Instrument

CPC
Condensation Particle Counter

Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentration. CPCs measure aerosol concentration by condensing fluid onto the particles, allowing them to grow to more detectable sizes for optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles with a size range of 7 nm-3 μm, can measure particle concentrations up to 100,000 particles/cc, and can provide measurements at 1-second intervals. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be deployed on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.

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 > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/cpc_handbook.pdf

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Currently unavailable
Technical Contact
Maynard Havlicek
Instrument Maker
TSI Incorporated
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Citation

Cessna Citation II

8 Campaigns · 26 Instruments

IPHEx

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

2014

Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia

view all deployment dates

· 47 Data Products

RADEX

Radar Definition Experiment (RADEX) for ACE Mission

2014—2015

Southeastern United States, North Carolina (NC); Olympic Peninsula, Washington (WA) State

view all deployment dates

· 30 Data Products

Falcon

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

5 Campaigns · 43 Instruments

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

ACTIVATE

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

2020—2022

Western North Atlantic Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 12 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

ATR-42

1 Campaign · 16 Instruments

HyMeX

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

2012—2013

The Mediterranean

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· 3 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

17 Campaigns · 104 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

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

Vehicle

Campaign Vehicles

17 Campaigns · 54 Instruments

LISTOS

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

2017—2019

New York City metropolitan and Long Island Sound area, Northeastern U.S.

view all deployment dates

· 16 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

MOOSE

Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

2021

Southern Ontario, Southeastern Michigan

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· 1 Data Product

Field Site

Campaign Field Sites

Stationary

57 Campaigns · 160 Instruments

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

36 Campaigns · 168 Instruments

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

view all deployment dates

· 26 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

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

Ongoing

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· 0 Data Products

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

15 Campaigns · 62 Instruments

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

CLASIC07

Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign 2007

2007

Southern Great Plains, Oklahoma, Kansas

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· 7 Data Products

Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

1 Campaign · 13 Instruments

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

G-V

Gulfstream-V

7 Campaigns · 37 Instruments

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

R/V RHB

R/V Ronald H. Brown

2 Campaigns · 41 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

G-1

Gulfstream-159

1 Campaign · 26 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

15 Campaigns · 85 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

Learjet

SPEC Inc. Learjet 25

5 Campaigns · 19 Instruments

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

view all deployment dates

· 11 Data Products

Permanent Water Site

Campaign Permanent Water Sites

Stationary

5 Campaigns · 14 Instruments

CLAMS

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

2001

Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 5 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

INTEXA_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

CAMP2Ex Learjet In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/Airborne/CAMP2Ex_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Learjet_Data_1

CampaignsClouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

PlatformsSPEC Inc. Learjet 25

DC3 In-Situ NSF/NCAR GV-HIAPER Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_NSF-GV-HIAPER_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsGulfstream-V

DC3 In-Situ NSF/NCAR GV-HIAPER Cloud Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_NSF-GV-HIAPER_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsGulfstream-V

DC3 In-Situ NSF/NCAR GV-HIAPER Meteorological and Navigational Datahttps://doi.org/10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_MetNav_AircraftInSitu_NSF-GV-HIAPER_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsGulfstream-V

DC3 In-Situ DLR-Falcon Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DLR-Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

LISTOS Surface Mobile Platform In-Situ Data10.5067/Suborbital/LISTOS/SurfaceMobile_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsLong Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

PlatformsCampaign Vehicles

DISCOVER-AQ P-3B Aircraft in-situ Aerosol Measurements Texas10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/DISCOVER-AQ/0005

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

PlatformsP-3 Orion

GPM GROUND VALIDATION UND CITATION CLOUD MICROPHYSICS IPHEx V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/MULTIPLE/DATA201

CampaignsRadar Definition Experiment (RADEX) for ACE Mission, Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsCessna Citation II

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

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

ACTIVATE Falcon In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/ACTIVATE_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsAerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

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

INTEXB_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

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

CPCCondensation Particle Counter

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

CPC
Condensation Particle Counter