Instrument

DACOM
Differential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements

The Differential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements (DACOM) is an airborne in situ spectrometer system. It uses the differential absorption technique and an infrared tunable diode laser (TDL) to collect measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. DACOM operates across the 4.7, 4.5, and 3.3 μm wavelengths to access the absorption lines for CO, N2O, and CH4. It has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz and a precision of about 1 ppbv.

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 > Carbon Dioxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Methane

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Carbon Monoxide

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitrous Oxide

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

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

5 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

64 THz, 67 THz, 91 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1029/JD092iD02p02071

Online Information

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

Lead Investigator
Glenn Diskin
Technical Contact
Glenn Diskin
Instrument Maker
NASA
Funding Source
NASA
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

36 Campaigns · 168 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

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 Data Products

TC4

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

2007

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 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

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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· 0 Data Products

PEM

Pacific Exploratory Mission

1991—1999

Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

AASE

Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

1988—1992

Arctic

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· 2 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

PAVE

Polar Aura Validation Experiment

2005

Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada

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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

Ongoing

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· 0 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

TOTE-VOTE

Tropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment

1995—1996

Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland, Arctic, Arctic Ocean

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· 10 Data Products

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

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· 32 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

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· 12 Data Products

PEM

Pacific Exploratory Mission

1991—1999

Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Electra

Lockheed L-188C Electra

4 Campaigns · 34 Instruments

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

Wallops Island, Hawaii, Central Pacific, California, Eastern Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic

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· 0 Data Products

ABLE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment

1984—1990

Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Amazon Rainforest, Greenland, Eastern Canada, Alaska

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· 0 Data Products

CV-990

Convair CV-990

1 Campaign · 10 Instruments

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

Wallops Island, Hawaii, Central Pacific, California, Eastern Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic

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· 0 Data Products

Field Site

Campaign Field Sites

Stationary

57 Campaigns · 160 Instruments

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

Wallops Island, Hawaii, Central Pacific, California, Eastern Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXA_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXB_DC8_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsAmes

Tropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment (TOTE-VOTE) DC-8 In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/TOTE-VOTE_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsTropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsDC

SOLVE I DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE1_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsOther Ames

SOLVE II DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE2_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsOther Ames

DACOMDifferential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

DACOM
Differential Absorption Carbon monOxide Measurements