The Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment (AAOE) focused on studying the decline in ozone over Antarctica. AAOE conducted a single deployment during the austral spring and winter of 1987 over Antarctica. NASA’s ER-2 and DC-8 aircraft were equipped with various in situ and remote sensing instruments to gather measurements of aerosol, cloud, and meteorological properties related to the ozone hole. AAOE was a collaborative effort among NASA, NOAA, and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Ozonesondes are in situ balloon-borne instruments that measure ozone concentration profiles. An ozonesonde consists of an electrochemical ozone sensor connected to a meteorological radiosonde, which collects ozone, temperature, pressure, and humidity measurements as it ascends through the atmosphere. It provides ozone profile measurements at a resolution of 100 to 150 m. Ozonesondes typically operate at a measurement rate of 0.1 Hz and can collect profiles up to around 35 km.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Vertical Profiles
The Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) is a high-resolution spectrometer used in both airborne and ground-based applications. FTS measures the solar radiance reflected from the surface, which can be used to estimate atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). It offers a spatial resolution of approximately 100m by 1000m and operates at a measurement frequency of 1 Hz during typical research flights.
Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform that measure atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
The Whole Air Sampler (WAS) is an airborne in situ instrument that collects air samples for analyzing trace gases, including nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), halocarbons, alkyl nitrates, and various sulfur compounds in the troposphere. Air samples collected by the WAS are then analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the gases present. The WAS collects samples every minute, allowing scientists to obtain a clear picture of the environment's chemical composition as research aircraft pass through.
The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses four lasers to detect lidar backscatter and provide profiles of ozone and aerosols in the atmosphere. DIAL operates in the ultraviolet (289-300 nm) for ozone detection and in the visible (572-600 nm) and infrared (1064 nm) for aerosols. It has a horizontal spatial resolution of approximately 15 km and a measurement accuracy of 5 ppbv.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument that measures nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere. It provides spatial resolution better than 100 meters at typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be deployed on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms, supporting a range of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
The Lyman-alpha Hygrometer is an in situ hygrometer designed for deployment on airborne or ground-based platforms. It measures water vapor absorption at the Lyman-alpha wavelength (121.6 nm) of atomic hydrogen to determine the total water content in the atmosphere. It has a detection limit of 0.1 ppmv and a typical data acquisition rate of 1 second. The Lyman-alpha hygrometer provides water vapor measurements with 6% accuracy and 5% precision.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles > Water Vapor Mixing Ratio Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Spectrometers are instruments that separate and analyze the spectral components of a substance. They typically measure electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected, absorbed, or transmitted by a sample. Spectrometers operate across the ultraviolet to infrared spectrum. The most common types include optical, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometers. They can be deployed on aircraft, research vessels, vehicles, and other ground-based platforms.
Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform that measure atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is an in situ optical sensor produced by Droplet Measurement Technologies and TSI, Inc. It detects cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) by supersaturating the sampled air, making CCN particles detectable. The particles are then measured by an optical particle counter (OPC). The CNC detects particles from 0.75 to 10 μm in diameter and operates at a sampling rate of 1 Hz. It is suitable for both airborne and ground-based operations.
The Multi-Filter Sampler (MFS) is an airborne system that collects aerosols and gases on a filter medium. It collects air samples by inserting and removing filters from the airstream as directed by the pilot. It also records parameters such as air temperature, pressure, flow rate, and instrument diagnostics. After the flight, the filters are extracted with an aqueous solution, which is then analyzed by ion chromatography to identify the aerosols and gases. The MFS has an accuracy of approximately 20%.
The Multiple Axis Resonance Fluorescence Chemical Conversion Detector for ClO and BrO (ClO/BrO) is an in situ airborne analyzer operated by Harvard University. It measures chlorine monoxide (ClO) and bromine monoxide (BrO) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. ClO and BrO are converted to chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br) by adding nitric oxide (NO) to the sample air. Cl and Br concentrations are detected by resonance scattering at 119 nm in the vacuum ultraviolet to determine ClO and BrO concentrations. ClO/BrO has a detection limit greater than 1 pptv.
The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument that measures atmospheric state parameters. MMS provides high-resolution, accurate measurements of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind direction and speed immediately around the aircraft. Additional parameters that can be derived include potential temperature, true airspeed, turbulence dissipation rate, and Reynolds number. Measurements of all parameters are typically collected at a rate of 20 Hz.
The Whole Air Sampler (WAS) is an airborne in situ instrument that collects air samples for analyzing trace gases, including nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), halocarbons, alkyl nitrates, and various sulfur compounds in the troposphere. Air samples collected by the WAS are then analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the gases present. The WAS collects samples every minute, allowing scientists to obtain a clear picture of the environment's chemical composition as research aircraft pass through.
The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later modified by NCAR. It measures brightness temperature from oxygen molecules at 56.363 GHz, 57.612 GHz, and 58.363 GHz. These measurements are converted to air temperature through a statistical retrieval process. It samples across 10 viewing angles and has a vertical resolution of 150 m near the aircraft. MTP provides profiles every 17 seconds, with about 4 km of horizontal spacing.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument that measures nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere. It provides spatial resolution better than 100 meters at typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be deployed on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms, supporting a range of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
The Airborne Tunable Laser Absorption Spectrometer (ATLAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer developed by NASA. ATLAS uses second-harmonic absorption spectroscopy to measure trace gases in the lower stratosphere, including nitrous oxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The laser in ATLAS is tuned to the infrared absorption band of the target gas and frequency-modulated at 2 kHz, with second-harmonic detection at 4 kHz. ATLAS provides measurements with a time resolution of 1 second and a spatial resolution of approximately 200 meters.
The Lyman-alpha Hygrometer is an in situ hygrometer designed for deployment on airborne or ground-based platforms. It measures water vapor absorption at the Lyman-alpha wavelength (121.6 nm) of atomic hydrogen to determine the total water content in the atmosphere. It has a detection limit of 0.1 ppmv and a typical data acquisition rate of 1 second. The Lyman-alpha hygrometer provides water vapor measurements with 6% accuracy and 5% precision.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles > Water Vapor Mixing Ratio Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The NOAA Dual-Beam UV-Absorption Ozone Photometer (NOAA-O3) is an in situ optical balloon-borne and airborne instrument that measures ozone concentrations in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at 254 nm, enabling calculation of ozone number density from the precise ozone absorption cross section at that wavelength. It has a sampling rate of 2 Hz and a horizontal resolution of 100 to 200 meters during typical research flights.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone
The NOAA Frost Point Hygrometer (FPH) is a balloon-borne sensor that collects profiles of atmospheric water vapor. It uses the chilled-mirror principle to determine the frost or dew point temperature up to 28 km in the atmosphere. FPH measures with a vertical resolution of 5-10 m and a temporal resolution of 1-2 seconds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Dew Point Temperature
Generic-Chemistry Related Sensors (Gen-Chemistry) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for atmospheric chemistry measurements. These are typically in situ analyzers that measure chemical compounds such as trace gases, halocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, aerosols, and other chemical species. Measurements can include mixing ratios, composition, particle size, optical properties, and particle size distribution.
The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter developed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It determines particle size distribution by measuring the light intensity scattered by individual particles within a cloud. The FSSP detects particles from 0.5 to 47 μm in diameter. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and typically samples at 1 Hz.
