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Instrument

CAFS
Charged-coupled device (CCD) Actinic Flux Spectroradiometers

The Charged-couple device (CCD) Actinic Flux Spectroradiometer (CAFS) is an in situ airborne spectroradiometer developed by the Atmospheric Radiation Investigations and Measurements (ARIM) laboratory at NCAR. CAFS measures spectrally resolved ultraviolet and visible actinic flux between 280-650 nm. These measurements can be used to derive the photolysis frequencies for several chemical compounds such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and nitrate. CAFS has a temporal resolution of 1 Hz and a wavelength resolution of about 1.8 nm at 297 nm.

Image of the CAFS instrument

Image of the CAFS instrument

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 > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Formaldehyde

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Bromine Monoxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Chlorine Monoxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Chlorine Nitrate

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Hydrogen Compounds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Dinitrogen Pentoxide

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

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitrogen Dioxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Peroxyacyl Nitrate

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Oxygen Compounds > Ozone

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Photochemistry > Photolysis Rates

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Trace Gases/trace Species

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Actinic Flux

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

461-1071 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1029/98JD01381

Online Information

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

Lead Investigator
Samuel R. Hall
Technical Contact
Samuel R. Hall
Instrument Maker
NCAR ARIM
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Douglas DC-8

36 Campaigns · 168 Instruments

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

North America including portions of Canada, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico

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· 20 Data Products

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 Data Products

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

Korean United States - Air Quality

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

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

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· 32 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Polar Aura Validation Experiment

Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada

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· 0 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

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

NASA WB-57

15 Campaigns · 75 Instruments

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

Costa Rica Aura Validation Experiment

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· 0 Data Products

Aura Validation Experiment

Houston, Texas, Southern United States, Gulf of Mexico

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Photolysis Frequency Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_jValue_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

DC3 In-Situ NSF/NCAR GV-HIAPER Photolysis Rate Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_jValue_AircraftInSitu_NSF-GV-HIAPER_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsGulfstream-V

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Radiation Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ J Value Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_jValue_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: Global Modeled and CAFS Measured Cloudy and Clear Sky Photolysis Rates, 201610.3334/ORNLDAAC/1651

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: L2 Photolysis Frequencies from NCAR CCD Actinic Flux Spectroradiometers (CAFS)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1714

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ J Value (Photolysis Rate) Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_jValue_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Photolysis Rate Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_jValue_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8