,333 AND ENGINEERING AND CREATIVITY 205 00:07:58,333 --> 00:08:02,533 SQUEEZING THIS SQUARE THING INTO A LONG RECTANGULAR SHAPE. 206 00:08:02,533 --> 00:08:05,100 SO HAVING PICARRO HANDY NEARBY 207 00:08:05,100 --> 00:08:07,400 WAS REALLY VERY USEFUL. 208 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,600 SO ON THE BOTTOM THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE GOLD REPACKAGING 209 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,600 THAT WAS DONE TO TAKE THIS NICE SQUARE INSTRUMENT 210 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,166 AND PUT IT INTO A RECTANGLE 211 00:08:13,166 --> 00:08:15,166 THAT WILL JUST BARELY FIT INTO THAT WING POD, 212 00:08:15,166 --> 00:08:18,066 AND SO IT OCCUPIES THE MAJORITY OF THE VOLUME 213 00:08:18,066 --> 00:08:19,800 OF THAT STARBOARD WING POD. 214 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,300 EACH OF THE TRACE GAS SENSORS HAS AN INLET 215 00:08:22,300 --> 00:08:26,066 THAT HANGS DOWN BELOW THE WING POD FOR DRAWING AIR IN. 216 00:08:26,066 --> 00:08:27,666 AND OUR MEASUREMENTS ARE MADE IN REAL TIME, 217 00:08:27,666 --> 00:08:29,433 AND THEN THE AIR IS EXHAUSTED OUT THE BACK. 218 00:08:29,433 --> 00:08:31,033 WE DON'T BRING ANY SAMPLES HOME WITH US, 219 00:08:31,033 --> 00:08:33,066 JUST DATA FILES. 220 00:08:33,066 --> 00:08:34,966 AND THE METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM 221 00:08:34,966 --> 00:08:37,300 WE ADDED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND IT'S FANTASTIC. 222 00:08:37,300 --> 00:08:38,966 IT'S FAST WINDS, 223 00:08:38,966 --> 00:08:40,500 THREE-DIMENSIONAL WIND MEASUREMENTS. 224 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:42,000 AND IT'S HARD, STILL, FOR ME TO IMAGINE 225 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,633 HOW THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS, 226 00:08:43,633 --> 00:08:45,333 SO SEE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. 227 00:08:45,333 --> 00:08:48,366 YOU'RE MOVING AT 300 KNOTS. 228 00:08:48,366 --> 00:08:51,600 AND YOU'RE MEASURING WIND SPEEDS AT THE SAME TIME. 229 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,366 PEOPLE FAR MORE CLEVER THAN I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DO THIS 230 00:08:54,366 --> 00:08:55,633 AND TO DO IT WITH GREAT PRECISION. 231 00:08:55,633 --> 00:08:57,600 SO I CAN TELL YOU WHO TO TALK TO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW 232 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,500 HOW THIS WORKS, BUT TRUST ME THAT IT DOES. 233 00:08:59,500 --> 00:09:01,433 WE GET WIND SPEEDS IN ALL THREE DIRECTIONS-- 234 00:09:01,433 --> 00:09:04,066 FRONTWARDS, SIDEWAYS, AND UP AND DOWN, 235 00:09:04,066 --> 00:09:05,766 WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO STUDY-- 236 00:09:05,766 --> 00:09:08,666 SAY, YOU'RE DOWN NEAR A DAIRY, AND YOU WANT TO KNOW 237 00:09:08,666 --> 00:09:10,666 IF YOUR METHANE IS COMING FROM THE SLUDGE POND 238 00:09:10,666 --> 00:09:12,866 OR THE BARN OR FROM TOWN. 239 00:09:12,866 --> 00:09:14,600 YOU NEED TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WINDS ARE BLOWING. 240 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,200 AND THEY CAN CHANGE ON A VERY SHORT DISTANCE SCALE. 241 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,200 SO IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC THAT WE HAVE THIS HIGHLY ACCURATE 242 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,333 AND VERY FAST MEASUREMENT OF WINDS, 243 00:09:22,333 --> 00:09:25,033 AS WELL AS PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE. 244 00:09:25,033 --> 00:09:27,900 SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN MEASURE, 245 00:09:27,900 --> 00:09:29,200 LET ME TELL YOU WHERE WE MEASURE IT. 246 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:30,600 WE MEASURE IT IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. 247 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,266 IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, 248 00:09:33,266 --> 00:09:35,100 'CAUSE MOST PEOPLE HERE DON'T, 249 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:36,466 IT'S STARTS AT THE BOTTOM HERE AT THE SURFACE, 250 00:09:36,466 --> 00:09:38,433 WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS USUALLY SOMETHING LIKE 251 00:09:38,433 --> 00:09:41,166 20 OR 25 DEGREES CELSIUS. 252 00:09:41,166 --> 00:09:43,433 I'M HOPING THAT'S A UNIT THAT WORKS FOR MOST PEOPLE. 253 00:09:43,433 --> 00:09:45,766 AS YOU GO UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE, IT GETS COOLER. 254 00:09:45,766 --> 00:09:47,633 YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED THIS IF YOU GO UP IN THE MOUNTAINS 255 00:09:47,633 --> 00:09:50,433 OR IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND AGAINST THE WINDOW IN AN AIRCRAFT. 256 00:09:50,433 --> 00:09:52,466 AND THE AIR CONTINUES TO COOL AS YOU GET FARTHER AWAY 257 00:09:52,466 --> 00:09:54,700 FROM THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, 258 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:57,133 UNTIL AT SOME POINT--AND THAT POINT'S CALLED THE TROPOPAUSE, 259 00:09:57,133 --> 00:09:59,566 AT SOME POINT THE TEMPERATURES START TO CLIMB AGAIN 260 00:09:59,566 --> 00:10:01,466 AS YOU CONTINUE TO CLIMB IN ALTITUDE. 261 00:10:01,466 --> 00:10:03,200 AND THAT'S THE YELLOW LINE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE 262 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,833 ON THE SCREEN. 263 00:10:04,833 --> 00:10:06,566 THAT TURNAROUND, THAT TROPOPAUSE, 264 00:10:06,566 --> 00:10:08,600 IS THE PLACE THAT SCIENTISTS DEFINE 265 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:09,933 AS THE TOP OF THE TROPOSPHERE 266 00:10:09,933 --> 00:10:12,833 WHERE MOST OF THE MASS OF THE ATMOSPHERE IS, 267 00:10:12,833 --> 00:10:16,033 WHERE WE BREATHE AND DO ALL OF OUR DAILY BUSINESS, 268 00:10:16,033 --> 00:10:17,900 AND THE STRATOSPHERE, WHICH LIVES ABOVE IT, 269 00:10:17,900 --> 00:10:19,800 WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY STABLE REGION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 270 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,933 IT'S VERY STRATIFIED, BECAUSE THE AIR GETS WARMER, 271 00:10:21,933 --> 00:10:23,833 IT'S MORE BUOYANT, THE FARTHER YOU GO UP. 272 00:10:23,833 --> 00:10:25,733 SO THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT AIR TO EVER TURN OVER, 273 00:10:25,733 --> 00:10:27,366 LIKE YOU WOULD SEE IN A CONVECTIVE CLOUD 274 00:10:27,366 --> 00:10:29,200 DOWN HERE IN THE TROPOSPHERE. 275 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:30,966 SO THOSE ARE THE TWO PIECES OF THE ATMOSPHERE 276 00:10:30,966 --> 00:10:32,500 I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY. 277 00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:33,833 MOST OF THE TROPOSPHERE-- 278 00:10:33,833 --> 00:10:35,733 ALL OF OUR FLIGHTS ARE IN THE TROPOSPHERE. 279 00:10:35,733 --> 00:10:37,400 COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS GET UP PRETTY CLOSE, 280 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,500 DEPENDING ON YOUR LATITUDE, 281 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:42,400 ESPECIALLY A LONG HAUL, TO THE TROPOPAUSE. 282 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,933 BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WEATHER AND MOST EVERYTHING WE ALL KNOW 283 00:10:44,933 --> 00:10:47,000 ABOUT EVERY DAY IS DOWN IN THE TROPOSPHERE HERE. 284 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,600 THE STRATOSPHERE IS WHERE THE OZONE LAYER IS. 285 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,333 THAT'S UP AT ABOUT 20 TO 30 KILOMETERS. 286 00:10:51,333 --> 00:10:53,200 AND I'M GONNA KEEP CHANGING UNITS ON YOU. 287 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,133 I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, 288 00:10:55,133 --> 00:10:56,600 BUT I LEARNED THE OZONE LAYER IN KILOMETERS. 289 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,933 SO IT'S AT ABOUT 20 TO 30 KILOMETERS. 290 00:10:58,933 --> 00:11:02,366 AND THAT'S WHERE THE NATURAL OZONE EXISTS. 291 00:11:02,366 --> 00:11:05,800 IT'S GOT RELATIVELY HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF OZONE, 292 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,466 BUT RELATIVELY HIGH IS STILL, YOU KNOW, 293 00:11:08,466 --> 00:11:10,333 THINGS LIKE .6 PARTS PER MILLION. 294 00:11:10,333 --> 00:11:11,833 BUT THAT'S ENOUGH OZONE TO PROTECT US 295 00:11:11,833 --> 00:11:15,066 FROM ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM THE SUN. 296 00:11:15,066 --> 00:11:17,633 AND WE LIKE IT TO STAY UP THERE AND PROTECT OUR DNA. 297 00:11:17,633 --> 00:11:19,700 BUT SOMETIMES, AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME FLIGHTS, 298 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:21,800 THAT OZONE CAN BE BROUGHT DOWN 299 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,333 WHERE IT CAN MIX IN WITH THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE. 300 00:11:24,333 --> 00:11:27,300 WE ALSO GENERATE A LOT OF OZONE OURSELVES. 301 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:29,066 AND I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT 302 00:11:29,066 --> 00:11:30,566 IN A LITTLE WHILE, 303 00:11:30,566 --> 00:11:32,300 BUT OZONE IS GREAT TO HAVE BUT AWFUL TO BREATHE. 304 00:11:32,300 --> 00:11:34,666 JUST REMEMBER THAT. 305 00:11:34,666 --> 00:11:36,500 ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING I WANTED TO TELL YOU. 306 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:38,266 OH, AND THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE ATMOSPHERE 307 00:11:38,266 --> 00:11:39,666 THE LOWEST PART OF THE TROPOSPHERE 308 00:11:39,666 --> 00:11:42,733 IS CALLED THE PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER OR THE MIXED LAYER. 309 00:11:42,733 --> 00:11:43,966 THAT'S THE AIR-- 310 00:11:43,966 --> 00:11:45,700 HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED SOMETIMES YOU'LL GET 311 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:49,833 A VERY STILL LAYER AT NIGHTTIME? 312 00:11:49,833 --> 00:11:51,533 MAYBE YOU'LL GET A FOG TO FORM 313 00:11:51,533 --> 00:11:53,800 AND THAT'LL START TO MIX UPWARDS IN THE MORNING 314 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:55,366 WHEN THE SUN COMES UP AND HEATS THE GROUND? 