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Tiny particles in the stratosphere, known as aerosols, play a large role in our climate by reflecting sunlight and acting as surfaces for chemical reactions that can affect the protective ozone layer. To understand the current baseline state and variability of our atmosphere, the SABRE project is building a detailed record of these particles and the gases around them.
The data we collect is vital for understanding Earth’s energy balance, which directly controls weather patterns and surface climate across the globe, and how the stratosphere reacts to perturbations from human activity and natural events like volcanic eruptions. Understanding current stratospheric conditions and sensitivities is also crucial for evaluating the potential risks of proposed “climate intervention” approaches that consider the intentional release of reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool surface temperatures.
SABRE is an extended airborne observations program using the NASA WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft to fly high into the stratosphere to study the transport, chemistry, microphysics, and radiative properties of aerosols and trace gases. These research flights help us study how aerosols form, move, and change across different seasons and regions, giving us the scientific data and tools needed to create better climate models and support data-driven decision making.
SABRE is a NOAA Earth's Radiation Budget (ERB) Initiative Project.
