Instrument

FSSP
Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter initially developed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It determines particle size distribution by measuring the light intensity scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles ranging from 0.5 to 47 μm in diameter. It functions at a wavelength of 633 nm and typically samples at a rate of 1 Hz.

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 > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Particle Size Distribution

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

474 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1991)008%3C0166:UORPAR%3E2.0.CO;2

Online Information

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

Lead Investigator
Paul Lawson
Technical Contact
Paul Lawson
Instrument Maker
Particle Measuring Systems Inc., Droplet Measurement Technologies
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

CV-580

Convair-580

8 Campaigns · 43 Instruments

GCPEx

GPM Cold Season Precipitation Experiment

2012

Ontario, Canada and northern portions of the United States (e.g., New York state, the New England area, etc.)

view all deployment dates

· 44 Data Products

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

view all deployment dates

· 117 Data Products

CLAMS

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

2001

Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 5 Data Products

TRMM-KWAJEX

Tropical Rain Measuring Mission-Kwajalein Experiment

1999

Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

C3VP

Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

2006—2007

Ontario, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 6 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

view all deployment dates

· 8 Data Products

Electra

Lockheed L-188C Electra

6 Campaigns · 36 Instruments

BOREAS

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

1994—1996

Boreal forests of central Canada

view all deployment dates

· 303 Data Products

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

TOGA COARE

Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere - Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment

1992—1993

Western Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea

view all deployment dates

· 0 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

ABLE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment

1984—1990

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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

B-200

Beechcraft B-200 King Air

32 Campaigns · 73 Instruments

BOREAS

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

1994—1996

Boreal forests of central Canada

view all deployment dates

· 303 Data Products

LPVEx

Light Precipitation Evaluation Experiment

2010

Gulf of Finland

view all deployment dates

· 22 Data Products

FIFE

First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

1987—1989

Central Kansas

view all deployment dates

· 101 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

CaPE

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

1991

East-Central Florida

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

18 Campaigns · 93 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

MAST

Monterey Area Ship Track

1994

Central California Coast, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

view all deployment dates

· 117 Data Products

ATR-42

1 Campaign · 16 Instruments

HyMeX

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

2012

The Mediterranean

view all deployment dates

· 3 Data Products

Pelican

Cessna Pelican

1 Campaign · 6 Instruments

TARFOX

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

1996

Western Atlantic Ocean, US Eastern Seaboard

view all deployment dates

· 5 Data Products

C-131A

Convair C-131 Samaritan

6 Campaigns · 32 Instruments

TARFOX

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

1996

Western Atlantic Ocean, US Eastern Seaboard

view all deployment dates

· 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

SCAR

Smoke/Sulfates, Clouds, and Radiation

1993—1995

Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Central Brazil

view all deployment dates

· 6 Data Products

ASTEX

Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment

1992

Azores and Madeira islands

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· 0 Data Products

MAST

Monterey Area Ship Track

1994

Central California Coast, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Aero Commander

Rockwell Aero Commander

4 Campaigns · 9 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 117 Data Products

Learjet

SPEC Inc. Learjet 25

8 Campaigns · 29 Instruments

TEFLUN

TExas and FLorida UNderflights

1998

Texas, Florida

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· 0 Data Products

CEPEX

Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment

1993

Central Pacific Ocean

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· 1 Data Product

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

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

view all deployment dates

· 20 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

CV-990

Convair CV-990

1 Campaign · 9 Instruments

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Field Site

Campaign Field Sites

Stationary

68 Campaigns · 162 Instruments

CITE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation

1983—1989

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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

PAC2001

Pacific 2001 Air Quality Study

2001

Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 8 Data Products

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

20 Campaigns · 73 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

ARESE

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

1995—2000

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

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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· 0 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

26 Campaigns · 139 Instruments

CEPEX

Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment

1993

Central Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

CAMEX

Convection and Moisture Experiment

1993—2001

US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

view all deployment dates

· 70 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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

