Atmospheric Carbon and Transport - America (ACT-America) Data Sets: Description, Management, and Delivery

The ACT-America project is a NASA Earth Venture Suborbital-2 mission designed to study the transport and fluxes of greenhouse gases. The open and freely available ACT-America data sets provide airborne in situ measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, trace gases, aerosols, clouds, and meteorological properties, airborne remote sensing measurements of aerosol backscatter, atmospheric boundary layer height and columnar content of atmospheric carbon dioxide, tower-based measurements, and modeled atmospheric mole fractions and regional carbon fluxes of greenhouse gases over the Central and Eastern United States. We conducted 121 research flights during five campaigns in four seasons during 2016-2019 over three regions of the US (Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and South) using two NASA research aircraft (B-200 and C-130). We performed three flight patterns (fair weather, frontal crossings, and OCO-2 underflights) and collected more than 1,140 h of airborne measurements via level-leg flights in the atmospheric boundary layer, lower, and upper free troposphere and vertical profiles spanning these altitudes. We also merged various airborne in situ measurements onto a common standard sampling interval, which brings coherence to the data, creates geolocated data products, and makes it much easier for the users to perform holistic analysis of the ACT-America data products. Here, we report on detailed information of data sets collected, the workflow for data sets including storage and processing of the quality controlled and quality assured harmonized observations, and their archival and formatting for users. Finally, we provide some important information on the dissemination of data products including metadata and highlights of applications of ACT-America data sets.

Ten commandments of successful trial management

A well-designed, adequately funded clinical trial based on sound science and conducted by experienced investigators and staff can falter if participating trial clinics are not managed well. Ten commandments for successful trial clinic management address key organizational and operational issues. Commandment I: Thou shalt know and follow thy rules. Commandment II: Thou shalt know and fulfill thy roles. Commandment III: Thou shalt meet thy commitments. Commandment IV: Thou shalt collaborate. Commandment V: Thou shalt communicate. Commandment VI: Thou shalt document. Commandment VII: Thou shalt honor thy participants. Commandment VIII: Thou shalt keep thy participants' secrets. Commandment IX: Thou shalt revere thy data. Commandment X: Thou shalt know and accept thy limitations. This report puts these commandments into context by providing concrete examples in the clinical trial setting. These commandments could serve as guidelines to the spectrum of personnel involved in the operations of a trial clinic, namely, principal investigators and co-investigators, trial coordinators, data managers, technicians, administrators, and support staff.