315 00:11:55,366 --> 00:11:57,500 THAT'S THE MIXED LAYER, SO THE HEATING OF THE SURFACE 316 00:11:57,500 --> 00:11:59,333 OF THE EARTH IN THE MORNING 317 00:11:59,333 --> 00:12:02,700 MAKES THE MIXED LAYER DEEPER, MORE CONVECTIVE, 318 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:04,600 AND MAKES A TALLER LAYER 319 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,933 WHERE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IN THAT BOTTOM LAYER 320 00:12:06,933 --> 00:12:10,966 IS UNIFORMLY MIXED JUST BY THE MOTIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 321 00:12:10,966 --> 00:12:12,900 AND DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT TIME OF YEAR 322 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:15,000 AND HOW MUCH SUN YOU'VE HAD, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING LIKE 323 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,566 500 FEET THICK, 324 00:12:16,566 --> 00:12:19,533 OR IT CAN BE MORE LIKE 7,000 FEET THICK, 325 00:12:19,533 --> 00:12:21,266 DEPENDING ON A LOT OF THINGS. 326 00:12:21,266 --> 00:12:23,266 AND SO WE LIKE TO MEASURE IN THAT MIXED LAYER 327 00:12:23,266 --> 00:12:25,400 IF WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HUMANS ARE DOING DOWN HERE, 328 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,333 BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR POLLUTION 329 00:12:27,333 --> 00:12:31,466 GENERALLY STAYS TRAPPED IN THE SHORT TERM. 330 00:12:31,466 --> 00:12:33,900 SO WHAT AM I GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT TODAY? 331 00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:35,766 I KNOW NOT EVERYONE HERE IS FROM CALIFORNIA, 332 00:12:35,766 --> 00:12:37,800 SO HERE'S A MAP OF CALIFORNIA. 333 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,133 WE'RE RIGHT IN THE CENTER WHERE ALL THOSE FLIGHTS ORIGINATE, 334 00:12:40,133 --> 00:12:42,433 SO RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. 335 00:12:42,433 --> 00:12:43,800 THE FIRST THING I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT 336 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,533 IS THE YELLOW FLIGHT TRACK. 337 00:12:45,533 --> 00:12:47,733 CAN YOU SEE THAT IT GOES INLAND INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY? 338 00:12:47,733 --> 00:12:49,900 IT GOES TO A TOWN CALLED MERCED. IT'S NEARBY, 339 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:53,133 AND THEY HAVE VERY FRIENDLY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. 340 00:12:53,133 --> 00:12:54,933 AND THEY LET US COME TO THEIR AIRPORT 341 00:12:54,933 --> 00:12:56,400 AND MAKE A VERTICAL PROFILE, 342 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,633 A SPIRAL DOWN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, 343 00:12:58,633 --> 00:13:00,833 TO MEASURE THE COMPOSITION OF THE AIR 344 00:13:00,833 --> 00:13:03,966 AT ALL OF THE LEVELS FROM ABOUT 27,000 FEET 345 00:13:03,966 --> 00:13:06,200 DOWN TO ABOUT 1,000 FEET. 346 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,033 THEN WE GO OFFSHORE, 347 00:13:08,033 --> 00:13:10,033 AND YOU CAN SEE THE YELLOW LINE GOES OFF OVER THE PACIFIC, 348 00:13:10,033 --> 00:13:11,833 AND WE DO THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN. 349 00:13:11,833 --> 00:13:13,700 THAT AIR SHOULD BE CLEANER, RIGHT? 350 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:15,166 IT HASN'T SEEN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 351 00:13:15,166 --> 00:13:17,433 IT HASN'T SEEN A BUNCH OF HUMANS IN PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR, 352 00:13:17,433 --> 00:13:19,266 FIVE DAYS, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN IT 353 00:13:19,266 --> 00:13:21,200 TO COME ACROSS THE PACIFIC. 354 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,400 LET ME TELL YOU, THOUGH, IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAN. 355 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,233 OFTEN IT'S JUST AS BAD, AND SOME DAYS THE WIND REVERSES 356 00:13:26,233 --> 00:13:28,633 AND ALL THE CRUD FROM ONSHORE BLOWS OUT OVER THE OCEAN. 357 00:13:28,633 --> 00:13:30,866 SO I MADE A MISTAKE-- AND THEY CALL A PROFILE 358 00:13:30,866 --> 00:13:33,433 A CLEAN BACKGROUND PROFILE WHEN IT'S REALLY NOT, 359 00:13:33,433 --> 00:13:35,400 BUT WHAT I MEAN IS IT'S OUT OVER THE OCEAN 360 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,966 AND WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAN. 361 00:13:37,966 --> 00:13:40,266 THEN I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THREE WILD-- 362 00:13:40,266 --> 00:13:42,200 THEN I'LL TAKE YOU ON THE PURPLE TRIP 363 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,366 IF YOU CAN SEE THAT PURPLE OR BLUE ONE DOWN THERE. 364 00:13:44,366 --> 00:13:46,400 THAT ONE GOES DOWN TO SAN LUIS OBISPO, 365 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,866 AND THAT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME DAIRY SOURCES OF METHANE. 366 00:13:50,866 --> 00:13:53,433 THEN WE'VE GOT THREE FIRES TO SHOW YOU. 367 00:13:53,433 --> 00:13:55,666 THE WHITE ONE IS THE RIM FIRE FROM LAST YEAR. 368 00:13:55,666 --> 00:13:57,433 I'M PRESUMING MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT, 369 00:13:57,433 --> 00:13:59,500 ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE FROM OUT WEST HERE. 370 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:02,266 THAT WAS A BIG ONE IN-- VERY NEAR YOSEMITE. 371 00:14:02,266 --> 00:14:04,366 THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT THE GREEN ONE. 372 00:14:04,366 --> 00:14:07,100 THAT WAS THE EL PORTAL FIRE, WHICH IS MOSTLY CONTAINED. 373 00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:09,100 I FORGOT TO CHECK THIS MORNING. 374 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:11,266 AND THE BIG, JUICY ONE IS THE RED ONE. 375 00:14:11,266 --> 00:14:12,966 SO UP IN SHASTA COUNTY, 376 00:14:12,966 --> 00:14:14,700 THERE ARE TWO FIRES BURNING RIGHT NOW-- 377 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:16,966 BALD AND EILER-- 378 00:14:16,966 --> 00:14:19,066 AND SO WE WENT UP AND TOOK A LOOK AT THOSE YESTERDAY. 379 00:14:19,066 --> 00:14:21,200 SO WHOO-HOO. 380 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,833 ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST, LET'S GO LOOK 381 00:14:23,833 --> 00:14:25,600 FOR SOME STRATOSPHERIC AIR THAT'S BEEN PULLED DOWN. 382 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,033 AND I'M GONNA CHECK MY TIME, 383 00:14:27,033 --> 00:14:29,266 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT. 384 00:14:29,266 --> 00:14:31,333 OKAY. 385 00:14:31,333 --> 00:14:34,300 SO THE FIRST PICTURE ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE WING POD. 386 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,233 SO THE OUTBOARD IS FUEL AND THE INBOARD IS THE SENSORS. 387 00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:39,200 YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE NASA LOGO. 388 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,600 THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S US. 389 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,933 LOOKING OUT ACTUALLY FROM THE BACK-- 390 00:14:42,933 --> 00:14:44,433 SO THIS AIRCRAFT TAKES TWO PILOTS-- 391 00:14:44,433 --> 00:14:46,200 A FRONT SEATER AND A BACKSEATER. 392 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,233 THE BACKSEATER HAD A MOMENT TO BREATHE, 393 00:14:48,233 --> 00:14:50,433 TOOK A PICTURE OUT THE WINDOW LOOKING DOWN AT THE RUNWAY 394 00:14:50,433 --> 00:14:51,933 AT CASTLE AIRPORT IN MERCED, 395 00:14:51,933 --> 00:14:54,266 THE ONE WHERE I TOLD YOU WE DO THESE VERTICAL PROFILES. 396 00:14:54,266 --> 00:14:55,833 SO THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE BACKSEAT 397 00:14:55,833 --> 00:14:57,500 OF THE ALPHA JET, APPARENTLY. 398 00:14:57,500 --> 00:14:59,600 [whispers] I'VE NOT BEEN UP. 399 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,866 THE RED FLIGHT TRACK IN THE MIDDLE IS JUST TO REMIND YOU. 400 00:15:01,866 --> 00:15:03,433 IT'S THE SAME AS THE YELLOW ONE. 401 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:06,733 WE'VE DONE THIS FLIGHT PROBABLY 20 OR 30 TIMES BY NOW. 402 00:15:06,733 --> 00:15:08,466 THEY'RE ALMOST ALWAYS EXACTLY THE SAME, 403 00:15:08,466 --> 00:15:11,266 UNLESS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MAKES US DO SOMETHING FUNNY. 404 00:15:11,266 --> 00:15:13,166 BUT THE DATA IS SHOWN IN THE RIGHT PLOT. 405 00:15:13,166 --> 00:15:14,833 SO THAT ONE'S A LITTLE HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND 406 00:15:14,833 --> 00:15:16,500 IF YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING IT. 407 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:18,666 THE COLOR IS THE AMOUNT OF OZONE THAT WAS MEASURED. 408 00:15:18,666 --> 00:15:21,133 ON THE GROUND IS LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE. 409 00:15:21,133 --> 00:15:24,000 AND THEN THE THIRD DIMENSION IN THAT PLOT IS ALTITUDE. 410 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,733 SO YOU CAN SEE THE TWO VERTICAL CORKSCREWS. 411 00:15:27,733 --> 00:15:30,000 THOSE ARE THE VERTICAL PROFILES. 412 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:31,766 AND IT'S LIKE ONE OF THOSE PICTURES 413 00:15:31,766 --> 00:15:34,166 THAT ONCE YOU FIGURE IT OUT, IT'LL ALL MAKE SENSE. 414 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:36,300 WHAT YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE, ONCE IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, 415 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,533 IS THAT RED PLANE, 416 00:15:38,533 --> 00:15:40,700 THE RED SLICE OF OZONE 417 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:42,366 IN BETWEEN BLUE ABOVE 418 00:15:42,366 --> 00:15:44,066 AND BLUE AND GREEN BELOW-- 419 00:15:44,066 --> 00:15:46,466 SO RED IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF OZONE ON THAT PLOT. 420 00:15:46,466 --> 00:15:50,033 AND SO THERE'S A TONGUE OF OZONE THAT'S BEEN PULLED DOWN IN 421 00:15:50,033 --> 00:15:53,233 AND LIVES BETWEEN TWO LAYERS OF LESS OZONE. 422 00:15:53,233 --> 00:15:55,266 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, IN FACT. 423 00:15:55,266 --> 00:15:57,533 SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT-- 424 00:15:57,533 --> 00:15:59,633 YOU KNOW, THE YEAR THAT WE'VE MADE THESE MEASUREMENTS, 425 00:15:59,633 --> 00:16:03,066 WE'VE SEEN A RESPECTABLE HANDFUL OF THESE PHENOMENA, 426 00:16:03,066 --> 00:16:06,066 AND WE'VE MADE FRIENDS WITH FOLKS DOWNSTREAM. 427 00:16:07,666 --> 00:16:09,800 SO IF I SWITCH THE PROJECTION FOR YOU NOW, 428 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,133 HERE'S A PLAIN OLD MAP. 429 00:16:11,133 --> 00:16:13,966 AND YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE THE BLACK FLIGHT PLAN, 430 00:16:13,966 --> 00:16:15,966 THE ONSHORE/OFFSHORE CIRCLES 431 00:16:15,966 --> 00:16:18,200 THAT'S STARTING TO LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU NOW. 432 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,000 WHAT'S--THE COLORS BEHIND IT IS OZONE FROM A CHEMICAL MODEL 433 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,533 CALLED RAQMS. 