Madison Holland smiles widely as she gives a speech

Madison Holland is a senior at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and has demonstrated a profound passion for atmospheric and earth sciences. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's in Atmospheric and Earth Science with a meteorology concentration and minors in natural disasters and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She also works part-time in the NASA’s Airborne Data Management Group (ADMG) which is part of UAH’s Laboratory for Applied Science within the Earth System Science Center (ESSC). This past summer, Holland participated in NASA's prestigious Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), where she was immersed in real-world research, collecting atmospheric chemistry data, and gaining interdisciplinary experience.

 

Her team conducted research using a combination of NASA satellite and aircraft data. One of the highlights of her experience was her first research flight aboard the Dynamic Aviation B200, a small, highly specialized aircraft used by both NASA and the military. She explains that they flew at the hottest time of day, making the ride bumpy due to the heat coming off the ground. Onboard, Holland and two other students collected air samples using canisters attached to tubes outside the plane. One of her most memorable moments involved collecting data over Baltimore, Maryland. "I opened a can right before we flew over the collapsed bridge to see if there had been any changes in CO2 levels since the collapse," she said, illustrating the real-world applications of her work.

 

The plane was equipped with instruments to measure formaldehyde, water vapor, and CO2 concentrations. Holland and her team had the unique experience of watching pollution levels rise in real-time as they flew over rush hour traffic and large landfills. She shares that even though she learned these things in class, it was so different when she was up there seeing the data unfold before her eyes.

Madison Holland collecting aircraft data during her SARP internship

Photo description: Madison Holland collecting aircraft data during her SARP internship

Photo credit: Madison Holland

The experience of collecting data didn't stop with the airborne research. Holland also participated in ground-truthing missions, collaborating with scientists and engineers from Johns Hopkins University to measure pollutants in Baltimore. She rode in a mobile observatory, a van outfitted with complex instruments designed to monitor air quality. As they drove through rural and urban areas, Holland recorded data on various pollutants, including CO2 and methane, while noting traffic and environmental conditions that could influence the readings.

 

Although atmospheric chemistry wasn't her primary interest, she found the experience deeply enriching. Before SARP, her academic interests aligned more with physical oceanography and large-scale weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña. However, the internship broadened her horizons, giving her insight into new areas of science she hadn't previously considered. 

 

Throughout her time in the program, Holland also attended optional coding lessons, which proved helpful for her research project. While coding wasn't mandatory, she found it essential for visualizing large datasets, especially for satellite data analysis. "Even though it wasn't directly related to my major, I still learned a lot," she said. "SARP showed me just how interconnected all of these scientific fields really are."

 

Madison Holland in front of the NASA P-3 during her SARP internship

Photo description: Madison Holland collecting aircraft data during her SARP internship Photo credit: Madison Holland

At the end of the summer, Holland presented her research at NASA's Langley Research Center, concluding an intensive but rewarding few weeks. She credited much of her success to the mentorship and collaborative environment fostered within SARP. Her research mentor, Dr. Guanyu Huang, who coincidentally is also a UAH alumnus, made the connection even more meaningful. Despite their different backgrounds, Holland and Dr. Huang shared a passion for atmospheric research, which made for an excellent collaboration.

 

Holland's role in supporting NASA’s ADMG involves organizing and sharing data collected from airborne research projects like those from NASA SARP. By curating contextual metadata and promoting the open dissemination of these datasets, Holland’s contributions help ensure that NASA's data reaches a broad audience - from scientists conducting atmospheric and climate research to educators incorporating real-world data into their classes. This work also supports NASA's mission to advance scientific knowledge about Earth systems, making it easier for researchers to collaborate across disciplines and for the public to stay informed about climate-related issues.

 

As Holland looks ahead to her future, she feels well-prepared for whatever comes next, whether it's continuing her work in meteorology or exploring new paths in atmospheric science. Through SARP and her work with ADMG, she has gained invaluable experiences and new skills; we look forward to seeing where her path takes her.