A measure of the prevalence of aerosols in the atmosphere. Ideal for tracking the evolution of episodic aerosol plumes from dust outbreaks, volcanic ash, and biomass burning.

Cloud characteristics including: fraction, height and pressure for base and top, optical depth, and surface albedo.

Concentrations of Carbon monoxide (CO) and water vapor. CO is an important atmospheric trace gas for our understanding of tropospheric chemistry. Main sources of CO are combustion of fossil fuels, biomass burning, and atmospheric oxidation of methane and other hydrocarbons.

Formaldehyde concentration. Formaldehyde is an intermediate gas in almost all oxidation chains of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), leading eventually to CO₂. Sources include vegetation, fires, traffic and industrial.

Total, tropospheric, and stratospheric nitrogen dioxide concentration. Nitrogen dioxide enters the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning, as well as natural processes including microbiological processes in soils, wildfires and lightning.

Total atmospheric column ozone concentration. Ozone shields the biosphere from solar ultraviolet radiation. In the troposphere, it acts as an efficient cleansing agent, but at high concentrations it also becomes harmful to the health of humans, animals, and vegetation. Ozone is also an important greenhouse-gas contributing to ongoing climate change.

Atmospheric sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentration. SO₂ enters Earth’s atmosphere through both natural and anthropogenic processes, though the majority is of anthropogenic origin. SO₂ emissions adversely affect human health and air quality and also have an effect on climate through radiative forcing.

Atmospheric methane (CH₄) concentration. After carbon dioxide (CO₂), it is the most important contributor to the anthropogenically enhanced greenhouse effect. It enters Earth’s atmosphere through both natural and anthropogenic processes, though the majority is of anthropogenic origin.