Atmospheric Carbon and Transport – America

The Fourier Transformation Spectrometer (FTS) is a high-resolution airborne and ground-based spectrometer. FTS measures the solar radiance reflected from the surface, which can be used to derive measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. It has a spatial resolution of around 100m x 1000m and a measurement frequency of 1 Hz for typical research flight conditions.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

The Compact Atmospheric Multispecies Spectrometer (CAMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer developed by the University of Colorado. CAMS uses mid-IR (3.53 μm) absorption spectroscopy to measure formaldehyde and ethane in the atmosphere. It utilizes difference-frequency generation (DFG) to produce the mid-IR light by mixing two near-IR (1562 and 1083 nm) laser sources. CAMS provides high-precision measurements at a sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

The Programmable Flask Package (PFP) is a type of whole air sampler. This instrument consists of twelve glass flasks that can be filled with air. The samples collected by the PFP are sent to NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division and INSTAR’s Staple Isotope Lab where they are tested for trace gases. This instrument is used to monitor multiple types of trace gases.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

The Continuous O3 Monitor uses ultraviolet beams to monitor the ozone in the air that is pulled into the instrument. The Continuous O3 Monitor has a high temporal resolution, and can take highly accurate measurements. The Continuous O3 Monitor is mounted to an aircraft. The instrument is manufactured by 2B Technologies.

The Programmable Flask Package (PFP) is a type of whole air sampler. This instrument consists of twelve glass flasks that can be filled with air. The samples collected by the PFP are sent to NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division and INSTAR’s Staple Isotope Lab where they are tested for trace gases. This instrument is used to monitor multiple types of trace gases.

The High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) is an active remote, airborne lidar developed by NASA Langley Research Center. HALO operates across 4 wavelengths (1645, 1064, 935, 532 nm) and uses a combination of Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) methods to measure lidar backscatter and depolarization ratio. It provides vertical profiles of aerosol and cloud optical properties, atmospheric water vapor, and methane at a data rate of 2 Hz. HALO has a nominal spatial resolution of 12 km horizontally and 315 m vertically at an altitude of 10 km.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

The Continuous O3 Monitor uses ultraviolet beams to monitor the ozone in the air that is pulled into the instrument. The Continuous O3 Monitor has a high temporal resolution, and can take highly accurate measurements. The Continuous O3 Monitor is mounted to an aircraft. The instrument is manufactured by 2B Technologies.

The Quantum Cascade Laser System (QCLS) is an airborne and ground-based in situ spectrometer system designed by Harvard University and Aerodyne Research. QCLS consists of two instruments: the Harvard QCL DUAL instrument and the Harvard QCL CO2 instrument. QCL DUAL uses two thermoelectrically cooled QCL light sources to measure carbon monoxide (CO) at 4.59 microns and methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) at 7.87 microns. QCL CO2 instrument uses a single QCL light source to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations at 4.32 microns. QCLS has a measurement frequency of 1 Hz.