43 Campaigns · 180 Instruments

CAMEX

Convection and Moisture Experiment

1993—2001

US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

view all deployment dates

· 70 Data Products

AASE

Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

1988—1992

Arctic

view all deployment dates

· 2 Data Products

SONEX

Subsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment

1997

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

view all deployment dates

· 10 Data Products

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

view all deployment dates

· 32 Data Products

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

TOTE-VOTE

Tropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment

1995—1996

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

view all deployment dates

· 10 Data Products

Citation

Cessna Citation II

10 Campaigns · 24 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

TEFLUN

TExas and FLorida UNderflights

1998

Texas, Florida

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

Falcon

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

6 Campaigns · 44 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

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

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

ER-2

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

63 Campaigns · 107 Instruments

SPADE

Stratospheric Photochemistry, Aerosols and Dynamics Expedition

1992—1993

Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

AAOE

Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment

1987

Antarctica

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

AASE

Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

1988—1992

Arctic

view all deployment dates

· 2 Data Products

WB-57

NASA WB-57

16 Campaigns · 80 Instruments

MidCiX

Middle Latitude Cirrus Experiment

2004

South-central United States

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

Sabreliner

NCAR Sabreliner

3 Campaigns · 21 Instruments

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

T-28

SDSMT T-28

1 Campaign · 5 Instruments

CaPE

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

1991

East-Central Florida

view all deployment dates

· 0 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)

INTEXB_Cessna_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsCessna 207 Stationair

CAMP2Ex Learjet In-Situ Cloud Data10.5067/Airborne/CAMP2Ex_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_Learjet_Data_1

CampaignsClouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

PlatformsSPEC Inc. Learjet 25

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

CAMEX-3 CLOUD AND AEROSOL PARTICLE CHARACTERIZATION (CAPAC) V110.5067/CAMEX-3/MULTIPLE/DATA102

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

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

CAMEX-3 CLOUD AND AEROSOL PARTICLE CHARACTERIZATION VIDEO V110.5067/CAMEX-3/CAMERA/DATA201

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

GPM GROUND VALIDATION WYOMING KING AIR CLOUD MICROPHYSICS LPVEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/LPVEX/MULTPLE/DATA202

CampaignsLight Precipitation Evaluation Experiment

PlatformsBeechcraft B-200 King Air

SAFARI 2000 JRB Aerocommander Trace Gas and Aerosol Data, Dry Season 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/714

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsRockwell Aero Commander

CAMEX-4 CLOUD MICROPHYSICS V110.5067/CAMEX-4/MULTIPLE/DATA101

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

BOREAS AFM-02 Wyoming King Air 1994 Aircraft Sounding Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/494

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsBeechcraft B-200 King Air

SAFARI 2000 C-130 Aerosol and Meteorological Data, Dry Season 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/720

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

SAFARI 2000 CV-580 Aerosol and Cloud Data, Dry Season 2000 (CARG)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/710

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsConvair-580

CAMEX-4 NOAA WP-3D CLOUD PHYSICS V110.5067/CAMEX-4/MULTIPLE/DATA103

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FIRE_CI2_CITATN_PMS

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsCessna Citation II

FIRE_MS_ELECTRA

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsLockheed L-188C Electra

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

CLAMS-Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites Un. Washington Convair-580 aircraft measurements10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/CLAMS/0005

CampaignsChesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

PlatformsConvair-580

SEAC4RS Learjet Aircraft In-Situ Cloud Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Cloud_AircraftInSitu_Learjet_Data_1

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

PlatformsSPEC Inc. Learjet 25

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsAmes

Tropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment (TOTE-VOTE) DC-8 In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/TOTE-VOTE_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsTropical Ozone Transport Experiment – Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsDC

Sulfates, Clouds and Radiation Brazil (SCAR-B) University of Washington C131A Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/SCAR_B/0001

CampaignsSmoke/Sulfates, Clouds, and Radiation

PlatformsConvair C-131 Samaritan

FormatsBinary

SOLVE I DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE1_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsOther Ames

FSSPForward Scattering Spectrometer Probe

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

FSSP
Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe