Instrument

APS
Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by TSI Instruments. APS measures aerodynamic particles in the 0.5-20 μm size range. It also measures the light-scattering intensity of the particles in the 0.37-20 μm optical size range. APS provides particle size distributions for 52 channels at a typical sampling time of 1 second. It uses a laser diode operating at 655 nm and has a size resolution of 0.02 μm at 1 μm. APS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, or ground-based platforms.

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 > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Particle Size Distribution

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

457.7 THz

Calibration Details

Currently unavailble

Online Information

https://tsi.com/getmedia/7fd20aa0-8540-4b8d-8572-d164366dd08c/3321-Spec-Sheet-US?ext=.pdf

Lead Investigator
Currently unavailable
Technical Contact
Currently unavailable
Instrument Maker
TSI Instruments
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

18 Campaigns · 70 Instruments

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

PACE-PAX

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment

2024

Southern and Central California

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· 0 Data Products

ER-2

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

52 Campaigns · 107 Instruments

ASHOE

Airborne Southern Hemisphere Ozone Experiment

1994

Moffett Field, California, Christchurch, New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji

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· 0 Data Products

POLARIS

Photochemistry of Ozone Loss in the Arctic Region In Summer

1997

Arctic, Mid-latitudes

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· 9 Data Products

CV-580

Convair-580

7 Campaigns · 38 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 117 Data Products

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

38 Campaigns · 174 Instruments

NAMMA

NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

2006

Cape Verde Islands, Atlantic Ocean

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· 23 Data Products

GRIP

Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes

2010

Tropical Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Eastern North Pacific, Caribbean Sea

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· 24 Data Products

INTEX-NA

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

2004—2006

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

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· 21 Data Products

ARCTAS

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

2008

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2030

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

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Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2009-07-12	2009-08-13
2010-06-20	2010-07-30
2011-06-19	2011-07-29
2012-06-17	2012-08-10
2013-06-09	2013-08-02
2014-06-15	2014-08-08
2015-06-14	2015-08-07
2016-06-12	2016-08-05
2017-06-18	2017-08-11
2018-06-18	2018-08-10
2019-06-16	2019-08-09
2021-12-03	2021-12-10
2022-06-12	2022-08-05
2023-06-11	2023-08-04
2023-06-18	2023-08-11
2024-06-16	2024-08-09
2024-06-23	2024-08-16

· 0 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

19 Campaigns · 124 Instruments

DISCOVER-AQ

Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

2011—2014

Baltimore MD, San Joaquin Valley CA, Houston TX, Denver CO

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· 89 Data Products

ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 8 Data Products

ARCTAS

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

2008

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 Data Products

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2030

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

view all deployment dates

Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2009-07-12	2009-08-13
2010-06-20	2010-07-30
2011-06-19	2011-07-29
2012-06-17	2012-08-10
2013-06-09	2013-08-02
2014-06-15	2014-08-08
2015-06-14	2015-08-07
2016-06-12	2016-08-05
2017-06-18	2017-08-11
2018-06-18	2018-08-10
2019-06-16	2019-08-09
2021-12-03	2021-12-10
2022-06-12	2022-08-05
2023-06-11	2023-08-04
2023-06-18	2023-08-11
2024-06-16	2024-08-09
2024-06-23	2024-08-16