2. NASA's Aura satellite launched July, 15, 2004 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif Orbit: Polar: 705 km, sun-synchronous, 98' inclination, ascending 1:45 PM +/- 15 min. equator crossing time. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7920 Aura follows Aqua in the same orbit by 15 minutes. Expected six-year spacecraft life Four instruments: MLS, TES, OMI, HIRDLS

8. Aura Ground level ozone over South America

9. Nitrogen dioxide from the Aura satellite on 11/12/04.

10. Polar stratospheric clouds. Thin clouds made of mixtures of ice, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid form in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) over the poles when temperatures drop below -78°C (-109°F).

11. Feedback Loop The more ozone destruction in the stratosphere, the colder it would get just because there was less ozone. And the colder it would get, the more ozone depletion would occur.

12. Source: Aura Mission Website http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aura/main/index.html Accessed June 4, 2005