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Instrument

PTR-MS
Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer

The Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) is an in situ airborne and ground-based spectrometer designed by the University of Innsbruck in Austria. It measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without sample preparation at very low concentrations. PTR-MS uses chemical ionization mass spectroscopy allowing for fast and highly sensitive detection of VOCs. It has a 0.5 to 1 s signal integration time.

Image of the PTR-MS

Image of the PTR-MS

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 > Air Quality > Volatile Organic Compounds

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

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

0.5-1 s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi-org.elib.uah.edu/10.1016/S1387-3806(02)00926-0

Online Information

https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/PTR-MS

Lead Investigator
Armin Wisthaler
Technical Contact
Armin Wisthaler
Instrument Maker
University of Innsbruck, Austria
Funding Source
Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Gesellschaft für Strahlenforschung
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Douglas DC-8

38 Campaigns · 174 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

Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

Korean United States - Air Quality

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

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· 0 Data Products

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 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

P-3 Orion

19 Campaigns · 124 Instruments

Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

Baltimore MD, San Joaquin Valley CA, Houston TX, Denver CO

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· 89 Data Products

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Campaign Field Sites

60 Campaigns · 165 Instruments

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

New York City metropolitan and Long Island Sound area, Northeastern U.S.

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· 17 Data Products

Korean United States - Air Quality

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

view all deployment dates

· 26 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

C-130 Hercules

15 Campaigns · 85 Instruments

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

North America, Gulf of Mexico, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean

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· 21 Data Products

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Campaign Vehicles

18 Campaigns · 56 Instruments

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

Southern Ontario, Southeastern Michigan

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· 2 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

LISTOS Flax Pond Ground Site Data10.5067/Suborbital/LISTOS/Ground_FlaxPond_Data_1

CampaignsLong Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

PlatformsCampaign Balloons, Campaign Field Sites

DISCOVER-AQ P-3B Aircraft in-situ Trace Gas Measurements10.5067/AIRCRAFT/DISCOVER-AQ/AEROSOL-TRACEGAS

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

NAAMES C-130 Trace Gas In Situ Data, Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_TraceGas_AircraftInsitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsICARTT

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FIREX-AQ Merge Data Files10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Merge_Data_2

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

FIREX-AQ Aerodyne Mobile Lab Surface Mobile In-Situ Measurements10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_SurfaceMobile_Aerodyne_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsCampaign Vehicles

FormatsICARTT

ARCTAS DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ARCTAS_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsArctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

MOOSE Aerodyne Mobile Laboratory Measurements10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/MOOSE/DATA001/Aerodyne-Mobile-Lab_1

CampaignsMichigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Vehicles

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ Maryland P-3B Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Maryland_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ California Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_California_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ Texas Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Texas_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ Colorado Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT