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Instrument

CAS
Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer

The Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures light scattering at 658 nm to determine aerosol and cloud particle size distributions from 0.51 to 50 μm. It also provides measurements of the refractive index and particle shape. CAS has a typical time resolution of 1 Hz and can measure concentrations greater than 1,000 particles per cubic meter.

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

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Particle Size Distribution

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Droplet Concentration/size

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

455.6 THz

Calibration Details

https://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/doe-sc-arm-tr-246.pdf

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Susanne Glienke
Technical Contact
Susanne Glienke
Instrument Maker
Droplet Measurement Technologies
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- data center outside NASA

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Image of the Falcon aircraft from ACCESS II

Image of the Falcon aircraft from ACCESS II

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

6 Campaigns · 44 Instruments

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

Western North Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

P-3 Orion

22 Campaigns · 135 Instruments

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 8 Data Products

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

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

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· 89 Data Products

Gulfstream-159

1 Campaign · 26 Instruments

CalWater

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

Douglas DC-8

40 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

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

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· 21 Data Products

Convective Processes EXperiment - Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde, Tropical East Atlantic Ocean

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· 10 Data Products

C-130 Hercules

17 Campaigns · 90 Instruments

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 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

18 Campaigns · 70 Instruments

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment

Southern and Central California

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

INTEXA_DC8_AIRCRAFT10.5067/ASDCDAAC/INTEXA/0008

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXB_DC8_AIRCRAFT10.5067/ASDCDAAC/INTEXB/0008

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

NAAMES C-130 Cloud In Situ Data, Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsICARTT

ORACLES Cloud Aircraft InSitu Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ORACLES_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsObservations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

CPEX-CV DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Cloud Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/CPEXCV_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsConvective Processes EXperiment - Cabo Verde

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

CPEX-CV Merge Data Files10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/CPEXCV_Merge_Data_1

CampaignsConvective Processes EXperiment - Cabo Verde

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

ACTIVATE Falcon In Situ Cloud Data10.5067/ASDC/ACTIVATE_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsAerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

FormatsICARTT

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

DISCOVER-AQ Colorado Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

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

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT