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 includes five parallel condensation nucleus counters (CNCs) that sample particles within the 3 to 60 nm diameter range. It can be mounted on various types of aircraft and is ideal for sampling cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere. NMASS delivers rapid measurements with 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/Nuclei-Mode_Aerosol_Size_Spectrometer

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- Unpublished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

WB-57

NASA WB-57

16 Campaigns · 80 Instruments

TC4

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

2007

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

CR-AVE

Costa Rica Aura Validation Experiment

2006

Costa Rica

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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

ACCENT

Atmospheric Chemistry of Combustion Emissions Near the Tropopause

1999—2000

Southern United States

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· 0 Data Products

ACCLIP

Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

2022

West Pacific, South Korea

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· 8 Data Products

WAM

WB-57 Aerosol Mission

1998

Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

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· 0 Data Products

MACPEX

Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment

2011

Central United States

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· 7 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

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

43 Campaigns · 180 Instruments

ATom

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

2016—2018

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

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· 41 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

SOLVE

SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

1999—2003

Arctic, Kiruna, Sweden

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· 32 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

63 Campaigns · 107 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

26 Campaigns · 139 Instruments

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Learjet

SPEC Inc. Learjet 25

8 Campaigns · 29 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

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