434 00:16:23,533 --> 00:16:26,533 AND THAT MODEL IS PREDICTING ORANGE AMOUNTS, 435 00:16:26,533 --> 00:16:28,300 HIGH AMOUNTS OF OZONE, 436 00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:31,000 ON THE DAY IN THE PLACE THAT WE FLEW 437 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,266 AND LESS OZONE IN OTHER LOCATIONS. 438 00:16:34,266 --> 00:16:37,266 THE BOTTOM PLOT IS ALSO FROM THE SAME CHEMICAL MODEL. 439 00:16:37,266 --> 00:16:40,300 YOU'VE GOT ALTITUDE ON THE Y-AXIS, LIKE YOU'D EXPECT. 440 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:42,566 THE X-AXIS IS LATITUDE WITH-- 441 00:16:42,566 --> 00:16:44,200 [clears throat] EXCUSE ME. 442 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:45,733 WITH THE POLE TOWARDS YOUR RIGHT 443 00:16:45,733 --> 00:16:47,666 AND THE EQUATOR TOWARDS YOUR LEFT. 444 00:16:47,666 --> 00:16:49,700 THE COLOR IS OZONE AGAIN. 445 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:52,466 SO NOW YOU CAN REALLY SEE HOW THE RED AMOUNTS OF OZONE, 446 00:16:52,466 --> 00:16:55,500 THE 100/120 PARTS PER BILLION OF OZONE UP IN THE STRATOSPHERE, 447 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,066 ARE BEING PULLED DOWN IN THAT TONGUE 448 00:16:58,066 --> 00:17:01,266 THAT'S STICKING DOWN RIGHT TOWARDS OUR BLACK FLIGHT LINE. 449 00:17:01,266 --> 00:17:04,766 THAT'S THE TONGUE OF OZONE OF STRATOSPHERIC AIR 450 00:17:04,766 --> 00:17:06,666 THAT'S BEEN PULLED DOWN BY THE WEATHER SYSTEM. 451 00:17:06,666 --> 00:17:09,033 AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE FLEW. 452 00:17:09,033 --> 00:17:12,033 SO THIS IS REALLY AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE 453 00:17:12,033 --> 00:17:15,400 BOTH IN TIME AND-- AND BY MEETING THE RIGHT PEOPLE 454 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,666 AND--AND NETWORKING IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY 455 00:17:17,666 --> 00:17:20,833 OF MODEL AND DATA. 456 00:17:20,833 --> 00:17:24,533 SO WE SAID, "HEY," TO OUR FRIEND BRAD 457 00:17:24,533 --> 00:17:26,833 WHO RUNS THIS MODEL, "HOW'D YOUR MODEL DO?" 458 00:17:26,833 --> 00:17:29,700 AND OUR DATA IS IN BLACK, 459 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:32,966 AND TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF MODEL RUNS ARE IN RED. 460 00:17:35,633 --> 00:17:38,066 YOU CAN TELL THAT THE MODEL IS ABSOLUTELY GETTING THE FEATURES 461 00:17:38,066 --> 00:17:41,300 BUT NOT AS NARROWLY, NOT AS TIGHTLY, 462 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:43,400 AND NOT TO THE MAGNITUDE. 463 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,700 SO THE BLACK SPIKES OF OZONE 464 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:49,000 THAT YOU SEE GOING UP IN THE AIRCRAFT DATA 465 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,800 ARE VERY NARROW 466 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:52,766 AND THEY GO TO VERY HIGH AMOUNTS OF OZONE. 467 00:17:52,766 --> 00:17:56,766 THE MODEL SMEARS THOSE OUT INTO BROADER, SHORTER RED FEATURES 468 00:17:56,766 --> 00:17:58,500 ON THIS PLOT. 469 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,433 SO WE'VE BEEN OFFERING OUR DATA TO THE MODELERS 470 00:18:00,433 --> 00:18:02,766 TO SAY, "HEY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR MODELS, 471 00:18:02,766 --> 00:18:05,100 HERE'S SOME REAL DATA IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE CAN OFFER." 472 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:06,666 SO THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. 473 00:18:06,666 --> 00:18:08,733 WE'RE REALLY ENJOYING THAT COLLABORATION. 474 00:18:08,733 --> 00:18:11,100 IT'S HELPING FOLKS IN PLACES LIKE WYOMING AND NEVADA 475 00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:14,000 WHERE THESE TONGUES GET DRAWN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SURFACE. 476 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,766 IT'S HELPING THOSE FOLKS 477 00:18:15,766 --> 00:18:18,366 TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE EPA THAT THIS DAY 478 00:18:18,366 --> 00:18:20,800 WHEN MY MONITORS WENT OFF SCALE IT WASN'T OUR FAULT. 479 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,766 YOU COULD STOP ALL OF OUR LOCAL EMISSIONS 480 00:18:22,766 --> 00:18:24,366 AND YOU'D STILL HAVE THIS OZONE 481 00:18:24,366 --> 00:18:25,900 THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE STRATOSPHERE 482 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:27,566 AND MADE OUR AIR QUALITY HORRIBLE. 483 00:18:27,566 --> 00:18:29,400 PLEASE DON'T PENALIZE US. 484 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,333 AND THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR THE STATES TO GO THROUGH 485 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:33,966 WITH THE EPA 486 00:18:33,966 --> 00:18:35,566 AND ONE OF THESE DAYS, THE ONE I JUST SHOWED YOU IN FACT, 487 00:18:35,566 --> 00:18:38,433 OUR DATA WAS USED IN ONE OF THOSE PACKETS TO THE EPA 488 00:18:38,433 --> 00:18:40,066 ON BEHALF OF WYOMING, TRYING TO APPEAL-- 489 00:18:40,066 --> 00:18:44,366 "PLEASE DON'T PUNISH US. THIS WAS NATURAL"-- 490 00:18:44,366 --> 00:18:48,933 THEIR STATE OZONE REGULATED LEVELS. 491 00:18:48,933 --> 00:18:50,266 SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY COOL. 492 00:18:50,266 --> 00:18:52,000 IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS DATA 493 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,900 AND APPLY IT TO SOMETHING THAT REAL PEOPLE ACTUALLY FEEL 494 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:58,033 AND BREATHE AND THAT REALLY IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES. 495 00:18:58,033 --> 00:18:59,800 IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT. 496 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,933 IN ANOTHER WAY, WE GET TO GO AND SNIFF AROUND CATTLE. 497 00:19:03,933 --> 00:19:06,933 THIS IS SOME DATA THAT WE COLLECTED 498 00:19:06,933 --> 00:19:08,500 IN A CAMPAIGN CALLED COW-GAS. 499 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:11,866 AND YES, AT NASA AND EVERYWHERE IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY 500 00:19:11,866 --> 00:19:14,466 WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE OUR ACRONYMS SPIFFY. 501 00:19:14,466 --> 00:19:16,666 THIS ONE ACTUALLY WORKS. 502 00:19:16,666 --> 00:19:18,466 IT'S--WHAT WAS IT? 503 00:19:18,466 --> 00:19:20,733 CALIFORNIA-- 504 00:19:20,733 --> 00:19:23,133 OH, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW IT WORKED OUT. 505 00:19:23,133 --> 00:19:26,933 THE "W" WAS WINTERTIME AND THE "C" IS CALIFORNIA, 506 00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:28,933 BUT IT WORKED OUT SO THAT WE COULD CALL IT COW-GAS. 507 00:19:28,933 --> 00:19:31,566 BUT THE GOAL WAS TO GO AND SEE WHAT'S UP WITH DAIRIES. 508 00:19:31,566 --> 00:19:36,400 DAIRY CATTLE AND MEAT CATTLE BOTH PRODUCE METHANE 509 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,833 FROM THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, ALL RUMINANTS DO, 510 00:19:38,833 --> 00:19:40,133 BUT IT'S KNOWN THAT DAIRY CATTLE 511 00:19:40,133 --> 00:19:43,400 PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT MORE-- 512 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,966 SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE METHANE 513 00:19:45,966 --> 00:19:47,933 THAN MEAT CATTLE. 514 00:19:47,933 --> 00:19:51,266 AND OFTEN, DAIRY CATTLE ARE KEPT IN A WAY 515 00:19:51,266 --> 00:19:53,200 WHERE THEIR WASTE IS COLLECTED, 516 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,933 BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS BROUGHT BACK TO THE BARN FOR MILKING. 517 00:19:55,933 --> 00:19:58,166 THEY'RE NOT LET FREE RANGE, GENERALLY, 518 00:19:58,166 --> 00:20:00,400 'CAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO COLLECT THEM UP TO MILK THEM. 519 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,266 SO THEY'RE KEPT TOGETHER, AND THEIR WASTES 520 00:20:02,266 --> 00:20:05,966 ARE THEREFORE COLLECTED TOGETHER IN A BIG SLUDGE POND. 521 00:20:07,933 --> 00:20:10,033 GUESS WHERE THE METHANE COMES FROM. 522 00:20:10,033 --> 00:20:12,466 SO THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT 523 00:20:12,466 --> 00:20:14,300 TO UNDERSTAND THE EMISSIONS OF METHANE. 524 00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:17,700 IT'S ABOUT 120 TIMES STRONGER, GREENHOUSE GAS, 525 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:19,500 THAN CARBON DIOXIDE IS. 526 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,366 AND IT'S A PLACE, IN THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY, 527 00:20:21,366 --> 00:20:22,766 YOU COULD IMAGINE, 528 00:20:22,766 --> 00:20:25,266 WHERE YOU COULD IMPLEMENT A COLLECTION SYSTEM 529 00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:27,133 OR FIND A WAY TO MITIGATE THAT EMISSION. 530 00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:29,633 SO KNOWING WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST 531 00:20:29,633 --> 00:20:31,600 IS REALLY MOST OF THE BATTLE. 532 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,466 SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS OUT THERE. 533 00:20:33,466 --> 00:20:35,633 IT'S A NEW PLACE TO BE STUDYING. 534 00:20:35,633 --> 00:20:39,600 SO WE JOINED THIS CAMPAIGN LED BY A FELLA NAMED IRA LEIFER 535 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,966 DOWN AT CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO. 536 00:20:41,966 --> 00:20:44,766 AND HE HAS TWO GROUND-BASED-- 537 00:20:44,766 --> 00:20:46,833 ONE'S A CAR AND ONE'S AN RV-- 538 00:20:46,833 --> 00:20:48,233 MOBILE LABORATORIES THAT MEASURE 539 00:20:48,233 --> 00:20:50,766 ALMOST ANY CHEMICAL COMPOUND YOU COULD IMAGINE, 540 00:20:50,766 --> 00:20:52,633 ESPECIALLY ALL THE ONES THAT COME OUT OF COWS 541 00:20:52,633 --> 00:20:54,633 AND HUMANS AND FOSSIL FUELS, 542 00:20:54,633 --> 00:20:56,566 AND HE MAPPED OUT-- 543 00:20:56,566 --> 00:21:00,300 IF YOU CAN SEE THE TWO BARNS, THE VERTICAL WHITE-- 544 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:02,300 CAN I USE THE MOUSE? WILL THIS WORK? 545 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:03,900 CAN YOU SEE THAT? HEY! 546 00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:06,433 THE TWO BARNS, HERE'S THE WASTE POND. 547 00:21:06,433 --> 00:21:07,900 AND THIS RED DOTTED LINE IS THE PATH 548 00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:12,900 THAT THE MOBILE SENSORS DROVE AROUND DURING THE DAY. 549 00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,566 SO DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY, THEY DROVE AROUND. 550 00:21:15,566 --> 00:21:18,066 THEY TOOK A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS-- 551 00:21:18,066 --> 00:21:20,166 SOME UP LOOKING AT THE SUN, 552 00:21:20,166 --> 00:21:21,800 SOME COLLECTING AIR SAMPLES-- 553 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,100 AND THEN AROUND MIDDAY, THE ALPHA JET CAME IN 554 00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:27,566 AND WE COLLECTED DATA TO EXPLAIN THE AIR ABOVE. 555 00:21:29,533 --> 00:21:31,500 SO HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF OUR FLIGHT THAT DAY. 556 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:34,666 WE STARTED AT MOFFETT FIELD UP HERE. 557 00:21:34,666 --> 00:21:36,366 CAME DOWN THROUGH THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 558 00:21:36,366 --> 00:21:37,766 WE WANTED TO GET A SENSE 559 00:21:37,766 --> 00:21:39,633 OF WHAT WAS GOING ON EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE REGION 560 00:21:39,633 --> 00:21:42,100 SO IF SOMETHING REALLY STRANGE WAS HAPPENING IN THE AREA, 561 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:44,166 WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WRONGLY ATTRIBUTE IT TO THE DAIRY. 562 00:21:44,166 --> 00:21:46,000 SO WE TOOK A LOOK ALONG THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 563 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,933 THEN WE CAME OVER TO SAN LUIS OBISPO 564 00:21:47,933 --> 00:21:50,066 AND TOOK A VERTICAL PROFILE. 565 00:21:50,066 --> 00:21:51,900 THEN WE WENT ALONG THIS LITTLE VALLEY HERE 566 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:53,866 OUT TO FIND SOME CLEAN AIR, 567 00:21:53,866 --> 00:21:56,266 AND THEN CAME BACK HOME. 568 00:21:56,266 --> 00:21:59,266 SO IF I SHOW YOU METHANE 569 00:21:59,266 --> 00:22:01,900 IN THIS COLOR SCHEME WHERE RED IS HIGH METHANE 570 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:04,600 AND BLUE IS LESS METHANE, 571 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,433 YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS LESS METHANE ABOVE 572 00:22:06,433 --> 00:22:09,133 AND A LOT MORE DOWN HERE IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER, 573 00:22:09,133 --> 00:22:11,200 IN THE MIXED LAYER WHERE ALL THE HUMAN 574 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,800 AND ANIMAL EMISSIONS GET MIXED. 575 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,566 HERE'S A PLOT OF IT IN-- WITH THE VERTICAL-- 576 00:22:15,566 --> 00:22:18,466 JUST THE VERTICAL INFORMATION 577 00:22:18,466 --> 00:22:21,133 AND THE QUANTITY OF METHANE ON THE X-AXIS. 578 00:22:21,133 --> 00:22:23,866 SO YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS A NICE ENHANCED LAYER OF METHANE 579 00:22:23,866 --> 00:22:25,600 DOWN AT THE SURFACE. 580 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,366 THE HIGHEST AMOUNT WAS FOUND AT ABOUT 700 METERS, 581 00:22:29,366 --> 00:22:33,066 WHICH IS ABOUT 2,100 FEET, ABOVE THE GROUND. 582 00:22:33,066 --> 00:22:34,933 SO THIS DATA IS NOW BEING FOLDED INTO THE ANALYSIS WITH 583 00:22:34,933 --> 00:22:37,566 ALL OF THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ALL THE OTHER INVESTIGATORS 584 00:22:37,566 --> 00:22:39,466 WHO WERE PRESENT FOR THAT CAMPAIGN. 585 00:22:39,466 --> 00:22:42,233 AND IT'S SERVING AS THE-- THE PRECURSOR CAMPAIGN 586 00:22:42,233 --> 00:22:44,800 FOR ANOTHER ONE, A LARGER SCALE CAMPAIGN 587 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,800 OF SIMILAR INSTRUMENTATION GOING ON THIS SUMMER, ACTUALLY, 588 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:48,500 CALLED COMEX. 589 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:50,966 SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THIS TEAM 590 00:22:50,966 --> 00:22:53,933 TO COMBINE THE REGIONAL DATA THAT AJAX WAS ABLE TO COLLECT 591 00:22:53,933 --> 00:22:56,266 WITH THE LOCAL DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED ON THE GROUND 592 00:22:56,266 --> 00:22:59,700 AND KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE DAIRY THAT DAY 593 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:02,600 BECAUSE THEY HAD A COLLABORATOR WHO WAS DOING THINGS LIKE 594 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,100 PUTTING THE COWS IN, TAKING THE COWS OUT, 595 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:07,066 STIRRING THE SLUDGE POND, WASHING DOWN THE SURFACES, 596 00:23:07,066 --> 00:23:09,333 AND SO THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF INTERESTING INFORMATION 597 00:23:09,333 --> 00:23:12,200 FROM THAT CAMPAIGN ABOUT HOW ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES 598 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,866 COULD BE MODIFIED IN A WAY THAT COULD HELP US 599 00:23:14,866 --> 00:23:17,433 REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF METHANE EMITTED. 600 00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:22,566 ALL RIGHT, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. 601 00:23:24,433 --> 00:23:26,033 OKAY. 602 00:23:26,033 --> 00:23:28,833 FOREST FIRES EMIT CARBON DIOXIDE. 603 00:23:28,833 --> 00:23:31,400 ANYTHING THAT BURNS EMITS CARBON DIOXIDE, 604 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,066 BUT THEY ALSO EMIT METHANE. 605 00:23:34,066 --> 00:23:36,066 AND THE RATIO OF METHANE TO CARBON DIOXIDE 606 00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:37,800 THAT IS EMITTED FROM FOREST FIRES 607 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,933 IS A NUMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE THINKS THEY KNOW, 608 00:23:39,933 --> 00:23:42,100 AND THEY PUT THAT NUMBER INTO THEIR MODELS. 609 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:44,333 WELL, IT'S NOT RIGHT, AND IT'S NOT ONE ANSWER. 610 00:23:44,333 --> 00:23:47,100 AND SINCE METHANE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT GREENHOUSE GAS, 611 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:49,366 IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BETTER STUDIED, 612 00:23:49,366 --> 00:23:52,000 ESPECIALLY OUT HERE IN THE WEST WHERE WE HAVE WILDFIRES. 613 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,233 WILDFIRES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM GRASS FIRES. 614 00:23:54,233 --> 00:23:56,033 THEY SMOLDER. THEY LAST A LONG TIME. 615 00:23:56,033 --> 00:23:57,600 THEY CAN LAST WEEKS. 616 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,200 I MEAN, THE RIM FIRE LASTED OVER A MONTH. 617 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,900 SO WE'VE BEEN SAMPLING WILDFIRES WHENEVER THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH. 618 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,366 LIKE I TOLD YOU, OUR RANGE IS ONLY ABOUT 1,000 KILOMETERS. 619 00:24:07,366 --> 00:24:09,466 WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT TWO HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. 620 00:24:09,466 --> 00:24:11,133 SO WHENEVER THERE'S A FIRE CLOSE ENOUGH, 621 00:24:11,133 --> 00:24:13,266 WE GO OUT AND TRY TO GET MEASUREMENTS AROUND IT. 622 00:24:13,266 --> 00:24:15,033 AND IN FACT, THE RIM FIRE, WE WERE FORTUNATE 623 00:24:15,033 --> 00:24:16,600 TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE TWICE-- 624 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,600 ONCE EARLY WHEN IT WAS HOT AND FLAMING 625 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,733 AND ONCE MUCH LATER WHEN IT WAS A MORE TAME, 626 00:24:21,733 --> 00:24:23,800 NEARLY CONTAINED FIRE 627 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,300 AND PROBABLY A LOT MORE SMOLDERING COMBUSTION. 628 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:28,533 WE ALSO HAVE A COLLABORATION WITH A FELLOW 629 00:24:28,533 --> 00:24:30,666 AT SAN JOSÉ STATE, PROFESSOR CRAIG CLEMENTS, 630 00:24:30,666 --> 00:24:33,166 WHO--WHOSE AREA OF EXPERTISE 631 00:24:33,166 --> 00:24:34,900 IS THE MICROMETEOROLOGY, 632 00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:38,266 THE WINDS AND THE WIND FIELDS IN SMOKE PLUMES. 633 00:24:38,266 --> 00:24:42,400 SO HE'S ACTUALLY GOT AN AMAZING SET OF INSTRUMENTATION 634 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,166 AND THEY'RE ALL, LIKE, FIRE TRAINED. 635 00:24:45,166 --> 00:24:47,200 THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT VERY CLOSE TO A FIRE 636 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,066 AND SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT 637 00:24:49,066 --> 00:24:51,466 AND MEASURE THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLUME 638 00:24:51,466 --> 00:24:53,533 MUCH CLOSER THAN, YOU KNOW-- 639 00:24:53,533 --> 00:24:55,633 THEY'RE EVEN ALLOWED INSIDE THE, LIKE, FIREFIGHTER PERIMETER. 640 00:24:55,633 --> 00:24:58,300 SO THIS DATA--THESE PHOTOS 641 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:01,700 ARE FROM A DAY THAT WE WENT TO OVERFLY 642 00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:03,133 THEIR GROUND-BASED MEASUREMENTS. 643 00:25:03,133 --> 00:25:06,700 SO THESE PHOTOS WERE COLLECTED 644 00:25:06,700 --> 00:25:09,700 FROM THE HIGHWAY NEAR THE RIM FIRE. 645 00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:12,466 SO I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW BAD THAT REALLY WAS. 646 00:25:12,466 --> 00:25:14,933 I MEAN, THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE COLOR FROM WHAT I'M TOLD 647 00:25:14,933 --> 00:25:17,033 BY THE STUDENT WHO TOOK THESE PHOTOS. 648 00:25:17,033 --> 00:25:18,800 THIS IS THE RIG 649 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,200 WITH THE SCANNING LIDAR ON THE BACK, THE WHITE. 650 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,366 THIS IS THE SCANNING LIDAR THAT GETS THE WIND SPEEDS. 651 00:25:25,366 --> 00:25:27,400 AND THEY LAUNCHED WEATHER BALLOONS AS WELL 652 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,300 TO GET VERTICAL PROFILES OF PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE 653 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:32,066 AND WIND. 654 00:25:32,066 --> 00:25:33,800 SO THEN WE FLEW, 655 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:35,866 AND I'M HOPING THESE PHOTOS ARE COMING OUT PRETTY WELL. 656 00:25:35,866 --> 00:25:39,733 THIS IS, AGAIN, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE ALPHA JET. 657 00:25:39,733 --> 00:25:41,766 YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE FRONT HERE 658 00:25:41,766 --> 00:25:44,533 AND THIS JUST INCREDIBLE SMOKE PLUME. 659 00:25:47,733 --> 00:25:50,433 I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE-- 660 00:25:50,433 --> 00:25:54,200 YEAH, MY FAVORITE FIRE PHOTO. [laughs] 661 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,933 SO IT WAS JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE. 662 00:25:55,933 --> 00:25:58,433 THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE FLEW IT, EARLIER IN THE FIRE. 663 00:26:02,766 --> 00:26:05,133 AND THEN, BECAUSE OUR PILOTS ARE SO AMAZING 664 00:26:05,133 --> 00:26:07,100 AND SO COOPERATIVE, WE SAID TO THEM, 665 00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:09,600 "SO WE WANT TO MEASURE THE SMOKE. GO AS CLOSE AS YOU DARE." 666 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,566 AND I'M KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SUMMARIZING. 667 00:26:12,566 --> 00:26:15,200 AND THEY SAID, "OKAY. WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO HOURS." 668 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,066 AND SO WE HAD SHOWN THEM THE MAPS, 669 00:26:17,066 --> 00:26:19,000 AND WE'D SHOWN THEM WHAT WE KNEW, YOU KNOW, 670 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,100 BUT THAT INFORMATION IS A LITTLE BIT OLD. 671 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:23,166 FIRES CAN CHANGE REALLY QUICKLY. 672 00:26:23,166 --> 00:26:25,233 SO THEY WENT OUT AND THEY WENT AND DID A PERIMETER. 673 00:26:25,233 --> 00:26:26,700 AND THEY SAID, "OH, LOOK, THERE'S SMOKE IN THAT VALLEY. 674 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:28,833 I BET LAURA WANTS TO SAMPLE THAT." 675 00:26:28,833 --> 00:26:30,600 AND THEY WENT OVER AND THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF VALLEY. 676 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,266 SO IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC, 677 00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:34,033 BECAUSE WE CAN SAY TO OUR PILOTS-- 678 00:26:34,033 --> 00:26:35,800 WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM NOW FOR YEARS-- 679 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,733 WE CAN SAY, "THIS IS WHAT WE THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND, 680 00:26:37,733 --> 00:26:39,566 BUT THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT. 681 00:26:39,566 --> 00:26:41,500 SO IF YOU SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE EXPECT, 682 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:43,866 GO GET IT." AND THEY DO, AND IT'S GREAT. 683 00:26:43,866 --> 00:26:45,533 SO THIS IS THE DATA THEY CAME HOME WITH. 684 00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:48,133 SO THE BLUE, THIS IS THE FLIGHT TRACK 685 00:26:48,133 --> 00:26:50,000 WITH CO2, 686 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,433 THE MIDDLE IS METHANE, 687 00:26:51,433 --> 00:26:53,033 AND THEN ON THE RIGHT, I'VE GOT FOR YOU, 688 00:26:53,033 --> 00:26:55,433 THE RATIO OF METHANE TO CO2. 689 00:26:55,433 --> 00:26:58,666 UNDERNEATH, THESE LITTLE ORANGE PIXELS 690 00:26:58,666 --> 00:27:00,333 ARE THE MODIS HOT SPOTS. 691 00:27:00,333 --> 00:27:02,966 SO MODIS IS A SATELLITE THAT MEASURES IN THE INFRARED. 692 00:27:02,966 --> 00:27:07,400 AND SO IT HAS A DATA PRODUCT THAT WILL FIND PIXELS 693 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,033 THAT IT BELIEVES ARE ON FIRE 694 00:27:09,033 --> 00:27:11,200 OR RECENTLY WERE ON FIRE, AND IT MARKS THEM. 695 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,433 AND SO THAT'S WHAT THESE SPOTS ARE. 696 00:27:13,433 --> 00:27:16,233 AND THEN THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT SHOWS THE SMOKE. 697 00:27:16,233 --> 00:27:18,733 I THINK THOSE ARE TRUE COLOR. 698 00:27:18,733 --> 00:27:21,966 SO HERE-- OH, THE BLUE DIDN'T WORK. 699 00:27:21,966 --> 00:27:25,666 IF YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHT BLUE IN THE BOTTOM PANEL 700 00:27:25,666 --> 00:27:27,533 AS A FUNCTION OF TIME, 701 00:27:27,533 --> 00:27:29,066 YOU CAN SEE THE ALTITUDE THAT WE FLEW. 702 00:27:29,066 --> 00:27:31,133 SO HERE'S THE TAKEOFF. 703 00:27:31,133 --> 00:27:33,500 UP HERE, A LITTLE BIT OF TRANSIT, 704 00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:35,233 AND THEN AT MERCED, 705 00:27:35,233 --> 00:27:37,533 THEY DID THE REGULAR VERTICAL PROFILE LIKE ALWAYS, 706 00:27:37,533 --> 00:27:39,733 JUST SO WE KNOW SORT OF WHAT THE CLEAN ATMOSPHERE LOOKS LIKE 707 00:27:39,733 --> 00:27:41,100 THAT DAY. 708 00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:44,566 AND THEN THEY WENT OVER AND FLEW THREE LEGS 709 00:27:44,566 --> 00:27:47,933 ACROSS SORT OF THE DOWNWIND EDGE 710 00:27:47,933 --> 00:27:49,666 OF THE EXCLUSION ZONE. 711 00:27:49,666 --> 00:27:53,000 AND SO THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE ALTITUDES HERE IN THIS PLOT, 712 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,133 AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THREE LAYERS HERE 713 00:27:55,133 --> 00:27:56,900 IN THE GOOGLE EARTH PLOT. 714 00:27:56,900 --> 00:27:59,366 WHERE IT REALLY JUMPS OUT, THOUGH, IS ON THIS BOTTOM LAYER. 715 00:27:59,366 --> 00:28:01,433 THIS IS THE LOWEST LAYER, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY REALLY GOT 716 00:28:01,433 --> 00:28:03,533 DOWN INTO THE PLUME, SO THE METHANE LEVELS JUMPED UP. 717 00:28:03,533 --> 00:28:05,633 AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THAT ON THE NEXT PAGE. 718 00:28:05,633 --> 00:28:07,166 SO THAT'S WHAT THIS RED CIRCLE 719 00:28:07,166 --> 00:28:09,166 IS MEANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO. 720 00:28:09,166 --> 00:28:11,133 OZONE INCREASED IN THIS PLUME, 721 00:28:11,133 --> 00:28:12,666 WHICH IS WHAT I'VE GOT PLOTTED IN BLACK. 722 00:28:12,666 --> 00:28:13,933 AND THIS IS THE SAME PLACE. 723 00:28:13,933 --> 00:28:16,000 THIS RED CIRCLE IS THE SAME PLACE HERE. 724 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,933 AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT THESE ARE GONNA LIGHT UP 725 00:28:17,933 --> 00:28:19,966 ON THE NEXT PAGE, TOO. 726 00:28:19,966 --> 00:28:21,900 SO HERE'S THE SAME RED CIRCLE. 727 00:28:21,900 --> 00:28:23,933 SO THIS IS THE ALTITUDE PROFILE AGAIN. 728 00:28:23,933 --> 00:28:26,266 THIS TIME IT'S IN RED. HERE'S METHANE. 729 00:28:26,266 --> 00:28:29,333 METHANE REALLY INCREASED IN THE PLUME, AS DID CO2, 730 00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:30,833 AND THIS IS THE RATIO, IN THE GREEN 731 00:28:30,833 --> 00:28:33,966 ON THE TOP FOR THE NEXT FEW TIMES YOU SEE THIS PLOT. 732 00:28:33,966 --> 00:28:38,033 THE GREEN PLOT ON THE TOP IS THE RATIO OF METHANE TO CO2. 733 00:28:38,033 --> 00:28:41,333 AND SO THE FIRE JUMPS RIGHT OUT WITH A LOT OF METHANE. 734 00:28:44,033 --> 00:28:47,066 WELL, YOU MIGHT SAY, WHAT IS THIS LITTLE SPIKE OVER HERE? 735 00:28:47,066 --> 00:28:49,466 WELL, THAT IS THE VALLEY THAT THEY WENT INTO. 736 00:28:49,466 --> 00:28:51,233 THEY SAW A HAZY, SMOKY-LOOKING VALLEY, 737 00:28:51,233 --> 00:28:55,266 AND THEY WENT OVER AND THEY TOOK A LITTLE LOOK FOR US. 738 00:28:55,266 --> 00:28:57,266 AND IT'S ABOUT THE SAME RATIO, 739 00:28:57,266 --> 00:29:00,533 A LITTLE BIT LOWER RATIO OF METHANE TO CO2. 740 00:29:00,533 --> 00:29:04,066 SO THAT AIR HAS PROBABLY TRANSPORTED INTO THAT VALLEY 741 00:29:04,066 --> 00:29:06,100 RELATIVELY RECENTLY. 742 00:29:08,766 --> 00:29:10,966 BUT THEN WE WENT BACK 12 DAYS LATER. 743 00:29:10,966 --> 00:29:14,166 WE DID A SIMILAR FLIGHT PATTERN-- 744 00:29:14,166 --> 00:29:16,433 VERTICAL PROFILE OVER MERCED, 745 00:29:16,433 --> 00:29:19,266 AND THEN WE DID AN INSIDE AND AN OUTSIDE RING. 746 00:29:19,266 --> 00:29:22,566 AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE POP OUT ON THE DATA PLOTS-- 747 00:29:22,566 --> 00:29:25,200 AGAIN, SORRY, METHANE ON THE LEFT, CO2 ON THE RIGHT. 748 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,866 WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE POP OUT IS THIS SIDE OVER HERE, 749 00:29:28,866 --> 00:29:32,266 YOU'LL SEE THE OUTSIDE, THE FARTHER DOWNSTREAM PLUME-- 750 00:29:32,266 --> 00:29:33,833 THE SLIGHTLY OLDER PLUME-- 751 00:29:33,833 --> 00:29:36,533 AND ALSO LOTS OF THIS INNER PLUME. 752 00:29:36,533 --> 00:29:39,900 SO LET ME SHOW YOU SOME OF THAT DATA. 753 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:41,700 AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THESE THREE PLACES 754 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:44,466 WHERE WE'RE GETTING ENHANCED CO2 AND METHANE. 755 00:29:44,466 --> 00:29:46,666 THE FIRST ONE IS IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 756 00:29:46,666 --> 00:29:49,033 AT MERCED, WHERE WE DO A VERTICAL PROFILE. 757 00:29:49,033 --> 00:29:51,300 AND THAT, FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT YOU ARE SEEING THERE, 758 00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:54,633 IS THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOCAL URBAN AREA. 759 00:29:54,633 --> 00:29:58,666 SO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY IS A PRETTY POLLUTED PLACE, 760 00:29:58,666 --> 00:30:01,033 AND WE CAN SEE THAT PRETTY CLEARLY 761 00:30:01,033 --> 00:30:03,900 WHEN WE DO OUR VERTICAL PROFILE. 762 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:07,300 WHAT'S INTERESTING SOMETIMES IS WE CAN SOMETIMES SEE-- 763 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:09,333 IF THE BIOSPHERE IS VERY ACTIVE, 764 00:30:09,333 --> 00:30:12,333 WE CAN SOMETIMES SEE A LITTLE DECREASE IN THE CO2. 765 00:30:12,333 --> 00:30:14,500 I THINK I HAD THAT UP HERE. YEAH. 766 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:17,400 SO THIS LITTLE DECREASE IN CO2 OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 767 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,633 IS PLANTS AND TREES PULLING CO2 OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 768 00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:24,000 AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LESS CO2, 769 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,233 WHICH REALLY JACKS UP THIS RATIO. 770 00:30:26,233 --> 00:30:28,566 [laughs] 771 00:30:28,566 --> 00:30:32,633 ALL RIGHT. WAIT A MINUTE, I'M GOING THE WRONG WAY. 772 00:30:32,633 --> 00:30:35,133 THERE WE GO. BUT THIS DAY WE DIDN'T. 773 00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:38,000 IN FACT, WE SAW JUST AS MUCH CO2 774 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,166 OVER THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 775 00:30:40,166 --> 00:30:42,600 AS WE DID OVER THE FIRE. 776 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:44,700 AND AS IT TURNS OUT, THE METEOROLOGY THAT DAY 777 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:46,733 EXPLAINS IT ENTIRELY. IT WAS A VERY STAGNANT DAY. 778 00:30:46,733 --> 00:30:48,433 THERE HAD BEEN DOWNSLOPE FLOW THE NIGHT BEFORE 779 00:30:48,433 --> 00:30:50,300 AND EVERYTHING WAS INCREDIBLY STILL. 780 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:52,666 SO IT WAS HORRIBLE AIR QUALITY IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 781 00:30:52,666 --> 00:30:56,433 BECAUSE THE FIRE SMOKE HAD COME IN OVERNIGHT. 782 00:30:56,433 --> 00:30:58,733 AND IN FACT, THERE WAS ANOTHER FIRE 783 00:30:58,733 --> 00:31:00,533 VERY CLOSE TO HOME THAT DAY, 784 00:31:00,533 --> 00:31:02,166 JUST ON MOUNT DIABLO. 785 00:31:02,166 --> 00:31:04,900 AND WE THINK THAT THAT SMOKE WAS ALSO INFLUENCING 786 00:31:04,900 --> 00:31:06,566 THE AIR IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. 787 00:31:06,566 --> 00:31:08,933 AND SO THIS IS ACTUALLY FIRE SMOKE 788 00:31:08,933 --> 00:31:11,700 THAT HAS BEEN DISPLACED AND HAS MOVED INTO ANOTHER REGION 789 00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:13,566 WHERE IT'S AFFECTING AIR QUALITY. 790 00:31:13,566 --> 00:31:16,833 HERE IT IS CLOSER TO THE FIRE WHEN WE SAMPLED IT. 791 00:31:16,833 --> 00:31:18,700 WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE ON THESE PLOTS 792 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:20,466 BUT I'LL SHOW YOU LATER IN A TABLE 793 00:31:20,466 --> 00:31:23,166 IS THAT THE RATIO OF METHANE TO CO2 794 00:31:23,166 --> 00:31:26,066 IN THE PLUME THIS DAY WAS MUCH DIFFERENT. 795 00:31:26,066 --> 00:31:29,266 IT'S A MUCH HIGHER RATIO OF METHANE TO CO2 796 00:31:29,266 --> 00:31:32,233 LATER ON WHEN THE FIRE IS OLDER. 797 00:31:32,233 --> 00:31:34,866 WELL, YOU ASK, HOW ABOUT A DIFFERENT FIRE? 798 00:31:34,866 --> 00:31:39,033 WELL, THE UNIVERSE HAS BEEN VERY KIND TO US 799 00:31:39,033 --> 00:31:41,200 THE EL PORTAL FIRE WAS-- 800 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,766 WE SAMPLED IT LAST WEEK, THE END OF JULY. 801 00:31:43,766 --> 00:31:45,766 I THINK THAT WAS LAST WEEK. 802 00:31:45,766 --> 00:31:48,933 AND IF YOU CAN RECOGNIZE EL CAPITAN IN THIS PICTURE, 803 00:31:48,933 --> 00:31:50,333 YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. 804 00:31:50,333 --> 00:31:52,266 BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU KNOW WHAT EL CAPITAN LOOKS LIKE, 805 00:31:52,266 --> 00:31:54,933 BUT IT MEANS YOU CAN ALSO SEE THROUGH THAT HORRIBLE HAZE. 806 00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:58,900 THESE, AGAIN, WERE TAKEN BY THE BACKSEATER. 807 00:31:58,900 --> 00:32:01,066 AND YOU CAN SEE JUST WHAT THE CONDITIONS LOOKED LIKE 808 00:32:01,066 --> 00:32:04,533 OUT THE WINDOW, JUST INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE SMOKE. 809 00:32:06,333 --> 00:32:08,266 AND HERE'S WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE. 810 00:32:08,266 --> 00:32:11,166 SO HERE'S EL CAPITAN ON A GOOD DAY. 811 00:32:11,166 --> 00:32:13,166 SO THESE HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. 812 00:32:13,166 --> 00:32:15,500 AND AGAIN, THE TEAM FROM SAN JOSÉ STATE WAS OUT, 813 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:17,533 AND THIS IS THE KIND OF DATA THAT THEY COLLECT. 814 00:32:17,533 --> 00:32:20,933 SO HERE YOU CAN SEE IN THE BACKSCATTERING FROM THEIR LIDAR, 815 00:32:20,933 --> 00:32:24,233 THIS IS THE PLUME LOFTING 816 00:32:24,233 --> 00:32:26,933 AND STAYING QUITE HIGH, ACTUALLY. 817 00:32:26,933 --> 00:32:29,166 THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HAZE DOWN AT THE LOWER ALTITUDE. 818 00:32:29,166 --> 00:32:32,033 SO THIS IS A MOUNTAIN CONTOUR HERE. 819 00:32:32,033 --> 00:32:34,600 BUT MOST OF THE SMOKE IS STAYING UP HIGH. 820 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,233 SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE SAW. 821 00:32:37,233 --> 00:32:38,966 WE, AGAIN, FLEW FROM AMES. 822 00:32:38,966 --> 00:32:40,833 I GUESS WE-- 823 00:32:40,833 --> 00:32:42,966 EVAN, DID WE DO THE VERTICAL PROFILE FIRST OR LAST? 824 00:32:42,966 --> 00:32:45,700 FIRST, OKAY. I'VE GOT THE PICTURE BACKWARDS. 825 00:32:45,700 --> 00:32:47,966 WE FLEW FROM AMES, AND WE SAW ACTUALLY HIGH OZONE 826 00:32:47,966 --> 00:32:49,333 IN THE VERTICAL PROFILE. 827 00:32:49,333 --> 00:32:51,733 THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. YOU'VE SEEN THAT EARLIER. 828 00:32:51,733 --> 00:32:53,733 AND THEN WE DID A LOOP AROUND THE FIRE. 829 00:32:53,733 --> 00:32:55,566 BUT I WANT TO BRING YOU IN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. 830 00:32:55,566 --> 00:32:58,233 OH, DON'T LET ME FORGET TO TELL YOU THAT OZONE 831 00:32:58,233 --> 00:33:00,133 IS SOMETIMES FORMED IN FOREST FIRE PLUMES, 832 00:33:00,133 --> 00:33:02,133 JUST LIKE ANY OTHER POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT. 833 00:33:02,133 --> 00:33:04,100 IT FORMS IN CITIES PHOTOCHEMICALLY 834 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:06,800 FROM EMITTED HYDROCARBONS AND NITROGEN OXIDES. 835 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:10,900 IT IS BELIEVED TO BE FORMED IN MANY SMOKE PLUMES. 836 00:33:10,900 --> 00:33:12,933 IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO BE FORMED IN MANY SMOKE PLUMES. 837 00:33:12,933 --> 00:33:14,833 BUT THERE ARE ALSO PLUMES WHERE IT'S BEEN OBSERVED 838 00:33:14,833 --> 00:33:16,666 TO NOT BE FORMED. 839 00:33:16,666 --> 00:33:18,700 AND SOMETIMES THE CHEMISTRY EVEN RUNS BACKWARDS 840 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:20,966 AND THE OZONE IS DEPLETED IN SMOKE PLUMES, 841 00:33:20,966 --> 00:33:23,100 AND THAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF UNDERSTANDING, 842 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:25,166 SOMETIMES YES AND SOMETIMES NO. SO THIS ONE WAS NO. 843 00:33:25,166 --> 00:33:27,033 SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED, ACTUALLY, 844 00:33:27,033 --> 00:33:29,400 BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AS MUCH OBSERVATION OF LESS OZONE 845 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,033 IN A FOREST FIRE PLUME. 846 00:33:31,033 --> 00:33:33,233 SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP AN EYE ON OZONE AS WE GO THROUGH 847 00:33:33,233 --> 00:33:35,300 ALL OF THESE FOREST FIRES, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT. 848 00:33:35,300 --> 00:33:37,066 IT'S SORT OF A SEPARATE PROBLEM 849 00:33:37,066 --> 00:33:39,266 BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIR QUALITY DOWNSTREAM. 850 00:33:39,266 --> 00:33:41,133 IN ADDITION TO THE PARTICLES THAT ARE EMITTED, 851 00:33:41,133 --> 00:33:43,300 OZONE CAN BE FORMED IN A SMOKE PLUME. 852 00:33:43,300 --> 00:33:46,133 SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING PIECE, BUT LET ME SHOW YOU HERE, 853 00:33:46,133 --> 00:33:48,566 A LITTLE ZOOM IN CLOSE TO THE PLUME. 854 00:33:48,566 --> 00:33:50,766 AGAIN, THESE ARE THE HOT SPOTS FROM THE MODIS SATELLITE. 855 00:33:50,766 --> 00:33:52,966 AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU NOTICE 856 00:33:52,966 --> 00:33:55,566 THIS LITTLE CUT ACROSS 857 00:33:55,566 --> 00:33:57,866 HERE IN THE FLIGHT TRACK. 858 00:33:57,866 --> 00:33:59,833 SO THEY DIPPED BACK IN. 859 00:33:59,833 --> 00:34:01,400 THEY CLOSED UP THE CIRCLE A LITTLE BIT 860 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,433 TO GET RIGHT INTO THE SMOKE. 861 00:34:03,433 --> 00:34:05,633 AND HERE IT IS. 862 00:34:05,633 --> 00:34:07,600 SO HERE'S THE VERTICAL PROFILE 863 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,900 IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY BOUNDARY LAYER 864 00:34:09,900 --> 00:34:11,566 WITH, YOU KNOW, PRETTY BAD AIR QUALITY. 865 00:34:11,566 --> 00:34:14,066 BUT AGAIN, A LITTLE DRAWDOWN OF THE CO2, 866 00:34:14,066 --> 00:34:16,266 SO THE BIOSPHERE IS ACTIVE, AND IT'S TAKING THE CO2 867 00:34:16,266 --> 00:34:18,433 OUT OF THE AIR IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. 868 00:34:18,433 --> 00:34:21,166 THIS IS THAT LITTLE CUT-ACROSS SPOT THAT I SHOWED YOU, 869 00:34:21,166 --> 00:34:22,566 THAT RED DOT OF DATA, 870 00:34:22,566 --> 00:34:25,800 AND THE METHANE IS THIS SPIKE RIGHT HERE 871 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:28,100 WHERE THEY NIPPED RIGHT INTO THE PLUME. 872 00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:30,033 SO WE'VE GOT A TON OF GREAT DATA FROM THAT FLIGHT 873 00:34:30,033 --> 00:34:31,566 AND THE NEXT ONE. 874 00:34:31,566 --> 00:34:34,033 AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ANALYZING IT. 875 00:34:36,300 --> 00:34:39,066 SO UP IN SHASTA COUNTY, WHICH IS FAR NORTH, 876 00:34:39,066 --> 00:34:41,233 SO HERE'S WHERE WE TOOK OFF. WE WENT TO THE NORTH. 877 00:34:41,233 --> 00:34:42,733 THIS PICTURE WILL TAKE A MINUTE FOR YOUR EYES TO ADJUST, 878 00:34:42,733 --> 00:34:45,133 SO LET ME GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SEE IT. 879 00:34:45,133 --> 00:34:47,300 THIS IS A CLOUD FRONT HERE. 880 00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:50,200 SO THE REALLY BRIGHT STUFF THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS CLOUDS. 881 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:54,366 BUT THERE IS A GRAY SMEAR OVER HERE, 882 00:34:54,366 --> 00:34:57,066 WHICH IS THE SMOKE. 883 00:34:57,066 --> 00:34:59,766 IF YOU LOOK OVER ON THE CHEAT SHEET ON THE LEFT HERE, 884 00:34:59,766 --> 00:35:01,633 I'LL SHOW YOU THE HOT SPOTS 885 00:35:01,633 --> 00:35:03,600 TO GIVE YOU A CLUE WHERE TO TRY TO SEE THE SMOKE. 886 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,600 THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME HOT SPOTS UNDER THE CLOUDS, 887 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,366 AND THERE'S SOME UP HERE TO THE NORTH. 888 00:35:07,366 --> 00:35:09,866 THE WINDS WERE COMING FROM THE NORTH, NORTHWEST. 889 00:35:09,866 --> 00:35:13,000 AND THIS IS A PLOT OF-- WHAT DID I DO? 890 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,900 I THINK I DID METHANE. MAYBE IT'S CO2. 891 00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:17,866 I ACTUALLY CAN'T SEE THE PRINT. IT'S MUCH TOO SMALL. 892 00:35:17,866 --> 00:35:19,333 IT'S CO2. 893 00:35:19,333 --> 00:35:20,966 THIS IS A PLOT OF CO2 ON THE FLIGHT TRACK. 894 00:35:20,966 --> 00:35:23,500 SO THERE WERE A COUPLE PLACES WHERE WE GOT ENHANCED CO2. 895 00:35:23,500 --> 00:35:25,833 AND NOW WE'LL GO BACK AND DO THE WIND ANALYSIS, 896 00:35:25,833 --> 00:35:28,366 AND WE'LL SEE HOW ROBUST THOSE CORRELATIONS ARE 897 00:35:28,366 --> 00:35:31,800 OF THE CO2 TO THE HOT SPOTS TO THE WIND INFORMATION 898 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,800 AND TO THE ALTITUDE 899 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:36,233 WHERE THERE MAY BE FOLDS 900 00:35:36,233 --> 00:35:38,433 OR LAYERS OF THE SMOKE. 901 00:35:38,433 --> 00:35:40,566 SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ANALYZING THAT. 902 00:35:40,566 --> 00:35:42,066 THAT WAS YESTERDAY, 903 00:35:42,066 --> 00:35:43,866 SO I REALLY NEED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MY TEAM, 904 00:35:43,866 --> 00:35:46,033 EMMA AND TOMOAKI AND WARREN, ALL OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY 905 00:35:46,033 --> 00:35:47,833 LOOKING WIDE AWAKE AND PRESENTABLE, 906 00:35:47,833 --> 00:35:49,900 BUT WHO WERE ANALYZING-- COLLECTING AND ANALYZING 907 00:35:49,900 --> 00:35:51,933 THIS DATA YESTERDAY. 908 00:35:51,933 --> 00:35:54,733 SO WE'RE A TEAM PROJECT, AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS 909 00:35:54,733 --> 00:35:57,233 I GET TO TAKE THE SHOWER AND GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP 910 00:35:57,233 --> 00:35:59,333 AND THE TEAM GETS TO GET COMFORTABLE CHAIRS 911 00:35:59,333 --> 00:36:01,533 AND GETS TO SIT BACK THERE 912 00:36:01,533 --> 00:36:03,666 WHERE NO ONE CAN THROW TOMATOES AT THEM. 913 00:36:03,666 --> 00:36:05,966 HERE'S THE DATA IN THAT SAME ANALYSIS FROM YESTERDAY. 