Instrument

GT-CIMS
Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer

The Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (GT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer. It uses a lower-pressure flow tube reactor to measure reactive nitrogen species such as nitric acid and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the lower atmosphere. GT-CIMS has a typical temporal resolution of 1 second and a detection limit of 10 pptv.

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 > Halocarbons And Halogens > Hydrogen Chloride

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Sulfur Compounds > Sulfur Dioxide

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

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Methanol

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Peroxyacyl Nitrate

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitric Acid

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1-3 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JD025561

Online Information

https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/GT-CIMS

Lead Investigator
L. Greg Huey
Technical Contact
L. Greg Huey
Instrument Maker
Georgia Institute of Technology
Funding Source
N/A

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5065/D6XD0ZQF

Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

38 Campaigns · 174 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

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

ATom

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

2016—2018

Western Arctic, South Pacific, Atlantic Ocean, Greenland, Central North America

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· 41 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

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

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

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

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2030

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

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Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
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