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Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics
Operational

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)

PACE is NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. It launched on February 8, 2024, extending and improving NASA's over 20-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere), and clouds.

Launch Date
January 2024
Class
Flight Project
Website
Key Staffs
  • Ocean Color Atmospheric Correction Lead
  • Science Data Segment Manager
  • Science Data Segment Deputy Manager
  • Polarimeter Lead
  • Project Scientist
  • Deputy Project Scientist
  • Deputy Project Scientist
  • Instrument Scientist
  • Senior Scientist
  • Senior Scientist
  • Senior Scientist

PACE is NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. It launched on February 8, 2024, extending and improving NASA's over 20-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere), and clouds.

PACE will advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web. It will also continue systematic records of key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and Earth's climate.

Related Publications

2019. "Inversion of multi-angular polarimetric measurements over open and coastal ocean waters: a joint retrieval algorithm for aerosol and water leaving radiance properties.", Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 12 (7): 3921–3941 [10.5194/amt-12-3921-2019] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Neural Network Reflectance Prediction Model for Both Open Ocean and Coastal Waters.", Remote Sensing, 12 (9): 1421 [10.3390/rs12091421] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Instantaneous photosynthetically available radiation models for ocean waters using neural networks.", Applied Optics, 61 (33): 9985 [10.1364/ao.474914] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Deriving anisotropic correction for upwelling radiance from PACE's multi-angle polarimetry.", Remote Sensing of Environment, 320 114647 [10.1016/j.rse.2025.114647] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Water-leaving contribution to polarized radiation field over ocean.", Optics Express, 25 (16): A689 [10.1364/oe.25.00a689] [Journal Article/Letter]