NASA Carbon Atmospheric Flux Experiment

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, while 1651 nm wavelength is used 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 LI-COR Quantum Sensor is a ground-based, in situ radiation sensor manufactured by LI-COR. It collects precise photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements beneath vegetation or under artificial light sources. The sensor detects radiation within the same light spectrum (400 - 700 nm) that plants use for photosynthesis. While primarily used for ground-based measurements, the LI-COR Quantum Sensor can also be mounted on aircraft. It is suitable for long-term deployments and remains durable in high temperatures and humidity conditions.

The MicaSense RedEdge is an airborne multispectral camera manufactured by MicaSense, Inc. It operates across five bands (460-860 nm) in the red, green, blue, near-infrared, and red-edge light spectrum to collect visible and infrared imagery. It is typically used on uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) for vegetation mapping. The MicaSense RedEdge had a ground sample distance of 8.2 cm per pixel (per band) at 120 m above ground level. It captures imagery in 1-second recording intervals and has a field of view of 47.9 by 36.9 degrees.

The Diode Laser Hygrometer (DLH) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed by NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses tunable diode laser absorption to detect water vapor in the atmosphere. DLH operates in the near-infrared range at about 1.4 μm and has a measurement frequency of 100 Hz. It can deliver precise measurements of water vapor even when flying through clouds.

The Los Gatos Research (LGR) Greenhouse Gas Analyzer (GGA) is a portable analyzer suitable for in situ measurements, either airborne or ground-based. It utilizes off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) technology to simultaneously measure methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor (H2O). It can detect CH4 levels up to 100 ppm, CO2 up to 20,000 ppm, and H2O up to 30,000 ppm. The device offers a selectable measurement rate ranging from 0.01 to 1 Hz, with some models featuring a fast flow option capable of rates up to 10 Hz.

The Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imaging camera is an airborne infrared camera that measures radiance and provides thermal images. It is used to detect thermal properties of various land surfaces such as vegetation, water, snow, and soil. FLIR operates within the 8-12 μm spectral range. It has a field of view of 110 meters by 30 meters at an altitude of 600 meters above ground level.

The Turbulent Air Motion Measurement System (TAMMS) is an in situ airborne sensor used to gather aircraft navigation information. TAMMS consists of several subsystems, including pressure transducers and temperature sensors, an aircraft inertial navigation system, a central data acquisition system, and water vapor and other gas sensors. It provides measurements of aircraft position, flight level winds, temperature, pressure, and water vapor. TAMMS has a typical sampling frequency of less than 1 second and a spatial resolution of 5 meters.

Rosemount Pressure Probes are in situ airborne pressure sensors manufactured by Rosemount, Inc. They provide high-precision atmospheric pressure measurements and are typically used to gather flight-level meteorological observations. Rosemount Pressure Probes consist of various pressure transducers, gauges, and multivariable and coplanar transmitters.

Rosemount Temperature Probes are in situ airborne temperature sensors manufactured by Rosemount, Inc. They provide atmospheric temperature measurements and are typically used to collect flight-level meteorological observations. Rosemount Temperature Probes consist of temperature transmitters, thermocouple sensors, resistance temperature detectors, and other temperature sensors.

Digital cameras are used to provide imagery for research applications. Cameras are used on aircraft to collect aerial imagery for mapping and surveying, environmental monitoring, cloud observations, agriculture, geological studies, and other Earth science applications. They are also used at field sites to capture visual observations to monitor changes in land cover, vegetation, clouds, air quality, glaciers, and other phenomena.

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.