SAGE III Annual Science Team Meeting Summary
The ninth annual science team meeting for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III, conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), took place on August 19–20, 2026, at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Approximately 60 scientists and engineers gathered for this hybrid event, discussing various aspects of the mission, including instrument operations, data processing, modeling, algorithm development, and scientific findings.
Key Highlights:
- Mission Performance: Continued strong performance of SAGE III/ISS was emphasized, with plans to release expedited products in calendar year 2026 (CY26) and improvements to standard products in the upcoming version (V 6.1) scheduled for CY27.
- New Product Development: The introduction of a nighttime lunar occultation aerosol product aims to complement existing solar aerosol products.
- Importance of Data: SAGE III/ISS measurements are crucial for studying atmospheric composition and long-term trends in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, enhancing aerosol retrieval algorithms for instruments like OMPS-LP and OSIRIS.
- Impact of Natural Events: Significant events, such as the Hunga eruption in 2022 and the Australian fires in 2020, serve as vital case studies for cross-validation of SAGE III/ISS data against other measurement systems (e.g., CALIOP, MLS).
Future Directions:
Researchers underscored the necessity for improved data processing, visualization, and user-access tools to maximize the scientific value of SAGE III/ISS observations, ensuring broader application across scientific disciplines.
Published on: September 22, 2026, at 4:32 PM
By: NASA Contributor
