The Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment (TARFOX) was a NASA-led campaign that was aimed at studying the effects of aerosols on radiative forcing and climate change. TARFOX was conducted in July of 1996 along the U.S. eastern seaboard. This location was chosen due to it being the origin of one of the world’s largest plumes of industrial haze that moves over the Atlantic Ocean. NASA aircraft, such as the ER-2 and C-130, along with satellites, ships, and ground instrumentation, were utilized to obtain measurements of aerosol properties and characterize subsequent effects in the study area. TARFOX was funded by a host of agencies, including NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy (DoE).
The Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). LASE uses the differential absorption lidar technique to provide profile measurements of water vapor and aerosols in the atmosphere. LASE operates at the 815 nm wavelength and has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz. For aerosol scattering profiles, LASE has a horizontal resolution of 200m and a vertical resolution of 30m. It has a horizontal resolution of 5 km and a vertical resolution of 0.2 km for water vapor measurements.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) is an airborne multispectral spectrometer designed to simulate the satellite instrument Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). MAS operates across 50 spectral channels in the 0.55 to 14.2 μm range to provide high-resolution imagery of clouds and surface features. MAS has a horizontal spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of about 36 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz with each scan line containing 716 pixels.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes
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 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.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
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.
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 Passive-Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) is an in situ airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the light scattered by particles to determine the aerosol size distribution and concentration in the 0.1 to 3.0 μm size range. PCASP operates at the 632 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling rate of 10 Hz.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
The Airborne Tracking Sun Photometer (ATSP) is an airborne instrument that measures direct solar beam transmission. The ATSP measures solar beam transmission through multiple channels with wavelengths ranging between 354 and 2139 nm. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol optical depth and other aerosol properties. There are multiple versions of this instrument, including one developed by the NASA Ames Research Center.
The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.
The Radial Differential Mobility Analyzer (RDMA) is an in situ airborne analyzer that measures aerosol particle properties. RDMA samples aerosol particles through an ion source where they acquire an electrical charge. Particles with the correct charge and mobility are then counted with a condensation nuclei counter to determine the particle size. RDMA was designed to detect ultrafine aerosol particles in the 3 to 200 nanometer range.
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.
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.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes
Earth Science > >
The Johnson-Williams Cloud Water Meter (CWM) is an in situ airborne hot wire probe manufactured by Johnson-Williams, Inc. The CWM measures the liquid water content (LWC) of clouds through an electric circuit that senses resistivity changes from cloud droplets that evaporate from an exposed heated wire. CWM can detect LWC ranges between 0 and 6 grams per cubic meter and operate at airspeeds between 50 and 150 meters per second. It operates at a constant current and has a typical data frequency of 2 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.
The Passive-Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) is an in situ airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the light scattered by particles to determine the aerosol size distribution and concentration in the 0.1 to 3.0 μm size range. PCASP operates at the 632 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling rate of 10 Hz.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Earth Science > >
The Airborne Tracking Sun Photometer (ATSP) is an airborne instrument that measures direct solar beam transmission. The ATSP measures solar beam transmission through multiple channels with wavelengths ranging between 354 and 2139 nm. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol optical depth and other aerosol properties. There are multiple versions of this instrument, including one developed by the NASA Ames Research Center.
The King Probe is an airborne cloud probe developed by Warren King (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and manufactured by Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) and Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT). The King Probe provides measurements of cloud liquid water content (LWC) by measuring the heat released when water droplets are vaporized. The King Probe operates at a constant temperature (~100 C) and has a data output rate of 1 to 10 Hz. It is typically used in cloud microphysics and aircraft icing studies.
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
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.
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 Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.
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 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 PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) Sensor reports the Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD), which corresponds to micromoles of photons per meter squared per second (μmol m-2 s-1). This is the power of electromagnetic radiation in the spectral range that is used by plants for photosynthesis (400–700 nm). It features a waterproof sensor head and can be used to measure PPFD from sunlight and electric light sources. This sensor is ideal for experiments investigating photosynthesis and primary productivity and can be used in many agricultural and environmental science applications.
Earth Science > >
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
Radiosondes are a balloon-borne instrument package used to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. These sensors are connected to a radio transmitter that sends the measurements to a ground receiver typically operating in the 400-406 MHz range. They typically provide measurements at 1-6 seconds, depending on the type and manufacturer of the radiosonde. Radiosondes are used for weather forecasting, ground truth satellite data, atmospheric research, and input for weather prediction models.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
