Instrument

NMASS
Nucleation-Mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer

The Nucleation-mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer (NMASS) is an airborne, in situ spectrometer used to measure particle size distribution and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). NMASS consists of 5 parallel condensation nucleus counters (CNCs) that are used to sample particles within the 3 to 60 nm diameter range. It can be equipped on multiple types of aircraft and is ideal for sampling cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere. NMASS provides fast time response measurements at a temporal resolution of 10 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 > Cloud Condensation Nuclei

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Vertical Measurement Regions

Boundary Layer, Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

10 Hz

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3491-2018

Online Information

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

Lead Investigator
James Wilson
Technical Contact
John Michael Reeves
Instrument Maker
Currently unavailable
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Unpublished

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Learjet

SPEC Inc. Learjet 25

6 Campaigns · 19 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

WB-57

NASA WB-57

15 Campaigns · 75 Instruments

TC4

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

2007

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

MACPEX

Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment

2011

Central United States

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· 7 Data Products

CR-AVE

Costa Rica Aura Validation Experiment

2006

Costa Rica

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· 0 Data Products

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

ACCLIP

Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

2022

West Pacific, South Korea

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· 8 Data Products

ACCENT

Atmospheric Chemistry of Combustion Emissions Near the Tropopause

1999—2000

Southern United States

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· 0 Data Products

AVE

Aura Validation Experiment

2004—2005

Houston, Texas, Southern United States, Gulf of Mexico

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· 0 Data Products

WAM

WB-57 Aerosol Mission

1998

Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

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· 0 Data Products

G-V

Gulfstream-V

8 Campaigns · 37 Instruments

ACCLIP

Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

2022

West Pacific, South Korea

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· 8 Data Products

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

38 Campaigns · 174 Instruments

ATom

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

2016—2018

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

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· 41 Data Products

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

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· 32 Data Products

AEROMMA

Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas

2023

Urban regions across the western and eastern United States

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· 0 Data Products

Global Hawk

5 Campaigns · 28 Instruments

GloPac

Global Hawk Pacific

2010

Northern Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

ER-2

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

51 Campaigns · 109 Instruments

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

19 Campaigns · 124 Instruments

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) Quick-Look Data

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

PlatformsCessna Citation II, NASA WB-57, Campaign Field Sites, NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

ATom: Nucleation Mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer Calibration and Performance Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1607

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: L2 In Situ Measurements of Aerosol Microphysical Properties (AMP)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1671

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

MACPEX WB-57 Aircraft In-situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/MACPEX_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_WB57_Data_1

CampaignsMid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment

PlatformsNASA WB-57

SEAC4RS Learjet Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Learjet_Data_1

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

PlatformsSPEC Inc. Learjet 25

ACCLIP WB-57 Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ACCLIP_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_WB57_Data_1

CampaignsAsian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

PlatformsNASA WB-57

FormatsICARTT

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

SOLVE I ER-2 Aircraft In-situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE1_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_ER2_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

FormatsOther Ames

SOLVE II DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SOLVE2_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsSAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsOther Ames

NMASSNucleation-Mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

NMASS
Nucleation-Mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer