Instrument

ATHOS
Airborne Tropospheric Hydrogen Oxides Sensor

The Airborne Tropospheric Hydrogen Oxides Sensor (ATHOS) is an in situ airborne sensor developed by Penn State University. ATHOS uses a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique to measure hydroxide (OH) and hydroperoxyl (HO2) in the atmosphere. ATHOS operates near the 308 nm wavelength, has a pulse repetition frequency of 3 kHz, and has a typical time resolution of 20-30 s. It was designed to be equipped on NASA’s DC-8 aircraft and can collect measurements of OH and HO2 in clear sky and light cloud conditions.

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

Meter/Analyzer

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitric Oxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Hydrogen Compounds > Hydroxyl

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Hydrogen Compounds > Hydroperoxy

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Hydrogen Compounds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

20-30 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

973 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCH.0000021036.53185.0e

Online Information

https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/ATHOS

Lead Investigator
William H. Brune, David Miller
Technical Contact
William H. Brune
Instrument Maker
Penn State University
Funding Source
NSF, NASA
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Unpublished

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

38 Campaigns · 174 Instruments

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

ATom

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

2016—2018

Western Arctic, South Pacific, Atlantic Ocean, Greenland, Central North America

view all deployment dates

· 41 Data Products

INTEX-NA

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

2004—2006

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

view all deployment dates

· 21 Data Products

ARCTAS

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

2008

Alaska, Western Canada, California

view all deployment dates

· 27 Data Products

PEM

Pacific Exploratory Mission

1991—1999

Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

SONEX

Subsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment

1997

North Atlantic Ocean, Ireland, Newfoundland, Bangor, Maine, Azores

view all deployment dates

· 10 Data Products

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

view all deployment dates

· 32 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

· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: L2 Measurements from Airborne Tropospheric Hydrogen Oxides Sensor (ATHOS)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1709

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXA_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXB_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: Column-Integrated Densities of Hydroxyl and Formaldehyde in Remote Troposphere10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1669

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

SASS (Subsonics Assessment) Ozone and NOx Experiment (SONEX) DC-8 In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SONEX_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSubsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsAmes

SASS (Subsonics Assessment) Ozone and NOx Experiment (SONEX) Merge Data Files10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SONEX_Merge_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSubsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsAmes

SOLVE I DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE1_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsOther Ames

ATHOSAirborne Tropospheric Hydrogen Oxides Sensor

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

ATHOS
Airborne Tropospheric Hydrogen Oxides Sensor