The Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) campaign focused on investigating the impact on air quality and climate from wildfires and prescribed agricultural fires in the United States. FIREX-AQ had one deployment during the boreal summer of 2019 across the continental United States. Airborne observations were combined with in-situ surface observations, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), ground and mobile sites, satellites, and models to study wildfire emissions and plume optical properties. FIREX-AQ was funded through NASA's Tropospheric Composition Program and NOAA's Atmospheric Chemistry, Carbon Cycle and Climate (AC4) Program.
If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.
Earth Science > >
The Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imaging camera is an airborne infrared camera that measures radiance and provides thermal imagery. It is used to detect thermal properties on various land surfaces such as vegetation, water, snow, and soil. FLIR operates across the 8-12 μm spectral range. It has a field of view of 110m by 30m at an altitude of 600m above ground level.
The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) is an in situ airborne and ground-based spectrometer designed by the University of Innsbruck in Austria. It measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without sample preparation at very low concentrations. PTR-MS uses chemical ionization mass spectroscopy allowing for fast and highly sensitive detection of VOCs. It has a 0.5 to 1 s signal integration time.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument. It provides measurements of nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere at a spatial resolution better than 100m for typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be utilized on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms allowing it to be used in various types of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...
Earth Science > >
The AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) is a federated network of ground-based remote sensing aerosol sensors established by NASA and the PHOtométrie pour le Traitement Opérationnel de Normalisation Satellitaire (PHOTONS) in 1993. Each AERONET site consists of a CIMEL Electronique sunphotometer that provides measurements of sun irradiance and sky radiances. These measurements can be used to retrieve aerosol properties such as aerosol optical depth and extinction. The sunphotometers operate across nine wavelengths (340, 380, 440, 500, 675, 870, 937, 1020, and 1640 nm) and provide aerosol measurements approximately every 15 min. AERONET sites are located across the world, making it possible to map around 90% of the Earth’s surface.
The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.
Earth Science > >
The Particle Into Liquid Sampler (PILS) is an in situ aerosol sampler manufactured by Brechtel Manufacturing Inc. PILS can be utilized by both ground-based and airborne platforms to collect continuous measurements of ambient aerosol bulk composition. The particles sampled by PILS are mixed with saturated water vapor to produce droplets that are analyzed by either an ion chromatograph (IC) or a total organic carbon detector (TOC). PILS can measure aerosol particles with a size range of 70 nm to 2.5 μm and has a time resolution of 3 min for airborne measurements and 15 min for ground-based.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be utilized on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines the particle size by detecting the peak light signals of the aerosol particles which are illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. UHSAS can sample particles within the 60 - 1000 nm size range and has a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.
The Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer was developed by NOAA. This instrument can take high-precision measurements of gases such as nitric acid, water vapor, and hydrochloric acid. This instrument was designed to take measurements accurately in the boundary layer. The detection limit for CIMS is in the parts-per-trillion range, and the temporal resolution is 50s.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
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.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument. It provides measurements of nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere at a spatial resolution better than 100m for typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be utilized on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms allowing it to be used in various types of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...
GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument consisting of two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km and has a frame rate of 12 Hz.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Optics > Ocean Color
The Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer - Classic (AVIRIS-C) is a passive imaging spectrometer developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for Earth remote sensing. AVIRIC-C was designed to operate aboard NASA’s Earth Resources 2 (ER-2) aircraft. It has a spatial resolution of 20 meters and takes 12 scans per second. AVIRIS-C operated in the spectral region of 0.41 µm to 2.45 µm, making it particularly useful for a wide variety of Earth Science applications. It has been replaced by the Next Generation Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG), though AVIRIS-C remains in operation.
The Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI) is a passive remote, airborne pushbroom camera developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and engineers from the University of Arizona and the University of Texas. AirMSPI operates across 8 spectral bands (355, 380, 445, 470, 555, 660, 865, 935 nm) to provide multiangle radiance and linear polarization imagery which can be used to retrieve aerosol and cloud microphysical properties. AirMSPI has a spatial resolution of 10-25 m depending on the scan mode and typically provides image frames at a rate of 23 Hz. AirMSPI was designed to fly on the nose of NASA’s ER-2 aircraft and has been utilized in several aerosol and cloud investigations.
The NPOESS Aircraft Sounder Testbed - Interferometer (NAST-I) is an airborne infrared interferometer maintained and operated by NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses Fourier transform spectroscopy to provide measurements of brightness temperature and radiance. NAST-I operates within the spectral range of 3.7-16.1 µm and has a spectral resolution of 0.25 cm-1. It has a spatial resolution of 2.6 km and a cross-track swath width of 46 km at a flight altitude of 20 km. A complete scan period for NAST-I takes around 12.2 seconds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Temperature Indices
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
The Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) is an airborne lidar system designed specifically to provide multi-wavelength measurements of cirrus clouds, sub-visual cirrus clouds, and aerosols. It measures lidar backscatter across three wavelengths: 355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm. These measurements can be used to derive cloud optical depth, particle size distribution, extinction profiles, aerosol layers, and other properties. CPL has a vertical resolution of 30 m and a typical horizontal resolution of 200 m.
The Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) is an airborne cross-track scanning interferometer developed by the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It measures the emitted thermal radiation between 3.3 and 18 microns at high spectral resolution. These measurements can be used to derive atmospheric profiles of temperature and water vapor in clear-sky conditions. S-HIS has a spatial resolution of 2 km and a swath width of 40 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a sampling frequency of 0.5 s and an absolute radiance accuracy of 0.2 K.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS) is an airborne cross-track scanning spectrometer operated by the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) at NASA Ames Research Center. eMAS collects high-resolution imagery of cloud and surface features which can be used to help develop and test algorithms for MODIS satellite observations. It operates across 38 spectral channels at 0.445-14.1 µm wavelengths and has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz. eMAS has a spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of 37.25 km at an altitude of 20 km.
The Hyperspectral Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (HyTES) is an airborne pushbroom imaging spectrometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It was created to support the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) missions and has flown in several research missions since 2012. HyTES provides high spatial and spectral resolution measurements of brightness temperature, emissivity, and land surface temperature. It operates across 256 spectral channels between 7.5 and 12 µm wavelengths and has an integration time of 30 ms. HyTES has a horizontal resolution of 7 m and a swath width of 3.6 km at a flight altitude of 4 km. HyTES was funded through NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) Instrument Incubator Program (IIP).
Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Thermal Properties > Land Surface Temperature
The Aerosol Optical Properties (AOP) is an in situ airborne suite consisting of a Cavity Ringdown Spectrometer (CRDS), Photoacoustic Absorption Spectrometer (PAS), and Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Size Spectrometer (UHSAS). It provides multi-wavelength measurements of aerosol extinction, absorption, and other properties. CRDS measures aerosol extinction at 405, 532, and 662 nm wavelength and has an accuracy of less than 2%. PAS measures absorption at 405, 532, and 660 nm wavelengths and has a sampling rate of 1 Hz. UHSAS measures the size distribution of aerosol particles within the size range of 0.008 to 1 μm. The measurements from the combined AOP instrument package allow for the calculation of radiative forcing and atmospheric heating rates.
The Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer was developed by NOAA. This instrument can take high-precision measurements of gases such as nitric acid, water vapor, and hydrochloric acid. This instrument was designed to take measurements accurately in the boundary layer. The detection limit for CIMS is in the parts-per-trillion range, and the temporal resolution is 50s.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
The Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) is an in situ cloud probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the particle size distribution and concentration for cloud particles in the 2-50 μm size range. CDP detects pulses of light scattered from a laser (658 nm) to count and size individual cloud droplets. CDP has a typical measurement rate of 1 Hz and can detect concentrations of up to 2000 particles per cubic centimeter.
Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentration. CPCs measure aerosol concentration by condensing fluid onto the particles, allowing them to grow to more detectable sizes for optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles with a size range of 7 nm-3 μm, can measure particle concentrations up to 100,000 particles/cc, and can provide measurements at 1-second intervals. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be deployed on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.
The Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (LAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by TSI, Inc. LAS provides measurements of particle size based on the light scattering of the sampled particles. It operates at 633 nm wavelength and has a particle size range of 0.09 to 7.5 μm. LAS can provide complete particle size distributions at a rate of 10 Hz. LAS is typically used as part of aerosol instrument suites such as NASA’s Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) and NOAA’s Aerosol Microphysical Properties (AMP).
The Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) is a style of instrument used for measuring trace gases in the atmosphere. The DOAS technique is used to identify and quantify trace gases using their narrow band absorptions. DOAS is a remote sensing spectrometer. It has a high temporal resolution. The DOAS technique has been in use since the 1980’s.
The HR-AMS is an upgraded version of Aerodyne’s AMS instrument. HR-AMS has a high spatial resolution and a time-of-flight measurement technique. HR-AMS is a mass spectrometer that measures aerosols in the troposphere.
The MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) is an airborne scanning spectrometer developed at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) with Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to support validation of MODIS and ASTER retrieval algorithms. MASTER is maintained and operated by the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) at ARC. It provides visible-shortwave infrared and thermal infrared imagery and operates across 50 spectral channels in the 0.4-13 μm wavelength range. MASTER has a pixel spatial resolution of 5 to 50 meters and has a swath width of 1.87 to 37.25 km depending on the flight altitude. It has a typical scan rate of 6.25 Hz.
Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Thermal Properties
The GC-MS instrument is a combination of two instruments: a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer. It is used on airborne platforms to study atmospheric chemistry, specifically non-methane halocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...
Earth Science > >
The Los Gatos Research (LGR) Greenhouse Gas Analyzer (GGA) is an in situ airborne or ground-based analyzer. It uses off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) technology to measure methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor (H2O) simultaneously. It can measure CH4 up to 100 ppm, CO2 up to 20,000 ppm, and H2O up to 30,000 ppm. It has a selectable measurement rate of 0.01 to 1 Hz, with some models having a fast flow option for rates up to 10 Hz.
The Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (GT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer. It uses a lower-pressure flow tube reactor to measure reactive nitrogen species such as nitric acid and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the lower atmosphere. GT-CIMS has a typical temporal resolution of 1 second and a detection limit of 10 pptv.
The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ airborne or ground-based aerosol sensor manufactured by TSI Incorporated. SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles to determine the size distribution. It also measures the number of aerosol particles by using a condensation particle counter (CNC). It can detect particles within the size range of 10-1000 nm and can provide measurements typically around 10 seconds per scan.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA) is an in situ airborne analyzer that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. It uses a combination of fast gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy to provide atmospheric mixing ratios of VOCs. It can detect a wide range of VOCs with high precision (<3%) and accuracy (20% or better) at a time resolution of 40 seconds for a 2-minute cycle.
The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) is an in situ airborne and ground-based spectrometer designed by the University of Innsbruck in Austria. It measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without sample preparation at very low concentrations. PTR-MS uses chemical ionization mass spectroscopy allowing for fast and highly sensitive detection of VOCs. It has a 0.5 to 1 s signal integration time.
The Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It combines the Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), the Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), and the Hotwire Liquid Water Content (LWC) Sensor into one instrument. CAPS measures the size distribution of aerosol, cloud, and liquid droplets for particles between the sizes of 50-1600 μm at a time resolution of 1 Hz. It can also record images of cloud particles and provide measurements of temperature, pressure, and LWC.
The Soluble Acidic Gases and Aerosols (SAGA) is an in situ airborne sampler owned and operated by the University of New Hampshire. It uses a mist chamber and ion chromatography to collect and analyze select aerosol species. It can provide samples of nitric acid, chloride, sulfates, nitrates, chloride, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and calcium. SAGA has a typical sampling frequency of 5 to 15 minutes and has a detection limit of 1 to 25 pptv depending on the sampled species.
The Differential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements (DACOM) is an airborne in situ spectrometer system. It uses the differential absorption technique and an infrared tunable diode laser (TDL) to collect measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. DACOM operates across the 4.7, 4.5, and 3.3 μm wavelengths to access the absorption lines for CO, N2O, and CH4. It has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz and a precision of about 1 ppbv.
The Compact Airborne NO2 Experiment (CANOE) is an in situ analyzer developed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It uses non-resonant laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2) throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. A 532 nm laser detects the fluorescence from NO2 molecules to determine the concentration. CANOE provides measurements at a rate of 1 Hz.
The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be utilized on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines the particle size by detecting the peak light signals of the aerosol particles which are illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. UHSAS can sample particles within the 60 - 1000 nm size range and has a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.
The Airborne Cavity Enhanced Spectrometer (ACES) is a two-channel spectrometer designed for aircraft measurements of glyoxal (CHOCHO), methylglyoxal (CH3COCHO), nitrous acid (HONO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and water vapor (H2O). ACES makes high-sensitivity measurements of trace gases and aerosols as light passes through the optical cavity equipped with a grating spectrometer and a charge-coupled device. ACES operates across two wavelength ranges (361-389 nm and 438-468 nm) and has high precision and temporal frequency.
The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is a laser-induced photometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 provides measurements of the black carbon (BC) mass content of individual aerosol particles as well as the optical and physical properties of the particles containing BC. SP2 can be utilized on airborne or ground-based platforms and can be deployed with a paired Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2). It can detect aerosol particles with a diameter size of 200-400 nm and can measure 25,000 particles/second.