914 00:36:05,966 --> 00:36:07,833 AND TO BE HONEST, 915 00:36:07,833 --> 00:36:09,966 I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT VERY CAREFULLY YET, 916 00:36:09,966 --> 00:36:11,900 BUT YOU CAN SEE THE SAME SORTS OF FEATURES, RIGHT? 917 00:36:11,900 --> 00:36:13,933 YOU CAN SEE THE DRAWDOWN. 918 00:36:13,933 --> 00:36:16,366 OH, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THIS VERY CAREFULLY. 919 00:36:16,366 --> 00:36:18,266 I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THIS TURNS OUT TO BE. 920 00:36:18,266 --> 00:36:20,433 THERE'S A BIG ENHANCEMENT OF CO2 IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 921 00:36:20,433 --> 00:36:22,833 AND YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE PLUME 922 00:36:22,833 --> 00:36:25,566 PROBABLY RIGHT HERE AND HERE. 923 00:36:25,566 --> 00:36:27,466 SO ASK ME IN A COUPLE WEEKS, 924 00:36:27,466 --> 00:36:30,200 AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED ON YESTERDAY'S FLIGHT. 925 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,533 BUT I CAN SHOW YOU SOME NUMBERS, 926 00:36:33,533 --> 00:36:36,600 AND I'M NOT GONNA PROMISE THAT THEY'RE PERFECT YET. 927 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:40,500 BUT LET ME COMPARE FOR YOU THE FOUR FLIGHTS I'VE SHOWN YOU NOW. 928 00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:41,966 WE'VE GOT RIM FIRE EARLY ON. 929 00:36:41,966 --> 00:36:44,100 WE'VE GOT RIM FIRE LATER WHEN IT WAS SMOLDERING. 930 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:46,066 WE'VE GOT EL PORTAL, 931 00:36:46,066 --> 00:36:48,066 AND WE'VE GOT YESTERDAY'S SHASTA COUNTY FIRES. 932 00:36:48,066 --> 00:36:50,766 SO THIS NUMBER DOWN AT THE BOTTOM 933 00:36:50,766 --> 00:36:52,266 IS THAT RATIO I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT-- 934 00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:54,700 HOW MUCH METHANE FOR EVERY CO2. 935 00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:57,000 METHANE'S 120 TIMES WORSE AS A GREENHOUSE GAS. 936 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,133 AND IT STILL HAS A LITTLE MORE POLLUTING CHEMISTRY TO DO, TOO. 937 00:37:00,133 --> 00:37:02,700 IT'S NOT REALLY DONE UNTIL IT GETS TO CO2. 938 00:37:02,700 --> 00:37:04,100 SO IT'S INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE 939 00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:05,933 OF HOW CARBON COMES OUT OF THE FIRE. 940 00:37:05,933 --> 00:37:07,566 SO LOOK ACROSS THE BOTTOM. 941 00:37:07,566 --> 00:37:09,000 THESE NUMBERS ARE SOMETHING LIKE 8, 942 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,933 EXCEPT FOR THE RED ONES THAT ARE SOMETHING LIKE 16 943 00:37:10,933 --> 00:37:13,333 AND THE BLUE ONE THAT'S SOMETHING LIKE 4. 944 00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:16,133 SO YOU'RE SEEING A FACTOR OF ABOUT 4 IN THAT RATIO 945 00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:18,566 OF HOW MUCH OF THE CARBON COMES OUT AS METHANE 946 00:37:18,566 --> 00:37:20,566 FROM ONE FIRE TO THE NEXT. 947 00:37:20,566 --> 00:37:22,400 SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO. 948 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,233 HOPE--HOPEFULLY, THE SHASTA FIRES 949 00:37:24,233 --> 00:37:26,433 WILL KEEP BURNING FOR A WHILE AND WE CAN GO SEE THEM AGAIN 950 00:37:26,433 --> 00:37:28,800 WHEN THEY'RE OLD AND SMOLDERY. 951 00:37:31,433 --> 00:37:33,400 AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THESE MISSIONS, 952 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,400 YOU CAN FOLLOW US IF YOU'D LIKE. 953 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:37,333 THERE IS A REALLY GREAT TOOL 954 00:37:37,333 --> 00:37:39,966 IN THE NASA AIRBORNE SCIENCE PROJECT-- 955 00:37:39,966 --> 00:37:42,166 NASA AIRBORNE SCIENCE OFFICE? 956 00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:44,266 NASA AIRBORNE SCIENCE HAS A GREAT TOOL 957 00:37:44,266 --> 00:37:46,700 CALLED THE MISSION TOOLS SUITE. 958 00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:49,466 AND IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT, YOU CAN FIND THEIR WEB SITE. 959 00:37:49,466 --> 00:37:52,033 AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US BY OUR TAIL NUMBER. 960 00:37:52,033 --> 00:37:54,066 WE'RE ALSO LISTED AS THE ALPHA JET. 961 00:37:54,066 --> 00:37:55,966 WE'RE THE ONLY ALPHA JET IN THE LIST. 962 00:37:55,966 --> 00:37:57,933 AND YOU CAN WATCH US IN REAL TIME. 963 00:37:57,933 --> 00:37:59,533 THERE'S A--IT'S, LIKE, EVERY TEN SECONDS 964 00:37:59,533 --> 00:38:02,133 THEY UPDATE THE LOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. 965 00:38:02,133 --> 00:38:04,366 YOU CAN ALSO GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR PREVIOUS TRACKS, 966 00:38:04,366 --> 00:38:06,500 ALTHOUGH WE ONLY GOT THE TRACKER INSTALLED A FEW FLIGHTS AGO. 967 00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:08,333 SO THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF THEM TO LOOK AT. 968 00:38:08,333 --> 00:38:10,133 BUT THIS ONE IS IN THERE. 969 00:38:10,133 --> 00:38:12,066 YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER 970 00:38:12,066 --> 00:38:14,100 IF YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY BORED. 971 00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:16,200 I TWEET, LIKE, RIGHT BEFORE EVERY FLIGHT AND RIGHT AFTER. 972 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:18,333 I PROMISE, YOU WON'T GET VERY MANY TWEETS FROM ME. 973 00:38:18,333 --> 00:38:20,300 AND YOU CAN CHECK US OUT ON YOUTUBE 974 00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:21,966 IF YOU'RE REALLY FEELING ADVENTURESOME. 975 00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:23,466 THERE'S A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN FIND US, 976 00:38:23,466 --> 00:38:26,133 AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GONNA READ THOSE LINKS OUT TO YOU. 977 00:38:26,133 --> 00:38:29,400 BUT WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM 978 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:31,500 CALLED THE "YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY." 979 00:38:31,500 --> 00:38:33,133 AS DR. BICAY MENTIONED, 980 00:38:33,133 --> 00:38:35,133 WE DO A LOT OF SATELLITE VALIDATION WORK, 981 00:38:35,133 --> 00:38:36,833 NONE OF WHICH I SHOWED YOU TODAY, 982 00:38:36,833 --> 00:38:38,733 'CAUSE IT'S NOT IN CALIFORNIA. IT'S ACTUALLY IN NEVADA. 983 00:38:38,733 --> 00:38:40,800 THERE'S A VERY SHINY, FLAT PLACE IN NEVADA 984 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:42,266 WHERE A LOT OF SATELLITES WILL STARE 985 00:38:42,266 --> 00:38:47,200 TO CALIBRATE THEIR MEASUREMENTS OF BRIGHTNESS. 986 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,500 SORT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MEASUREMENT OF A SATELLITE 987 00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:52,000 IS ITS RADIOMETRIC CALIBRATION. 988 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,966 SO THAT PLACE IS FORTUNATELY CLOSE ENOUGH 989 00:38:54,966 --> 00:38:56,600 THAT WE CAN GET THERE AND BACK ON ONE TANK OF GAS. 990 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:58,633 SO WE GO THERE ABOUT EVERY MONTH 991 00:38:58,633 --> 00:39:00,833 TO UNDER-FLY A SATELLITE CALLED GOSAT, 992 00:39:00,833 --> 00:39:02,966 WHICH IS A JAPANESE SATELLITE WHICH MEASURES CO2. 993 00:39:02,966 --> 00:39:05,433 AND, HUZZAH, 994 00:39:05,433 --> 00:39:08,100 OCO-2, THE NASA ORBITING CARBON OBSERVATORY, 995 00:39:08,100 --> 00:39:12,100 HAS JUST, A MONTH AGO, LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY 996 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:13,400 AND HAS FINALLY REACHED ITS ORBIT 997 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:15,600 IN A SATELLITE CLUSTER CALLED THE A-TRAIN. 998 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,933 SO THOSE, AS SOON AS THEY GET COOLED DOWN, 999 00:39:17,933 --> 00:39:19,466 THAT SATELLITE WILL ALSO BE MEASURING 1000 00:39:19,466 --> 00:39:21,900 ITS RADIOMETRIC CALIBRATION AT RAILROAD VALLEY 1001 00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:24,400 AND IT WILL ALSO TAKE REGULAR MEASUREMENTS AT RAILROAD VALLEY. 1002 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,666 SO WE'LL BE FLYING THERE EVEN MORE OFTEN 1003 00:39:26,666 --> 00:39:28,466 TO MEASURE THE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE COLUMN 1004 00:39:28,466 --> 00:39:31,300 UNDERNEATH THE SATELLITE AS IT FLIES OVERHEAD. 1005 00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:33,766 ONE OF THE DAYS WHEN WE WERE DOING THAT, 1006 00:39:33,766 --> 00:39:35,533 LAST NOVEMBER, 1007 00:39:35,533 --> 00:39:38,300 THIS DOCUMENTARY CREW FOR THE "YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY" 1008 00:39:38,300 --> 00:39:40,033 CAME TO AMES 1009 00:39:40,033 --> 00:39:42,933 AND MY NEW BEST FRIEND FLEW THE BACKSEAT 1010 00:39:42,933 --> 00:39:44,900 BECAUSE, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, 1011 00:39:44,900 --> 00:39:47,000 HARRISON FORD IS A CERTIFIED PILOT. 1012 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,133 SO HE WAS EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT 1013 00:39:50,133 --> 00:39:53,000 AND, HONESTLY, THE RAILROAD VALLEY FLIGHT 1014 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,366 IS ONE THAT--THAT OUR PILOTS KNOW REALLY WELL. 1015 00:39:55,366 --> 00:39:57,133 IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE FLIGHT. 1016 00:39:57,133 --> 00:39:59,133 THEY'VE DONE IT PROBABLY 30 TIMES BY NOW. 1017 00:39:59,133 --> 00:40:01,933 AND SO THEY ACTUALLY LET HIM FLY THE BACKSEAT, 1018 00:40:01,933 --> 00:40:03,966 AND HE COLLECTED THE DATA FOR US. 1019 00:40:03,966 --> 00:40:06,500 AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DOCUMENTARY, 1020 00:40:06,500 --> 00:40:09,000 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE NIFTY LITTLE PIECE 1021 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:10,466 THAT AMES PRODUCED ABOUT THE VISIT 1022 00:40:10,466 --> 00:40:12,700 OF HARRISON FORD TO AMES. 1023 00:40:12,700 --> 00:40:15,000 WE GET WAY MORE FILM TIME ON THAT ONE. 1024 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:17,566 WE GET, LIKE, FIVE SECONDS IN THE SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY, 1025 00:40:17,566 --> 00:40:19,500 BUT WE'VE GOT, LIKE, THREE MINUTES IN THE AMES VIDEO, 1026 00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:21,133 SO GO TO THE AMES VIDEO. 