NRL’s Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM) III was launched on the SPOT 4 satellite on March 23, 1998 to measure the vertical distribution of ozone, aerosols, water vapor, and nitrogen dioxide in the Antarctic and Arctic stratosphere. This instrument was a follow-on to the POAM II instrument, which operated from September 1993 until the SPOT 4 satellite failed in November 1996. POAM III made solar occultation measurements from 1998-2006 in nine narrowband channels from the visible to the near infrared (354, 439.6, 442.2, 603, 761.3, 779, 922.4, 935.9, and 1018 nm). The instrument has a vertical resolution of 1-2 km. From the measured transmissions, it is possible to determine the densities of aerosols at altitudes from 10-30 km, ozone from 10-60 km, water vapor from 10-40 km, and nitrogen dioxide from 20-40 km. These measurements provide a unique dataset for studying ozone chemistry in the polar regions. Opportunities exist for both data analysis and modeling; modeling opportunities include both photochemistry and the microphysics of stratospheric clouds and aerosols.

 

key words

Aerosols; Atmospheric models; Atmospheric ozone; Atmospheric radiation; Atmospheric temperature; Clouds; Nitrogen oxides; Photochemistry; Polar regions and processes; Stratosphere; Troposphere;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Additional Benefits

Relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

Health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.