Biography: Don Herlth

Education:

B.S., Aeronautical Operations, 1976
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professional Experience:
  NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
1986-present Aerospace Engineering Technician, Atmospheric Science Branch
1979-1986 Gas Dynamics Facility Technician
ARO/Sverdrup, Moffett Field, CA
1976-1979 High Enthalpy Facility Technician
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
1973-1974 Engineering Aide (Internship program)
Contributions:

Provided project management/oversight for the continued development and deployment of the PAN/PANAK experiment. Also developed and deployed various novel gas chromatography instruments and systems used during several in-situ airborne trace gas sample and analysis missions including the following:

  • Catalytic Converter/Calibration System: for in-flight calibration of both the PAN (peroxyacetyl nitrate) and AK sides of the experiment using ambient air.
  • Calibration Tube Dewar: for “real time” in-flight GC calibrations of PAN and other compounds of interest.
  • Cryotrap sampling technology: for all of trace-compound sample collection prior to analysis.
  • Aldehyde/Ketone gas chromatograph: for obtaining the first in flight sample and analysis of acetone during the GTE ABLE-3A mission, 1990.
  • Cryogenic Liquid Processor: for making liquid argon to support the PAN experiment, during deployment, when no other source was available.
  • GC valve drive hardware: for variable sample and injection timing.
  • Heated inlet sample probe used on the NASA DC-8 for the PANAK experiment.
  • Integrated and modularized gas chromatograph chassis for use onboard aircraft.
  • Successful deployment of the PAN/PANAK experiment on the following field missions from 1986 to present: GTEs, CITE–II, ABLE-2B, ABLE-3A and 3B, PEM West A and B, TRACE A, PEM Tropics A and B, SASS /SONEX, GTE TRACE P and the INTEX-NA #A mission.
Honors and Awards:
  • Space Act Award for the Calibration Tube Dewar, July 1990.
  • Tech Brief Award for the publication of the Calibration Tube Dewar technology, May 1988.
  • The following Group Achievement Awards:
    • NASA’s INTEX-NA field mission, 2004
    • Global, Tropospheric Experiment (GTE)
    • Pacific Exploratory West missions (PEM West) A and B, April 2000; SASS (Subsonic Assessment) SONEX (Subsonic Ozone NOx Experiment), April 1998
    • GTE Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE) missions 3A and 3B, July 1993
    • Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System (TPS), 1981.
  • Eight Sustained Superior Performance/Spotlight Awards, from 1987 to present.
Professional Association:

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Publications:

Singh, H. B., L. Salas, D. Herlth, R. Kolyer, E. Czech, W. Viezee, Q. Li, D. J. Jacob, D. Blake, G. Sachse, C. N. Harward, H. Fuelberg, and C. M. Kiley. 2003. In-situ measurements of HCN and CH3CN in the Pacific troposphere: Souces, sinks, and comparisons with spectroscopic observation. J. Geophys. Res., 108(D20): 8795; doi:10.1029/2002JD003006.

Singh, H. B., D. Herlth, R. Kolyer, L. Salas, J. D. Bradshaw, S. T. Sandholm, D. D. Davis, J. Crawford, Y. Kondo, M. Koike, R. Talbot, G. L. Gregory, G. W. Sachse , E. Browell, D. R. Blake, F. S. Rowland, R. Newell, J. Merrill, B. Heikes, S. C. Liu, P. J. Crutzen, and M. Kanakidou. 1996. Reactive nitrogen and ozone over the western Pacific: Distribution, partitioning and sources. J. Geophys. Res., 101(D1): 1793-1808.

Singh, H. B. D. Herlth, R. Kolyer, R. Chatfield, W. Viezee, L. J. Salas, Y. Chen, J. D. Bradshaw, S. T. Sandholm, R. Talbot, G. L. Gregory, B. Anderson, G. W. Sachse, E. Browell, A. S. Bachmeier, D. R. Blake, B. Heikes, D. Jacob, and H. E. Fuelberg. 1996. Impact of biomass burning emissions on the composition of the South Atlantic troposphere: Reactive nitrogen and ozone. J. Geophys. Res., 101(D19): 24,203-24,219. (96JD01018)

Singh, H. B., D. Herlth, R. Kolyer, L. Salas, J. D. Bradshaw, S. T. Sandholm, D. Davis, J. Crawford, Y. Kondo, M. Koike, R. Talbot, G. L. Gregory, G. W. Sachse, E. Browell, D. R. Blake, F. S. Rowland, R. Newell, J. Merrill, B. Heikes, S. C. Liu, P. J. Crutzen, and M. Kanakidou. 1996. Reactive nitrogen and ozone over the western Pacific: Distribution, partitioning, and sources. J. Geophys. Res.. 101(D1): 1793-1808 (95JD01029)

Singh, H. B., D. Herlth, D. O'Hara, K. Zahnle, J. D. Bradshaw, S. T. Sandholm, R. Talbot, G. L. Gregory, G. W. Sachse, D. R. Blake and S. C. Wofsy. 1994. Summertime Distribution of PAN and Other Reactive Nitrogen Species in The Northern High Latitude Atmosphere of Eastern Canada." J. Geophys. Res., 99: 1821-1835.

Singh, H. B., D. O'Hara, D. Herlth, W. Schse, D. R. Blake, J. D. Bradshaw, M. Kanakidou and P. J. Crutzen. 1994. Acetone in the Atmosphere: Distribution, Sources and Sinks. J. Geophys. Res. 99: 1805-1819.

Singh, H. B., D. O’Hara, D. Herlth, J. Bradshaw, S. Sandholm, G. Gregory, G. Sachse, D. Blade, P. Crutzen and M. Kanakidou. 1992. Atmospheric Measurements of PAN and other Organic Nitrates at High Latitudes: Possible Sources and Sinks. J. Geophys. Res. 97: 16,511-16,522.

Singh, H. B., D. Herlth, D. O’Hara, J. Bradshaw, S. Sandholm, R. Talbot, P. Crutzen and M. Kanakidou. 1992. Relationship of PAN to Active and Total Odd Nitrogen at Northern High Latitudes: Influence of Reservoir Species on NOx and O3. J. Geophys. Res. 97: 16,523-16,530.

Singh, H. B., D. Herlth, D. O’Hara, L. Salas, A. L. Torres, G. L. Gregory, G. W. Sachse, and J. F. Kasting. 1990. Atmospheric PAN Measurements over the Brazilian Amazon Basin during the West Season: Relationships with Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone. J. Geophys. Res. 95: 16,945-16,954.

Singh, H. B., D. O'Hara, D. Herlth, et al. 1989. Relation of PAN to Active and Total Odd Nitrogen at High Latitudes as Observed During the ABLE-3A Aircraft Program. EOS, 70(15): 283.