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Instrument

AMS
Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

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.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Spectrometer/Radiometer

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1-10 s

Spatial Resolution

N/A

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1080/027868200410840

Online Information

http://www.aerodyne.com/products/aerosol-mass-spectrometer

Lead Investigator
Douglas R. Worsnop, John T. Jayne
Technical Contact
Douglas R. Worsnop, John T. Jayne
Instrument Maker
Aerodyne Research
Funding Source
NSF, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Naval Research
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Douglas DC-8

36 Campaigns · 168 Instruments

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 Data Products

Korean United States - Air Quality

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

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· 0 Data Products

P-3 Orion

17 Campaigns · 104 Instruments

Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 5 Data Products

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 7 Data Products

ATR-42

1 Campaign · 16 Instruments

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

The Mediterranean

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· 3 Data Products

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Campaign Field Sites

57 Campaigns · 160 Instruments

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

New York City metropolitan and Long Island Sound area, Northeastern U.S.

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· 16 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Pacific 2001 Air Quality Study

Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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· 8 Data Products

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Campaign Vehicles

17 Campaigns · 54 Instruments

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

New York City metropolitan and Long Island Sound area, Northeastern U.S.

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· 16 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

Southern Ontario, Southeastern Michigan

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· 1 Data Product

Image of ER-2 taking off

Image of ER-2 taking off

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

48 Campaigns · 106 Instruments

POlarimeter Definition EXperiment

San Joaquin Valley, California

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· 0 Data Products

NASA owned image of the DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

NASA owned image of the DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

15 Campaigns · 62 Instruments

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

an image of the R/V Atlantis

an image of the R/V Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

1 Campaign · 13 Instruments

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

C-130 Hercules

15 Campaigns · 85 Instruments

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

North America, Gulf of Mexico, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean

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· 21 Data Products

Image of the Falcon aircraft from ACCESS II

Image of the Falcon aircraft from ACCESS II

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

5 Campaigns · 43 Instruments

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

Western North Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

NCAR Sabreliner

2 Campaigns · 21 Instruments

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

LISTOS Flax Pond Ground Site Data10.5067/Suborbital/LISTOS/Ground_FlaxPond_Data_1

CampaignsLong Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

PlatformsCampaign Balloons, Campaign Field Sites

LISTOS Surface Mobile Platform In-Situ Data10.5067/Suborbital/LISTOS/SurfaceMobile_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsLong Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

PlatformsCampaign Vehicles

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Aerosol Datahttps://doi.org/10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

NAAMES C-130 Aerosol In Situ , Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

NAAMES R/V Atlantis Aerosol In Situ Data, Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_ShipInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsR/V Atlantis

ORACLES Aerosol Aircraft InSitu Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ORACLES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsObservations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

PlatformsP-3 Orion

ACTIVATE Falcon In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/ACTIVATE_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsAerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

FormatsICARTT

FIREX-AQ NOAA-CHEM Twin Otter In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/FIREXAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_N48_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

FIREX-AQ Aerodyne Mobile Lab Surface Mobile In-Situ Measurements10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_SurfaceMobile_Aerodyne_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsCampaign Vehicles

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

KORUS-AQ Research Vessel (R/V) Onnuri Ship Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_RVOnnuriShip_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsR/V Onnuri

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsStudies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FIREX-AQ Merge Data Files10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Merge_Data_2

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FIREX-AQ In-Situ Ground Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Ground_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

ACTIVATE Falcon Aircraft Merge Data Files10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ACTIVATE_Merge_Data_1

CampaignsAerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

FormatsICARTT