Instrument

ISAF
In Situ Airborne Formaldehyde

The In Situ Airborne Formaldehyde (ISAF) is an airborne optical sensor developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ISAF uses laser induced fluorescence (LIF) to measure formaldehyde throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at the 353 nm wavelength and has a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. ISAF can measure formaldehyde concentrations ranging from 10 pptv to hundreds of ppbv at an accuracy of 10%.

Image of the ISAF (top left) installed with other instruments during FIREX-AQ

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 > Atmospheric Chemistry > Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds > Formaldehyde

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry

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

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

849 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-541-2015

Online Information

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

Lead Investigator
Glenn M. Wolfe
Technical Contact
Glenn M. Wolfe
Instrument Maker
GSFC
Funding Source
NASA, IRAD
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- other NASA repository not formally considered a DAAC by ESDS

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

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

view all deployment dates

· 26 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

view all deployment dates

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