The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) - High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) is an airborne lidar that implements both the DIAL and HSRL lidar techniques to measure ozone and aerosols simultaneously. DIAL operates typically at the 289 nm and 300 nm wavelengths to measure ozone profiles. The HSRL modification adds a 3-wavelength (355 nm, 532 nm, 1064 nm) narrowband laser to the DIAL system allowing for the measurements of aerosol backscatter, aerosol extinction, depolarization, and other aerosol properties. For ozone measurements, DIAL-HSRL has a typical vertical resolution of 330 m with a temporal resolution of 90 seconds. For aerosol measurements, it has a typical vertical resolution of 30 m with a temporal resolution of 10 seconds.
The CalTech Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne single mass spectrometer. CIT-CIMS utilizes CF3O-ion chemistry and compact time-of-flight and triple quadrupole spectrometers to measure specific atmospheric trace gases such as nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sulfur dioxide. It was designed with rapid scan capabilities, allowing it to operate at a high temporal resolution (10 Hz) and detect a wide mass range. CIT-CIMS is typically used for airborne observations, but it can be used for ground-based observations as well.
The Whole Air Sampler (WAS) is an airborne in-situ instrument that collects samples of air for analysis of trace gases, such as nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), Halocarbons, Alkyl Nitrates, and various sulfur compounds that are present in the troposphere. Air samples collected via the WAS then undergo gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine which gasses are present in the sample. The WAS collects samples every minute, which enables scientists to get a clear picture of the chemical composition of the environment as research aircraft pass through.
The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for
counting atmospheric aerosol particles.
Earth Science > >
The Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imaging camera is an airborne infrared camera that measures radiance and provides thermal imagery. It is used to detect thermal properties on various land surfaces such as vegetation, water, snow, and soil. FLIR operates across the 8-12 μm spectral range. It has a field of view of 110m by 30m at an altitude of 600m above ground level.
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 Charged-couple device (CCD) Actinic Flux Spectroradiometer (CAFS) is an in situ airborne spectroradiometer developed by the Atmospheric Radiation Investigations and Measurements (ARIM) laboratory at NCAR. CAFS measures spectrally resolved ultraviolet and visible actinic flux between 280-650 nm. These measurements can be used to derive the photolysis frequencies for several chemical compounds such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and nitrate. CAFS has a temporal resolution of 1 Hz and a wavelength resolution of about 1.8 nm at 297 nm.
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 measure water vapor in the atmosphere. DLH operates in the near-infrared region at around 1.4 μm and has a measurement frequency of 100 Hz. It can provide accurate measurements of water vapor even while flying through clouds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity > Relative Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
The In Situ Airborne Formaldehyde (ISAF) is an airborne optical sensor developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ISAF uses laser induced fluorescence (LIF) to measure formaldehyde throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at the 353 nm wavelength and has a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. ISAF can measure formaldehyde concentrations ranging from 10 pptv to hundreds of ppbv at an accuracy of 10%.
The Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) is an in situ airborne instrument suite that measures aerosol and cloud microphysical and optical properties such as size distribution, number concentration, and scattering and absorption coefficient. LARGE consists of multiple instruments including the Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS), Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler (PILS), Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), and additional cloud and aerosol sensors. The LARGE instruments operate across the 450-700 nm wavelength range, can detect particles in the size range between 0.003-20μm, and have a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. It is typically used for airborne measurements, but it also can be deployed on ground-based platforms such as vehicles.
NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument. It provides measurements of nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere at a spatial resolution better than 100m for typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be utilized on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms allowing it to be used in various types of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument used for measuring atmospheric state parameters. MMS provides high-resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind direction/speed immediately around the plane. Additional parameters can be derived such as potential temperature, true airspeed, turbulence dissipation rate, and Reynolds number. Measurements of all parameters are typically collected at a rate of 20 Hz.
The Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) is an in situ airborne photometer manufactured by Radiance Research. It uses Beer's Law to measure the change in light transmission of aerosol particles. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol absorption and extinction. PSAP operates across three wavelengths (467, 530, and 660 nm) and has a temporal resolution of 1 second. It is typically deployed on aircraft, but it can be deployed on other platforms such as ships and vehicles.
This description will be added in future versions.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
This data will be added in future versions
Earth Science > >
Nephelometers are in situ airborne or ground-based optical sensors. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate across three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, and have a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.
The Optical Particle Counter is an instrument based on the principle of light scattering from particles. It is a real time instrument that is typically used to measure particles above 0.05 μm in diameter.
The Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imaging camera is an airborne infrared camera that measures radiance and provides thermal imagery. It is used to detect thermal properties on various land surfaces such as vegetation, water, snow, and soil. FLIR operates across the 8-12 μm spectral range. It has a field of view of 110m by 30m at an altitude of 600m above ground level.
The Printed Optical Particle Spectrometer (POPS) is an in situ spectrometer that measures particle size and number concentration. POPS is capable of flying on UAVs or balloons, and it collects a vertical profile of particle measurements. With a typical operating wavelength of 405 nm, POPS obtains observations roughly every second and measures particles ranging in size from 140 nm to 3000 nm.
Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Public Health > Environmental Health Factors > Particulate Matter Concentrations
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...
Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentration. CPCs measure aerosol concentration by condensing fluid onto the particles, allowing them to grow to more detectable sizes for optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles with a size range of 7 nm-3 μm, can measure particle concentrations up to 100,000 particles/cc, and can provide measurements at 1-second intervals. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be deployed on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...
Earth Science > >
If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.
Earth Science > >
The Los Gatos Research (LGR) Greenhouse Gas Analyzer (GGA) is an in situ airborne or ground-based analyzer. It uses off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) technology to measure methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor (H2O) simultaneously. It can measure CH4 up to 100 ppm, CO2 up to 20,000 ppm, and H2O up to 30,000 ppm. It has a selectable measurement rate of 0.01 to 1 Hz, with some models having a fast flow option for rates up to 10 Hz.
The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ airborne or ground-based aerosol sensor manufactured by TSI Incorporated. SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles to determine the size distribution. It also measures the number of aerosol particles by using a condensation particle counter (CNC). It can detect particles within the size range of 10-1000 nm and can provide measurements typically around 10 seconds per scan.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) is an in situ airborne and ground-based spectrometer designed by the University of Innsbruck in Austria. It measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without sample preparation at very low concentrations. PTR-MS uses chemical ionization mass spectroscopy allowing for fast and highly sensitive detection of VOCs. It has a 0.5 to 1 s signal integration time.
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.
Aethalometer is an in situ aerosol instrument manufactured by Magee Scientific that can be deployed on either airborne or ground-based platforms. It samples aerosols through a filter tape and measures the attenuation of transmitted light to determine the concentration of black carbon particles. The Aethalometer operates across seven optical wavelengths (370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880, and 950 nm) and can provide data at a rate of 1 Hz. It has a measurement range of 0-500 μg per cubic meter and a resolution of 0.1 μg per cubic meter.
The Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It combines the Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), the Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), and the Hotwire Liquid Water Content (LWC) Sensor into one instrument. CAPS measures the size distribution of aerosol, cloud, and liquid droplets for particles between the sizes of 50-1600 μm at a time resolution of 1 Hz. It can also record images of cloud particles and provide measurements of temperature, pressure, and LWC.
The Soluble Acidic Gases and Aerosols (SAGA) is an in situ airborne sampler owned and operated by the University of New Hampshire. It uses a mist chamber and ion chromatography to collect and analyze select aerosol species. It can provide samples of nitric acid, chloride, sulfates, nitrates, chloride, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and calcium. SAGA has a typical sampling frequency of 5 to 15 minutes and has a detection limit of 1 to 25 pptv depending on the sampled species.
The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be utilized on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines the particle size by detecting the peak light signals of the aerosol particles which are illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. UHSAS can sample particles within the 60 - 1000 nm size range and has a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.
The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is a laser-induced photometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 provides measurements of the black carbon (BC) mass content of individual aerosol particles as well as the optical and physical properties of the particles containing BC. SP2 can be utilized on airborne or ground-based platforms and can be deployed with a paired Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2). It can detect aerosol particles with a diameter size of 200-400 nm and can measure 25,000 particles/second.
The Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) is an in situ airborne instrument suite that measures aerosol and cloud microphysical and optical properties such as size distribution, number concentration, and scattering and absorption coefficient. LARGE consists of multiple instruments including the Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS), Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler (PILS), Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), and additional cloud and aerosol sensors. The LARGE instruments operate across the 450-700 nm wavelength range, can detect particles in the size range between 0.003-20μm, and have a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. It is typically used for airborne measurements, but it also can be deployed on ground-based platforms such as vehicles.
Ceilometers are ground-based, remote-sensing sensors that provide measurements of cloud ceilings and vertical visibility. They use either a laser beam or another light source to detect backscatter of clouds, precipitation, and aerosols. Ceilometers can provide detailed and accurate measurements in all types of weather conditions and have low operating costs. Ceilometers are typically used in boundary layer and cloud research applications.
Nephelometers are in situ airborne or ground-based optical sensors. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate across three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, and have a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.
