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Instrument

PALMS
Particle Analysis By Laser Mass Spectrometry

The Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry (PALMS) is a laser ionization mass spectrometer operated by NOAA. PALMS provides in situ measurements of aerosol particles and their chemical composition by using a UV laser pulse (193 nm) to generate ions. These ions are then analyzed with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to produce the mass spectrum of each particle, which can be used to classify individual aerosol particles. PALMS has an aerosol size range of 0.2 to 3 microns and typically collects data at about 1 to 10 Hz. It can be used for either airborne or laboratory aerosol measurements.

PALMS instrument in the lab

PALMS instrument in the lab

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 > Aerosols > Chemical Composition

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1-10 Hz

Spatial Resolution

N/A

Measurement Frequency

564 THz, 1553 THz

Calibration Details

Currently unavailble

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Gregory Schill
Technical Contact
Gregory Schill
Instrument Maker
NOAA
Funding Source
NOAA, NASA Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Program
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Douglas DC-8

43 Campaigns · 180 Instruments

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

North America including portions of Canada, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico

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· 20 Data Products

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 Data Products

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

Student Airborne Research Program

Southern California, Virginia

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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

· 0 Data Products

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

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

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· 41 Data Products

Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas

Urban regions across the western and eastern United States

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· 0 Data Products

Image of ER-2 taking off

Image of ER-2 taking off

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

63 Campaigns · 107 Instruments

Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere

Central United States

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· 5 Data Products

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

NASA WB-57

16 Campaigns · 80 Instruments

Costa Rica Aura Validation Experiment

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· 0 Data Products

Atmospheric Chemistry of Combustion Emissions Near the Tropopause

Southern United States

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· 0 Data Products

Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

West Pacific, South Korea

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· 8 Data Products

WB-57 Aerosol Mission

Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

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· 0 Data Products

Stratospheric Aerosol processes, Budget, and Radiative Effects

Houston, Texas, Fairbanks, Alaska

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· 0 Data Products

Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment

Central United States

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· 7 Data Products

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

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Aerosol Datahttps://doi.org/10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

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: Merged Atmospheric Chemistry, Trace Gases, and Aerosols10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1581

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: Black Carbon Mass Mixing Ratios from ATom-1 Flights10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1618

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ATom: In Situ Tropical Aerosol Properties and Comparable Global Model Outputs10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1684

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 DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

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