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Instrument

ATLAS
Airborne Tunable Laser Absorption Spectrometer

The Airborne Tunable Laser Absorption Spectrometer (ATLAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer developed by NASA. ATLAS utilizes second-harmonic absorption spectrometry to measure trace gases in the lower stratosphere such as nitrous oxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The laser within ATLAS is tuned to the infrared absorption band of the target gas and is frequency modulated at 2 kHz with the second-harmonic detection occurring at 4 kHz. ATLAS provides measurements at a time resolution of 1 s and has a spatial resolution of about 200 m when deployed on the ER-2 aircraft.

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)

Instrument Details

Spectrometer/Radiometer
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Carbon Monoxide
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Oxygen Compounds > Ozone
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Methane
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitrous Oxide
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Trace Gases/trace Species
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry
Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere
1 s
200 m
N/A
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.32.005324External Link
  • Max Loewenstein, James Podolske

  • Max Loewenstein

  • NASA ARC

  • Currently unavailable

  • Overview PublicationExternal Link

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