Instrument

PTR-MS
Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer

The Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) is an in situ spectrometer developed by the University of Innsbruck in Austria and used both on aircraft and on the ground. It detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without sample preparation at very low concentrations. PTR-MS employs chemical ionization mass spectrometry, enabling rapid, highly sensitive VOC detection. It has a signal integration time of 0.5 to 1 second.

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/10.1016/S1387-3806(02)00926-0

Online Information

https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/Proton-Transfer-Reaction_Mass_Spectrometer

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

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

45 Campaigns · 182 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

ARCTAS

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

2008

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2026

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

view all deployment dates

Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2025-06-15	2025-08-02
2025-06-22	2025-08-09
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

· 25 Data Products

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 20 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 27 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

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

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· 8 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Stationary

63 Campaigns · 100 Instruments

DISCOVER-AQ

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

2011—2014

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

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· 77 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

30 Campaigns · 153 Instruments

DISCOVER-AQ

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

2011—2014

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

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· 77 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

Field Site

Stationary

76 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

LISTOS

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

2017—2019

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

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· 17 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

view all deployment dates

· 27 Data Products

AEROMMA

Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas

2023

Urban regions across the western and eastern United States

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

CARES

Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study

2010

Central Valley, California

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· 0 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 20 Data Products

AMAZE-08

Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment

2008

Central Amazon Basin

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· 0 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

17 Campaigns · 96 Instruments

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

INTEX-NA

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

2004—2006

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

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· 21 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

Vehicle

21 Campaigns · 68 Instruments

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

view all deployment dates

· 27 Data Products

MOOSE

Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

2021

Southern Ontario, Southeastern Michigan

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· 2 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

G-1

Gulfstream-159

4 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

CARES

Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study

2010

Central Valley, California

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· 0 Data Products

CHAPS

Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Process Study

2007

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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· 0 Data Products

Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

2 Campaigns · 33 Instruments

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

view all deployment dates

· 0 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

PlatformsVehicle, Field Site, Balloon Launch Site

FormatsICARTT

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT10.5067/ASDCDAAC/INTEXB/0011

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

DISCOVER-AQ California Deployment Fresno Ground Site Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_California_Ground_Fresno_Data_1

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

PlatformsPermanent Land Site

FormatsICARTT

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

FormatsICARTT

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

PlatformsVehicle

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

PlatformsVehicle

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

ASIA-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ASIA-AQ/DATA001/DC8/TraceGas_AircraftInSitu_1

CampaignsAirborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

SARP 2016 Data10.5067/SUBORBITAL/SARP/DATA001/2016

CampaignsStudent Airborne Research Program

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ Colorado Deployment Platteville Ground Site Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_Ground_Platteville_Data_1

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

PlatformsPermanent Land Site

FormatsHDF, ICARTT

PTR-MSProton Transfer Mass Spectrometer

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

PTR-MS
Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer