Samuel LeBlanc

Research Scientist

Bay Area Environmental Research Insitute

NASA Ames Research Center

Sunphotometer - Satellite (Sunsat) research group

Biography

Sam spends alot of time measuring how aerosol and clouds interact with sunlight to quantify how they affect current and future climate.

My research is focused on cloud and aerosol remote sensing and improvements to measurement techniques and sampling strategies. I am interested in quantifying cloud and aerosol properties in areas difficult to sample from satellite to evaluate their radiative effect on climate and refine process understanding. In this context, I combine remote sensing products of clouds and aerosol from satellite, ground-based, and airborne measurements, while focusing on hyperspectral measurements of transmitted sunlight. I use observations and their interpretations, developed new measurement technologies, and implemented new retrieval methodologies to further the understanding of climate radiative effects. Linking technical aspects of instrument and technology development with remote sensing and process understanding is one of my strong interests. To advance measurement and sampling of the atmosphere, I’ve spent my time planning out research flights and to optimize sampling, through building new tools and interfacing between research pilots and science objectives.

Interests

Earth Atmosphere
Hyperspectral remote sensing of clouds and aerosol
Climate change and radiative effects
Airborne instrumentations and observations
Mountain biking, road cycling, skiing, surfing, photography, making things

Education

PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 2014
University of Colorado - Boulder
MSc in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 2011
University of Colorado - Boulder
BSc in Physics, 2008
University of Ottawa

Featured Papers

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Samuel LeBlanc et al.

October 2022 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

Airborne observations during KORUS-AQ show that aerosol optical depths are more spatially self-consistent than aerosol intensive properties

Aerosol particles can be emitted, transported, removed, or transformed, leading to aerosol variability at scales impacting the climate …

PDF DOI

Konstantin Baibakov et al.

October 2021 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

Airborne and ground-based measurements of aerosol optical depth of freshly emitted anthropogenic plumes in the Athabasca Oil Sands region

In this work we report the airborne aerosol optical depth (AOD) from measurements within freshly emitted anthropogenic plumes arising …

PDF DOI

Samuel LeBlanc et al.

February 2020 Atmos. Chem. Phys.

Above-cloud aerosol optical depth from airborne observations in the southeast Atlantic

The southeast Atlantic during August–October experiences layers of smoke from biomass burning over marine stratocumulus clouds. Here we …

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News

Last updated on Dec 17, 2024 1 min read

PACE-PAX: A Day in the Life of a NASA Field Campaign

PACE-PAX project shows a day in the life of a field campaign with Sam as a flight planner.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/pace/2024/12/17/pace-pax-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-nasa-field-campaign/

Last updated on Feb 26, 2021 1 min read

Scientist Samuel LeBlanc measuring our atmosphere

Bay Area Environmental Research Institute posted a short article about Sam:

https://medium.com/bay-area-environmental-research-institute/climate-scientist-samuel-leblanc-is-working-to-reduce-of-the-biggest-uncertainties-in-climate-62647686e078

Sep 5, 2015 1 min read

La tête dans les nuages (Head in the clouds) Op-ed from Acadie Nouvelle

Sam’s home province newspaper published an article about his evolution:

https://www.acadienouvelle.com/chroniques/2015/09/07/de-par-le-monde-la-tete-dans-les-nuages/

Projects

AirSHARP

The Airborne asSessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance Product Performance for PACE (AirSHARP) is a small NASA field campaign in Fall 2024, based out of Monterey Bay, California. On board the NPS Twin Otter, it is measuring ocean and aerosol optical data for validation of the PACE satellite observations.

moving lines

The research flight planning tool ‘moving lines’ has been developped by Sam. It incorporates many visual interfaces and spreadsheets to plan out sampling strategies for achieving success in Airborne Science deployments. Moving lines reduces effort invested by scientists deciding on flight paths with respect to science objectives, aircraft performance, airspace availability, meteorological and sampling conditions, airborne instruments needed, and coordination between airborne research platforms.

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction Experiment (ARCSIX). Airborne NASA field campaign in Spring and Summer of 2024, based out of Greenland to observe the Arctic surface properties, clouds, aerosol, and precipitation, and their impact to surface radiation and sea ice melt.

PACE-PAX

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment (PACE-PAX). NASA field campaign in Fall 2024, based out of California to validate PACE (satellite launched Feb 2024) products.

CV

Curriculum Vitae

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Samuel LeBlanc is a research scientist interested in observing the impacts of atmospheric aerosol particles and clouds on the climate and on the solar light transmission and reflection through the Earth’s atmosphere.

BAERI Research Scientist, Since 2016
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014 - 2016
CU-Boulder Graduate Research Assistant, 2010 - 2014
CU-Boulder Teaching Assistant, 2009 - 2010
University of Ottawa Teaching Assistant, 2005 - 2008
Actua youth Science Instructor, 2004 - 2010
Flight familiarisation staff, 2001 - 2004

PhD , CU (2014)
MSc , CU (2011)
BSc , Uottawa (2008)

Service and honors: Conference session chair and co-convener (AGU, AMS, IAMAS) , Peer review articles (JGR: Atmospheres, ACP, AMT, MDPI:Atmosphere, AMS:J. Applied Met. and Clim., AISR) , Proposal panelist reviewer (NASA ROSES, NASA NPP, DOE ASR/ARM) , Queen’s golden jubilee medalist , Maritime Central Airways awardee , Numerous NASA group achievement award recipient (ARISE, SEAC4RS, ATTREX, KORUS-AQ, ORACLES,NAAMES) , Member of NASA’s Designated Observable: Aerosol, Cloud, Climate, and Precipitation (ACCP) - sub-orbital working group ,

Experience

Research Scientist

Bay Area Environmental Research Institute at NASA Ames Research Center

Jan 2016 – Present Moffett Field, California

Research flight planner:

Develop research flight planning tool for optimising sampling and instrumentation efficiency, supporting multiple airborne platforms, satellites, and flight modules for dynamical atmospheric sampling.
ARCSIX, May-August 2024, NASA P3, NASA G-III, and Spec Inc. Learjet
PACE-PAX, August-September 2024, NASA ER-2, NPS Twin Otter

Part of the Sunphotometer-Satellite team within the Earth Science Division. Experience include:

PI (deputy-PI in 2016/2017) for 4STAR instrument during ORACLES and part of flight planning team and flight scientist.
Lead and support the deployment of 4STAR during field missions, and the continual improvement of the instrument’s software, hardware, and calibration efforts.
Quantify global direct radiative effect from combined MODIS-OMI-CALIPSO aerosol retrieval.
Science PI for technology development muSSTAR; miniaturization of 4STAR.
Lead retrieval developer for cloud microphysical and optical properties, and analysist.

NASA Postdoctoral Fellow

NASA Ames Research Center

Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 Moffett Field, California

Advisor Dr. Jens Redemann. Experience include:

Apply remote sensing retrieval of cloud properties from spectral zenith radiance measurements.
Support the deployment of 4STAR during field missions, and the continual improvement of the instrument’s software, hardware, and calibration efforts.

Research Assistant

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado

May 2009 – Jan 2014 Boulder, Colorado

Advisor Dr. Peter Pilewskie, and co-advised by Dr. K. Sebastian Schmidt. Experience include:

Support the deployment during field campaigns and development of the Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR), including quality control and analysis of collected data.