1027 00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:23,166 THERE'S LOTS MORE ABOUT THE AJAX PROJECT IN THAT. 1028 00:40:23,166 --> 00:40:25,100 SO THERE'S LOTS OF PLACES TO FIND US. 1029 00:40:25,100 --> 00:40:27,066 I'M GONNA BE AROUND HERE, TOO. 1030 00:40:27,066 --> 00:40:29,200 IF SOMEONE WILL BRING ME A COOKIE, I'LL STAY FOR HOURS. 1031 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,700 BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM-- 1032 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:33,066 AND I KNOW THERE ARE NAMES MISSING, 1033 00:40:33,066 --> 00:40:35,333 AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT LIKE I SAID, 1034 00:40:35,333 --> 00:40:37,866 THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, AND THERE'S NO WAY 1035 00:40:37,866 --> 00:40:39,766 NO MATTER HOW MUCH CAFFEINE I COULD DRINK, 1036 00:40:39,766 --> 00:40:41,533 THAT I COULD DO THIS MYSELF. 1037 00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:43,066 AND EVERY PROBLEM WE COME UP AGAINST, 1038 00:40:43,066 --> 00:40:44,933 ONE OF THESE PEOPLE HAS SOLVED. 1039 00:40:44,933 --> 00:40:47,966 AND IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY HOURS PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PUT IN 1040 00:40:47,966 --> 00:40:50,900 WHEN YOU SAY, "BUT THERE'S GONNA BE GOOD DATA." 1041 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:54,200 IT'S ALMOST AS GOOD AS, "THERE'S GONNA BE FREE COOKIES." 1042 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:55,600 SO I REALLY NEED TO THANK MY TEAM-- 1043 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,200 EMMA, TOMOAKI, AND WARREN, IN PARTICULAR. 1044 00:40:57,200 --> 00:40:58,666 CHRIS IS OUR METEOROLOGIST, 1045 00:40:58,666 --> 00:41:01,566 AND QUINCY AND EMMETT SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS 1046 00:41:01,566 --> 00:41:05,166 RELATED TO MECHANICAL PARTS AND GRAVITY. 1047 00:41:05,166 --> 00:41:08,000 AND THEN I DID WANT TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME 1048 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:10,033 IF JACOB HAD A MINUTE LEFT. 1049 00:41:10,033 --> 00:41:12,133 I KNOW YOU MIGHT THINK, HOW ON EARTH 1050 00:41:12,133 --> 00:41:14,133 WOULD I GET INVOLVED WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS? 1051 00:41:14,133 --> 00:41:16,533 AND THE ANSWER IS, HELL IF I KNOW. 1052 00:41:16,533 --> 00:41:18,066 I STARTED IN NEW YORK. 1053 00:41:18,066 --> 00:41:20,133 I WENT TO A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE. 1054 00:41:20,133 --> 00:41:22,800 MY MOTHER BEMOANED THE FACT THAT I THEN WENT WEST, 1055 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:24,700 AND I WOUND UP IN COLORADO FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL. 1056 00:41:24,700 --> 00:41:26,833 AND SHE SAID, "COME BACK EAST WHEN YOU'RE DONE." 1057 00:41:26,833 --> 00:41:28,833 AND I SAID, "SURE, MOM. I'M GOING TO CALIFORNIA." 1058 00:41:28,833 --> 00:41:31,366 SO I'VE BEEN MOVING WEST EVER SINCE. 1059 00:41:31,366 --> 00:41:33,966 I TOOK A DETOUR TO DO AN INTERNSHIP AT NASA GODDARD. 1060 00:41:33,966 --> 00:41:35,433 ACTUALLY, THAT WAS WHERE I FIRST GOT INTERESTED 1061 00:41:35,433 --> 00:41:37,033 IN ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY. 1062 00:41:37,033 --> 00:41:39,266 THAT WAS MY FIRST SORT OF HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITY 1063 00:41:39,266 --> 00:41:41,733 TO PLAY WITH CHEMISTRY IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. 1064 00:41:41,733 --> 00:41:43,633 IT WAS JUST IN A MODEL. I PROMISE. 1065 00:41:43,633 --> 00:41:45,466 I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EVIL. 1066 00:41:45,466 --> 00:41:47,533 BUT IT WAS ALSO MY FIRST CHANCE TO TRY ATMOSPHERIC MODELING. 1067 00:41:47,533 --> 00:41:49,900 YOU SEE, I WENT BACK TO THE LAB. 1068 00:41:49,900 --> 00:41:51,633 SO MY TRAINING IS ACTUALLY IN LABORATORY, 1069 00:41:51,633 --> 00:41:53,533 SORT OF, HANDS-ON MEASUREMENTS. 1070 00:41:53,533 --> 00:41:55,266 BUT I'D NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY 1071 00:41:55,266 --> 00:41:58,100 TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE LAUNCHED 1072 00:41:58,100 --> 00:41:59,433 UNTIL I WAS HERE AT AMES. 1073 00:41:59,433 --> 00:42:01,200 AND REALLY, THE--THE DIRECTION FROM OUR-- 1074 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:04,333 AND THE SUPPORT FROM OUR DIVISION MANAGEMENT 1075 00:42:04,333 --> 00:42:06,433 AND OUR BRANCH MANAGEMENT HAS REALLY BEEN AMAZING. 1076 00:42:06,433 --> 00:42:08,633 AND I HAVE NO AIRCRAFT PEDIGREE. 1077 00:42:08,633 --> 00:42:12,400 IN 2008, WHEN THEY SAID, "HERE, LAURA, MAKE THIS WORK," 1078 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,533 AND LOOK WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN SIX YEARS. 1079 00:42:15,533 --> 00:42:17,600 SO IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT TO BE HERE AT AMES, 1080 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:19,566 WHERE I HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH 1081 00:42:19,566 --> 00:42:21,100 AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW THINGS, 1082 00:42:21,100 --> 00:42:23,400 LIKE AIRCRAFT MEASUREMENTS, THAT I'D NEVER DONE BEFORE. 1083 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,133 AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLOUDS ON MARS, 1084 00:42:25,133 --> 00:42:26,700 I'M LEARNING ABOUT THAT, TOO. 1085 00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:29,066 SO BRING ME A COOKIE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT CLOUDS ON MARS. 1086 00:42:29,066 --> 00:42:30,966 SO MY JOURNEY'S REALLY GONE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK 1087 00:42:30,966 --> 00:42:33,433 THROUGH MARYLAND TO COLORADO 1088 00:42:33,433 --> 00:42:36,166 TO CALIFORNIA AND NEXT STOP WILL BE MARS, 1089 00:42:36,166 --> 00:42:37,200 BUT DON'T TELL MY MOTHER. 1090 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:40,433 [laughter] THANKS. 1091 00:42:40,433 --> 00:42:42,500 [applause] 1092 00:42:42,500 --> 00:42:46,566 SHE'S PROBABLY GONNA WATCH THE VIDEO. 1093 00:42:46,566 --> 00:42:48,766 - SO WE HAVE TIME FOR A FEW QUESTIONS. 1094 00:42:48,766 --> 00:42:51,033 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, STAND UP, 1095 00:42:51,033 --> 00:42:54,300 WAIT FOR THE MICROPHONE. 1096 00:42:54,300 --> 00:42:56,466 - OR JUST BRING ME A COOKIE. 1097 00:42:56,466 --> 00:42:58,466 - YES, OR BRING COOKIES. 1098 00:43:04,133 --> 00:43:06,700 - HI. VERY INTERESTING, THANK YOU. 1099 00:43:06,700 --> 00:43:09,333 THE--THE AJAX AIRCRAFT 1100 00:43:09,333 --> 00:43:11,100 IS--IS UNIQUE, YOU KNOW, 1101 00:43:11,100 --> 00:43:13,966 IN TERMS OF IT BEING STATIONED HERE AND AVAILABLE HERE. 1102 00:43:13,966 --> 00:43:17,133 AND I WONDER IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT INSTRUMENTATION 1103 00:43:17,133 --> 00:43:19,433 ON OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES. 1104 00:43:19,433 --> 00:43:21,366 A FEW YEARS BACK, 1105 00:43:21,366 --> 00:43:23,100 SOME--SOME FOLKS HERE AT AMES 1106 00:43:23,100 --> 00:43:26,266 WERE PUTTING INSTRUMENTATION ON THE "IKHANA" UAV. 1107 00:43:26,266 --> 00:43:28,733 AND SO I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD COMMENT 1108 00:43:28,733 --> 00:43:30,833 ON SORT OF THE PORTABILITY OF THE MEASUREMENTS 1109 00:43:30,833 --> 00:43:32,966 AND THAT KIND OF THING, 1110 00:43:32,966 --> 00:43:35,333 TO BROADEN THE PLACES WE COULD GO 1111 00:43:35,333 --> 00:43:37,500 RATHER THAN RELYING JUST ON THE AJAX AIRCRAFT. 1112 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:39,533 - MM-HMM, SURE. 1113 00:43:39,533 --> 00:43:41,600 THE REAL ADVANTAGE-- 1114 00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:43,633 THERE ARE TWO REAL ADVANTAGES TO US 1115 00:43:43,633 --> 00:43:47,200 WHEN DESIGNING TO THE ALPHA JET. 1116 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:49,233 ONE IS THAT THE MOUNTING POINTS 1117 00:43:49,233 --> 00:43:51,400 ARE A STANDARD NATO MOUNTING POINT. 1118 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:53,233 SO THAT WING POD CAN ACTUALLY 1119 00:43:53,233 --> 00:43:55,666 JUST BE CLIPPED ON TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, 1120 00:43:55,666 --> 00:43:57,666 ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT HAS A NATO MOUNTING POINT, 1121 00:43:57,666 --> 00:44:00,866 WHICH IS RELATIVELY STANDARD AS FAR AS THINGS GO. 1122 00:44:00,866 --> 00:44:02,000 THE DISADVANTAGE, THOUGH, 1123 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:05,800 IS THAT THE ALPHA JET'S A BOMBER, 1124 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:08,366 AND SO WE HAVEN'T HAD TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WEIGHT. 1125 00:44:08,366 --> 00:44:10,400 IT CAN CARRY A TON OF WEIGHT. 1126 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,200 SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH 1127 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:15,233 SORT OF THE EASY SOLUTION FOR PUMPS, 1128 00:44:15,233 --> 00:44:17,133 AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF POWER AVAILABLE. 1129 00:44:17,133 --> 00:44:19,800 SO OUR PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY VOLUME, 1130 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:21,166 NOT MASS. 1131 00:44:21,166 --> 00:44:23,566 SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE "IKHANA." 1132 00:44:23,566 --> 00:44:25,633 I WOULD HATE TO BE ON TAPE AS-- 1133 00:44:25,633 --> 00:44:27,866 COMMENTING ON ITS SPECIFICATIONS, 1134 00:44:27,866 --> 00:44:30,766 BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO PAY ATTENTION TO WEIGHT. 1135 00:44:30,766 --> 00:44:32,566 AND I KNOW ON A LOT OF OTHER PLATFORMS, THEY DO, 1136 00:44:32,566 --> 00:44:34,833 ESPECIALLY A UAV. YOUR PAYLOAD HAS TO BE SMALL 1137 00:44:34,833 --> 00:44:36,766 BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE VERY LIGHTWEIGHT. 1138 00:44:36,766 --> 00:44:38,966 SO WE'VE DESIGNED PRETTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ALPHA JET. 1139 00:44:38,966 --> 00:44:40,633 THAT SIZE THAT WE HAVE, 1140 00:44:40,633 --> 00:44:42,533 THE SIZE AND SHAPE ARE VERY SPECIFIC. 1141 00:44:42,533 --> 00:44:45,766 BUT THEY'RE SMALLER THAN MOST OTHER AIRCRAFT 1142 00:44:45,766 --> 00:44:47,500 THAT CAN CARRY HEAVY LOADS. 1143 00:44:47,500 --> 00:44:49,800 SO WE COULD BE PRETTY PORTABLE INTO AN AIRCRAFT 1144 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,233 WHERE WEIGHT IS NOT A CONCERN. 1145 00:44:54,566 --> 00:44:56,000 - ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 1146 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:58,400 LET'S JOIN ME IN THANKING DR. BLAZE-- 1147 00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:00,400 SORRY, LAURA. 1148 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:01,900 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A GREAT TALK. 1149 00:45:01,900 --> 00:45:05,100 [applause]