Instrument

CNC
Condensation Nuclei Counter

The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is an in situ optical sensor produced by Droplet Measurement Technologies and TSI, Inc. It detects cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) by supersaturating the sampled air, making CCN particles detectable. The particles are then measured by an optical particle counter (OPC). The CNC detects particles from 0.75 to 10 μm in diameter and operates at a sampling rate of 1 Hz. It is suitable for both airborne and ground-based operations.

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

Optical/Photon

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Cloud Condensation Nuclei

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Condensation Nuclei

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

Currently unavailable

Online Information

Lead Investigator
James Wilson
Technical Contact
James Wilson
Instrument Maker
Droplet Measurement Technologies, TSI Inc
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- data center outside NASA
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

45 Campaigns · 182 Instruments

SEAC4RS

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

2013

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

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· 20 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

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2026

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

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Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2025-06-15	2025-08-02
2025-06-22	2025-08-09
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

· 25 Data Products

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 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

NAMMA

NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

2006

Cape Verde Islands, Atlantic Ocean

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· 22 Data Products

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 20 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 27 Data Products

TRACE

Transport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

1992—2001

Brazil, Southern Africa, Tropical Atlantic, Central & Western Regions of the Pacific Ocean Basin

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· 25 Data Products

AEROMMA

Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas

2023

Urban regions across the western and eastern United States

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· 0 Data Products

PEM

Pacific Exploratory Mission

1991—1999

Pacific Ocean

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· 51 Data Products

SONEX

Subsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment

1997

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

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· 10 Data Products

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

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· 32 Data Products

HIWC

High Ice Water Content Radar Study

2015—2022

Southeastern United States, Florida, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Southern California, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

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· 8 Data Products

R/V Glorita

1 Campaign · 7 Instruments

MAST

Monterey Area Ship Track

1994

Central California Coast, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

30 Campaigns · 153 Instruments

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

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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· 77 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

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

PEM

Pacific Exploratory Mission

1991—1999

Pacific Ocean

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· 51 Data Products

TRACE

Transport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

1992—2001

Brazil, Southern Africa, Tropical Atlantic, Central & Western Regions of the Pacific Ocean Basin

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· 25 Data Products

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

ATR-42

1 Campaign · 16 Instruments

HyMeX

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

2012

The Mediterranean

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· 3 Data Products

Vehicle

21 Campaigns · 68 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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· 77 Data Products

Citation

Cessna Citation II

10 Campaigns · 25 Instruments

MC3E

Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

2011

Central Oklahoma, Southern Plains

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· 34 Data Products

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

C-131A

Convair C-131 Samaritan

5 Campaigns · 32 Instruments

TARFOX

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

1996

Western Atlantic Ocean, US Eastern Seaboard

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· 5 Data Products

SCAR

Smoke/Sulfates, Clouds, and Radiation

1993—1995

Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Central Brazil

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· 6 Data Products

MAST

Monterey Area Ship Track

1994

Central California Coast, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

17 Campaigns · 96 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 110 Data Products

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 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

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

Aero Commander

Rockwell Aero Commander

4 Campaigns · 11 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 110 Data Products

ER-2

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

63 Campaigns · 109 Instruments

POLARIS

Photochemistry of Ozone Loss in the Arctic Region In Summer

1997

Arctic, Mid-latitudes

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· 9 Data Products

ASHOE

Airborne Southern Hemisphere Ozone Experiment

1994

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

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· 0 Data Products

AASE

Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

1988—1992

Arctic

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· 0 Data Products

SPADE

Stratospheric Photochemistry, Aerosols and Dynamics Expedition

1992—1993

Western United States

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· 0 Data Products

STRAT

Stratospheric Tracers of Atmospheric Transport

1995—1996

Pacific Ocean, Moffett Field, California, Barbers Point Naval Air Station, Hawaii

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· 9 Data Products

AAOE

Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment

1987

Antarctica

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· 0 Data Products

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

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· 32 Data Products

STEP

Stratospheric-Tropospheric Exchange Project

1984—1987

Moffett Field, California; Darwin, Australia

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· 0 Data Products

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

23 Campaigns · 85 Instruments

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

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· 0 Data Products

CLASIC07

Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign 2007

2007

Southern Great Plains, Oklahoma, Kansas

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· 7 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

2 Campaigns · 33 Instruments

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

B-200

Beechcraft B-200 King Air

39 Campaigns · 84 Instruments

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 20 Data Products

CV-580

Convair-580

8 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

CLAMS

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

2001

Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean

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· 5 Data Products

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

PAC2001

Pacific 2001 Air Quality Study

2001

Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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· 8 Data Products

Bandeirante

EMBRAER Bandeirante

2 Campaigns · 5 Instruments

TRACE

Transport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

1992—2001

Brazil, Southern Africa, Tropical Atlantic, Central & Western Regions of the Pacific Ocean Basin

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· 25 Data Products

Falcon

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

6 Campaigns · 44 Instruments

ACTIVATE

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

2020—2022

Western North Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

Electra

Lockheed L-188C Electra

6 Campaigns · 36 Instruments

TOGA COARE

Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere - Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment

1992—1993

Western Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea

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· 1 Data Product

BOREAS

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

1994—1996

Boreal forests of central Canada

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· 303 Data Products

Field Site

Stationary

76 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

CARES

Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study

2010

Central Valley, California

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· 0 Data Products

AMAZE-08

Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment

2008

Central Amazon Basin

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· 0 Data Products

G-1

Gulfstream-159

4 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

CHAPS

Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Process Study

2007

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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· 0 Data Products

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

R/V RHB

R/V Ronald H. Brown

4 Campaigns · 51 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

ATOMIC

Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign

2020

Tropical North Atlantic east of Barbados

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· 1 Data Product

Sabreliner

NCAR Sabreliner

3 Campaigns · 21 Instruments

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

Cessna 207

Cessna 207 Stationair

1 Campaign · 7 Instruments

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

Cessna 188

Cessna 188 Agwagon

1 Campaign · 5 Instruments

PAC2001

Pacific 2001 Air Quality Study

2001

Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 8 Data Products

WB-57

NASA WB-57

17 Campaigns · 84 Instruments

ACCENT

Atmospheric Chemistry of Combustion Emissions Near the Tropopause

1999—2000

Southern United States

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· 0 Data Products

WAM

WB-57 Aerosol Mission

1998

Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

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· 0 Data Products

Balloon Launch Site

88 Campaigns · 23 Instruments

BATAL

Balloon Measurements of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer

2014—2017

India, Saudi Arabia

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· 0 Data Products

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

view all deployment dates

· 32 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Arctic Cloud Experiment (ACE) University of Washington CV580 Aircraft10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0010

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsConvair-580

FormatsOther (HDF)

CAMP2Ex P-3 In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/Airborne/CAMP2Ex_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_P3_Data_1

CampaignsClouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

NAMMA LANGLEY AEROSOL RESEARCH GROUP EXPERIMENT (LARGE) V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/NAMMA/MULTIPLE/DATA202

CampaignsNASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

SAFARI 2000 JRA Aerocommander Trace Gas, Aerosol, and CCN Data, Dry Season 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/713

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsRockwell Aero Commander

TRACE-P P-3B In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/TRACE-P/Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsTransport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsGTE

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT10.5067/ASDCDAAC/INTEXB/0011

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

BOREAS AFM-03 Electra 1994 Aircraft Flux and Moving Window Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/495

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsLockheed L-188C Electra

GRIP LANGLEY AEROSOL RESEARCH GROUP EXPERIMENT (LARGE) V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GRIP/LARGE/DATA201

CampaignsGenesis and Rapid Intensification Processes

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Aerosol Datahttps://doi.org/10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ORACLES Aerosol Aircraft InSitu Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ORACLES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsObservations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT, NetCDF

NAAMES R/V Atlantis Aerosol In Situ Data, Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_ShipInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsR/V Atlantis

FormatsICARTT

NAAMES C-130 Aerosol In Situ , Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsICARTT

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational eXperiment - University of Washington instrumented C-131A aircraft Data Set10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/TARFOX/0002

CampaignsTropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

PlatformsConvair C-131 Samaritan

STRAT ER-2 Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/STRAT_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_ER2_Data_1

CampaignsStratospheric Tracers of Atmospheric Transport

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

Formatser

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