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Instrument

RSP
Research Scanning Polarimeter

The Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) is an airborne, passive polarimeter developed by SpecTIR Corporation. It measures total radiance and linear polarization across nine spectral bands in the visible and infrared wavelengths (410-2250 nm). These measurements can be used to determine aerosol and cloud properties. RSP has a time resolution of 0.8 seconds, a field of view of 14 mrad, and a horizontal resolution of approximately 100 meters at an altitude of 5 km.

Image of the RSP instrument
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

Spectrometer/Radiometer
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Backscatter
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Extinction
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Forward Scatter
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Optical Depth/thickness
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Radiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Droplet Distribution
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Droplet Concentration/size
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Optical Depth/thickness
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Asymmetry
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Top Height
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Radiance
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Radiance
Land Surface, Troposphere
0.8 s
100 m
133-731 THz
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.366329External Link

Instrument Operation

ACEPOL

Aerosol Characterization from Polarimeter and Lidar

2017
Western United States
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1 Deployment
· 6 Data Products
PODEX

POlarimeter Definition EXperiment

2013
San Joaquin Valley, California
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
The logo for the ORACLES Campaign
ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018
Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa
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3 Deployments
· 8 Data Products
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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1 Deployment
· 20 Data Products
PACE-PAX

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment

2024
Southern and Central California
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
ARCTAS

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

2008
Alaska, Western Canada, California
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3 Deployments
· 27 Data Products
The logo for the DEVOTE campaign
DEVOTE

Development and Evaluation of satellite ValidatiOn Tools by Experimenters

2011
Eastern and Southeastern United States
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1 Deployment
· 5 Data Products
The logo for the ACTIVATE campaign
ACTIVATE

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

2020—2022
Western North Atlantic Ocean
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6 Deployments
· 12 Data Products
The logo for the ORACLES Campaign
ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018
Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa
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3 Deployments
· 8 Data Products
ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024
Greenland, Arctic Ocean
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2 Deployments
· 0 Data Products
CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019
Philippines
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1 Deployment
· 12 Data Products
The logo for the NAAMES campaign
NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018
Northwestern Atlantic Ocean
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4 Deployments
· 13 Data Products
Cessna 210

Cessna 210 Centurion

1 Campaign · 1 Instrument
The logo for the CLAMS Campaign
CLAMS

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

2001
Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean
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1 Deployment
· 5 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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2 Deployments
· 21 Data Products
MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006
Mexico City Metropolitan Area
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
CRYSTAL-FACE logo converted to .png
CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002
Southern Florida
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1 Deployment
· 1 Data Product

Data Products

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

Campaigns
CAMPAIGNS
Platforms
PLATFORMS
Formats
FORMATS
10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ACEPOL2017/AircraftRemoteSensing_RSP_Data_1External Link
P-3 Orion
ICARTT, HDF, NetCDF
10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DEVOTE_AircraftRemoteSensing_UC12_RSP_Data_1External Link
10.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_AerosolCloud_AircraftRemoteSensing_Data_1External Link
ICARTT, HDF, PNG, KML
10.5067/ASDC/ACTIVATE_AerosolCloud_AircraftRemoteSensing_KingAir_Data_1External Link
HDF, ICARTT
10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_AircraftRemoteSensing_RSP_ER2_Data_1External Link