SACRAMENTO – At the request of scientists at the Air Resources Board, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will perform a series of flights between June 18 and June 25 to examine the atmosphere over the state to better understand the chemical dynamics of smog and greenhouse gases.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory is flying a series of flights originating at the Dryden Flight Research Center in Palmdale over southern California, the San Joaquin Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area and over the Pacific. The DC-8 is configured for atmospheric composition measurements as part of a large environmental science campaign to study the impact of air pollution on the Arctic's atmospheric chemistry and changing climate. NASA is also sending a specially outfitted P3 aircraft from its Ames Research Center in Mountain View to fly over northern California for additional sampling during the same time period.

The flights will gather samples aimed at helping ARB to:

• Obtain a better picture of greenhouse gas emission sources throughout the state;
• Characterize the types of pollution into the state from off-shore; and
• Distinguish the differences in air mass chemistry between urban and rural areas.

"This collaboration will give us information on how pollution is created, transported and even destroyed," said Bart Croes, chief of the ARB's Research Division. "The use of highly sophisticated technology to gather data at heights far beyond our normal reach and collaboration with NASA's very knowledgeable science and flight teams combine to create a rare opportunity."

The Air Resources Board has been a world leader in developing and implementing aggressive, cutting edge pollution control measures to combat smog and particulate matter for 40 years. The agency is also now working to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 as required by the AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act that Governor Schwarzenegger signed in 2006.