Instrument

SP2
Single Particle Soot Photometer

The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is an in situ laser-induced photometer developed by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 measures the black carbon (BC) mass in individual aerosol particles, along with their optical and physical properties that contain BC. The device detects aerosol particles with diameters of 200-400 nm and can analyze up to 25,000 particles per second. It operates at a sampling rate of 1 Hz and uses a wavelength of 1.06 μm. It can be used on airborne or ground-based platforms and paired with a Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2).

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

Optical/Photon

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Carbonaceous Aerosols

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

N/A

Measurement Frequency

282 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007076

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Joshua Schwarz
Technical Contact
Joshua Schwarz
Instrument Maker
Droplet Measurement Technologies
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

43 Campaigns · 180 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

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2030

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

view all deployment dates

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

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 12 Data Products

ATom

Atmospheric Tomography Mission

2016—2018

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

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· 41 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 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

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

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

Ongoing

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· 8 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

26 Campaigns · 139 Instruments

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

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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· 89 Data Products

ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 8 Data Products

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2030

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

view all deployment dates

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

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 Data Products

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

ACCLIP

Asian Summer Monsoon Chemical & Climate Impact Project

2022

West Pacific, South Korea

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· 8 Data Products

SABRE

Stratospheric Aerosol processes, Budget, and Radiative Effects

2022—2027

Houston, Texas, Fairbanks, Alaska

Ongoing

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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

Field Site

Campaign Field Sites

Stationary

68 Campaigns · 162 Instruments

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

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

B-200

Beechcraft B-200 King Air

32 Campaigns · 73 Instruments

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

view all deployment dates

· 12 Data Products

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

Ongoing

view all deployment dates

· 8 Data Products

Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

1 Campaign · 13 Instruments

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

18 Campaigns · 93 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

Vehicle

Campaign Vehicles

19 Campaigns · 59 Instruments

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 26 Data Products

G-1

Gulfstream-159

2 Campaigns · 35 Instruments

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

Falcon

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

6 Campaigns · 44 Instruments

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

view all deployment dates

· 19 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DC3 In-Situ DLR-Falcon Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DLR-Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

INTEXB_C130_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

NAAMES C-130 Aerosol In Situ , Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsICARTT

NAAMES R/V Atlantis Aerosol In Situ Data, Version 110.5067/ASDC/NAAMES_Aerosol_ShipInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsNorth Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

PlatformsR/V Atlantis

FormatsICARTT

ORACLES Aerosol Aircraft InSitu Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ORACLES_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsObservations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT, NetCDF

ATom: L2 In Situ Measurements from Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1672

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

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

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

FIREX-AQ DC-8 In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

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

CampaignsAtmospheric Tomography Mission

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

ARCTAS P-3B Aircraft Aerosol In-situ Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ARCTAS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_P3B_Data_1

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

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

ARCTAS DC-8 Aircraft In-situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ARCTAS_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

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

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

CAMP2Ex P-3 In-Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/Airborne/CAMP2Ex_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_P3_Data_1

CampaignsClouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

DISCOVER-AQ Maryland Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Maryland_Aerosol_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 Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Texas_Aerosol_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 Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_Aerosol_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 Aerosol Data10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ASIA-AQ/DATA001/DC8/Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_1

CampaignsAirborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT, JPEG

SP2Single Particle Soot Photometer

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

SP2
Single Particle Soot Photometer