C-130
C-130 Hercules

The Advanced Solid-state Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) is an airborne, passive multi-angle spectrometer operated by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ASAS measures reflectance across 30 spectral channels in the 450 to 880 nm wavelength range to help characterize the directional variability of various land surface cover types. At typical flight altitudes of 4,500 to 5,000 m, ASAS has a spatial resolution of 3 to 4 m at nadir. It has a frame rate ranging from 3 to 64 frames per second.

The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) is an airborne multispectral spectrometer designed to simulate the satellite instrument Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). MAS operates across 50 spectral channels in the 0.55 to 14.2 μm range to provide high-resolution imagery of clouds and surface features. MAS has a horizontal spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of about 36 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz with each scan line containing 716 pixels.

The POLarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances (POLDER) is a spaceborne passive radiometer that was onboard the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Advanced Earth Observing Satellite. POLDER has also been utilized in several airborne investigations to perform instrument calibration and to provide measurements of surface reflectance and solar radiation. POLDER has a ground spatial resolution of 7 km x 6 km at nadir and operates across eight discrete spectral bands (443 nm - 910 nm).

The Airborne Tracking Sun Photometer (ATSP) is an airborne instrument that measures direct solar beam transmission. The ATSP measures solar beam transmission through multiple channels with wavelengths ranging between 354 and 2139 nm. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol optical depth and other aerosol properties. There are multiple versions of this instrument, including one developed by the NASA Ames Research Center.

This is a Daedalus AADS-1268 scanner that flies on the ER-2 aircraft and simulates the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper instrument, with slightly higher spatial resolution. The TMS is used for collecting data similar in application to data collected by the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor including Earth resources mapping, vegetation/landcover mapping, and geologic studies.

The Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) is an experimental aircraft scanner providing six-channel spectral capability in the thermal infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The instrument was designed and built by Daedalus Enterprises, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is operated from a Lear Jet by NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories' (NSTL) Earth Resources Laboratory (ERL).

The Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) is an airborne lidar system designed specifically to provide multi-wavelength measurements of cirrus clouds, sub-visual cirrus clouds, and aerosols. It measures lidar backscatter across three wavelengths: 355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm. These measurements can be used to derive cloud optical depth, particle size distribution, extinction profiles, aerosol layers, and other properties. CPL has a vertical resolution of 30 m and a typical horizontal resolution of 200 m.

The Programmable Flask Package (PFP) is a type of whole air sampler. This instrument consists of twelve glass flasks that can be filled with air. The samples collected by the PFP are sent to NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division and INSTAR’s Staple Isotope Lab where they are tested for trace gases. This instrument is used to monitor multiple types of trace gases.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

The Continuous O3 Monitor uses ultraviolet beams to monitor the ozone in the air that is pulled into the instrument. The Continuous O3 Monitor has a high temporal resolution, and can take highly accurate measurements. The Continuous O3 Monitor is mounted to an aircraft. The instrument is manufactured by 2B Technologies.

The Multi-functional Fiber Laser Lidar (MFLL) is an airborne lidar system that measures atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). It consists of a multi-frequency, single-beam Laser Absorption Spectrometer (LAS) and a Pseudo-random Noise (PN) altimeter. The LAS instrument operates at 1571 nm to measure column amount of CO2. The PN altimeter operates at the 1596 nm wavelength and measures the path length form aircraft to the scattering surface and/or cloud top. MFLL has a typical temporal resolution of 10 Hz and a spatial resolution of 1 m at an altitude of 500 m.

The Programmable Flask Package (PFP) is a type of whole air sampler. This instrument consists of twelve glass flasks that can be filled with air. The samples collected by the PFP are sent to NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division and INSTAR’s Staple Isotope Lab where they are tested for trace gases. This instrument is used to monitor multiple types of trace gases.

The High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) is an active remote, airborne lidar developed by NASA Langley Research Center. HALO operates across 4 wavelengths (1645, 1064, 935, 532 nm) and uses a combination of Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) methods to measure lidar backscatter and depolarization ratio. It provides vertical profiles of aerosol and cloud optical properties, atmospheric water vapor, and methane at a data rate of 2 Hz. HALO has a nominal spatial resolution of 12 km horizontally and 315 m vertically at an altitude of 10 km.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

The Continuous O3 Monitor uses ultraviolet beams to monitor the ozone in the air that is pulled into the instrument. The Continuous O3 Monitor has a high temporal resolution, and can take highly accurate measurements. The Continuous O3 Monitor is mounted to an aircraft. The instrument is manufactured by 2B Technologies.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes

If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.

The Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) is an in situ airborne photometer manufactured by Radiance Research. It uses Beer's Law to measure the change in light transmission of aerosol particles. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol absorption and extinction. PSAP operates across three wavelengths (467, 530, and 660 nm) and has a temporal resolution of 1 second. It is typically deployed on aircraft, but it can be deployed on other platforms such as ships and vehicles.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

Nephelometers are in situ airborne or ground-based optical sensors. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate across three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, and have a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.

This is a Daedalus AADS-1268 scanner that flies on the ER-2 aircraft and simulates the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper instrument, with slightly higher spatial resolution. The TMS is used for collecting data similar in application to data collected by the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor including Earth resources mapping, vegetation/landcover mapping, and geologic studies.

The Advanced Solid-state Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) is an airborne, passive multi-angle spectrometer operated by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ASAS measures reflectance across 30 spectral channels in the 450 to 880 nm wavelength range to help characterize the directional variability of various land surface cover types. At typical flight altitudes of 4,500 to 5,000 m, ASAS has a spatial resolution of 3 to 4 m at nadir. It has a frame rate ranging from 3 to 64 frames per second.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

This is a Daedalus AADS-1268 scanner that flies on the ER-2 aircraft and simulates the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper instrument, with slightly higher spatial resolution. The TMS is used for collecting data similar in application to data collected by the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor including Earth resources mapping, vegetation/landcover mapping, and geologic studies.

The Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) is an experimental aircraft scanner providing six-channel spectral capability in the thermal infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The instrument was designed and built by Daedalus Enterprises, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is operated from a Lear Jet by NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories' (NSTL) Earth Resources Laboratory (ERL).

The Advanced Solid-state Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) is an airborne, passive multi-angle spectrometer operated by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ASAS measures reflectance across 30 spectral channels in the 450 to 880 nm wavelength range to help characterize the directional variability of various land surface cover types. At typical flight altitudes of 4,500 to 5,000 m, ASAS has a spatial resolution of 3 to 4 m at nadir. It has a frame rate ranging from 3 to 64 frames per second.

The Push Broom Microwave Radiometer (PBMR) was developed by NASA's Langley Research Center. It operates at a frequency of 1.413 and has a total coverage 1.2 times the aircraft altitude. PBMR uses passive remote microwave sensing technique to measure soil moisture.

The Airborne Tracking Sun Photometer (ATSP) is an airborne instrument that measures direct solar beam transmission. The ATSP measures solar beam transmission through multiple channels with wavelengths ranging between 354 and 2139 nm. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol optical depth and other aerosol properties. There are multiple versions of this instrument, including one developed by the NASA Ames Research Center.

This is a Daedalus AADS-1268 scanner that flies on the ER-2 aircraft and simulates the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper instrument, with slightly higher spatial resolution. The TMS is used for collecting data similar in application to data collected by the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor including Earth resources mapping, vegetation/landcover mapping, and geologic studies.

The Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) is an experimental aircraft scanner providing six-channel spectral capability in the thermal infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The instrument was designed and built by Daedalus Enterprises, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is operated from a Lear Jet by NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories' (NSTL) Earth Resources Laboratory (ERL).

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.

The Passive-Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) is an in situ airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the light scattered by particles to determine the aerosol size distribution and concentration in the 0.1 to 3.0 μm size range. PCASP operates at the 632 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling rate of 10 Hz.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for counting atmospheric aerosol particles.

If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

This description will added in a future version.

This data will be added in future versions

a miniature, lightweight, low-power cloud particle spectrometer that measures droplets in the range of 2-50 µm in concentrations as high as 2000 particles/cm3

The Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (LAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by TSI, Inc. LAS provides measurements of particle size based on the light scattering of the sampled particles. It operates at 633 nm wavelength and has a particle size range of 0.09 to 7.5 μm. LAS can provide complete particle size distributions at a rate of 10 Hz. LAS is typically used as part of aerosol instrument suites such as NASA’s Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) and NOAA’s Aerosol Microphysical Properties (AMP).

The Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) is an airborne, passive polarimeter developed by SpecTIR Corporation. It measures total radiance and linear polarization across 9 spectral bands in the visible and infrared wavelengths (410-2250 nm). These measurements can be used to derive 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 about 100 m at an altitude of 5 km.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

Los Gatos Research Greenhouse Gas Analyzer (LGR GGA) makes analyzers that measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. GGA can operate on different aircraft and take in situ measurements in the troposphere. GGA has high resolution capabilities and does not require frequent calibration.

The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ airborne or ground-based aerosol sensor manufactured by TSI Incorporated. SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles to determine the size distribution. It also measures the number of aerosol particles by using a condensation particle counter (CNC). It can detect particles within the size range of 10-1000 nm and can provide measurements typically around 10 seconds per scan.

The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.

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.

This data will be added in future versions

GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument consisting of two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km and has a frame rate of 12 Hz.

The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be utilized on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines the particle size by detecting the peak light signals of the aerosol particles which are illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. UHSAS can sample particles within the 60 - 1000 nm size range and has a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.

The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is a laser-induced photometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 provides measurements of the black carbon (BC) mass content of individual aerosol particles as well as the optical and physical properties of the particles containing BC. SP2 can be utilized on airborne or ground-based platforms and can be deployed with a paired Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2). It can detect aerosol particles with a diameter size of 200-400 nm and can measure 25,000 particles/second.

This data will be added in future versions

The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for counting atmospheric aerosol particles.

The Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4-STAR) is an airborne sun-sky spectrometer that measures direct solar irradiance and sky radiance. These measurements can be used to retrieve column-integrated information on aerosols, clouds, and trace gases such as aerosol optical depth, extinction, and single scattering albedo. 4-STAR operates in the 350-1650 nm wavelength range and has a typical horizontal resolution of about 100 m.

The Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) is an in situ airborne instrument suite that measures aerosol and cloud microphysical and optical properties such as size distribution, number concentration, and scattering and absorption coefficient. LARGE consists of multiple instruments including the Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS), Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler (PILS), Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), and additional cloud and aerosol sensors. The LARGE instruments operate across the 450-700 nm wavelength range, can detect particles in the size range between 0.003-20μm, and have a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. It is typically used for airborne measurements, but it also can be deployed on ground-based platforms such as vehicles.

The Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP) is an in situ airborne optical array probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. CIP records cloud particle images by capturing the shadow of the particles as they pass through the laser. It also provides information on the particle size distribution and cloud liquid water content. CIP has a typical resolution of 25 μm and can measure particles in the size range of 12.5 μm - 1.55 mm.

The High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). It utilizes the HSRL technique at 532 nm and the standard backscatter technique at 1064 nm to provide profile measurements of aerosol backscatter, extinction, and depolarization. The profiles of aerosol backscatter and depolarization have a typical vertical resolution of 30 m and a horizontal resolution of about 1 km. For the extinction profiles, the vertical resolution is 300 m with a horizontal resolution of about 6 km. HSRL is typically flown on investigations to validate observations from the CALIPSO spaceborne lidar.

This data will be added in future versions

The Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4-STAR) is an airborne sun-sky spectrometer that measures direct solar irradiance and sky radiance. These measurements can be used to retrieve column-integrated information on aerosols, clouds, and trace gases such as aerosol optical depth, extinction, and single scattering albedo. 4-STAR operates in the 350-1650 nm wavelength range and has a typical horizontal resolution of about 100 m.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

This data will be added in future versions.

The Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is an airborne imaging lidar developed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used for making topographical maps and studying the vertical structure of vegetation and ice. It has an operating wavelength of 1064 nm and has pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. LVIS has a swath width of 2 km and a horizontal resolution of 20 m at a flight altitude of 10 km.

This data will be added in future versions.

This data will be added in future versions

Broadband Radiometers (BBR) are modified versions of the Kipp & Zonen CM-22 pyranometers and CG-4 pyrgeometers. They have been modified to be more suitable for airborne platforms through different instrument housing and signal amplification. BBR measures solar irradiance in the 0.2-3.6 μm wavelength range and infrared (IR) irradiance in the 4.5-42 μm range. These measurements can be used to derive net irradiance, radiative forcing, absorption, and albedo. It has a typical sampling rate of 1 Hz and a hemispheric field-of-view.

a miniature, lightweight, low-power cloud particle spectrometer that measures droplets in the range of 2-50 µm in concentrations as high as 2000 particles/cm3

The Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) is an in situ airborne instrument suite that measures aerosol and cloud microphysical and optical properties such as size distribution, number concentration, and scattering and absorption coefficient. LARGE consists of multiple instruments including the Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS), Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler (PILS), Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), and additional cloud and aerosol sensors. The LARGE instruments operate across the 450-700 nm wavelength range, can detect particles in the size range between 0.003-20μm, and have a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. It is typically used for airborne measurements, but it also can be deployed on ground-based platforms such as vehicles.

A pyrometer is an instrument that measures temperature remotely, i.e. by measuring radiation from the object, without having to be in contact. The KT11 Infrared Radiation Pyrometer provides temperature measurements in the range of -30 to 500 Celsius by intercepting incoming infrared radiation emitted by surfaces. The high stability and noise suppression of the instrument allows for high response times of readings as well as the capability of temperature measurements of small objects. The KT-19II infrared pyrometer was manufactured by Heitronics, and sees a spectrum of 8-12um. The KT-19 is a radiometer that measures the brightness temperature of the surface beneath the aircraft. The KT-19 instrument can estimate the surface temperature by knowing the emissivity of the target. The response time is adjustable from 5 msec, to monitor and control extremely short production cycles, up to 10 minutes, to integrate measurements in long-term thermal processes with an extremely high resolution.

The Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4-STAR) is an airborne sun-sky spectrometer that measures direct solar irradiance and sky radiance. These measurements can be used to retrieve column-integrated information on aerosols, clouds, and trace gases such as aerosol optical depth, extinction, and single scattering albedo. 4-STAR operates in the 350-1650 nm wavelength range and has a typical horizontal resolution of about 100 m.

This data will be added in future versions.

The Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) is an airborne radiometer developed by the Ames Atmospheric Radiation Group. It provides remotely sensed measurements of solar spectral irradiance in the troposphere. SSFR operates across the 300-2150 nm wavelength range and has a spectral resolution of 8-12 nm. It has a typical data collection rate of 1 Hz and has a radiometric accuracy of 3%.

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes

This data will be added in future versions.

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiation probes

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes

This data will be added in future versions.

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

The Johnson-Williams Cloud Water Meter (CWM) utilizes a resistance wire that has been calibrated to infer liquid water content (LWC) within clouds. Evaporation of water droplets that impact the wire lead to temperature variations of the wire which can be linearly correlated with liquid water content. Additionally, a second wire allows compensation of altitude, temperature, and speed for more accurate measurements. The CWM can be operated over LWC ranges between 0 and 6 grams per cubic meter and at air speeds between 50 and 150 meters per second. Collection efficiency for the instrument has been shown to decrease when water droplets are larger than 30 micrometers; making the probe more beneficial for small droplet usage.

The Airborne Imaging Microwave Radiometer (AIMR) is a passive, airborne cross-track scanning radiometer developed by MPB Technologies. It was designed for research missions over sea ice and polar regions. AIMR operates across four channels at the 37 GHz and 90 GHz frequencies to provide measurements of brightness temperature. It has a spatial resolution ranging from 20-300 m and a swath width of about 3-20 km depending on the flight altitude and speed. AIMR can reach a scan rate of up to around 6 Hz.

The Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) is an airborne imager manufactured by SPEC Inc. CPI collects high-resolution (2.3 μm pixel size) images of cloud particles that pass through its sample volume. It uses a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that operates at 810 nm to record images and can take up to 74 frames per second with a refresh rate of 40 Hz. The imagery from CPI can be used to derive microphysical properties such as particle size and habit.

The Passive-Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) is an in situ airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the light scattered by particles to determine the aerosol size distribution and concentration in the 0.1 to 3.0 μm size range. PCASP operates at the 632 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling rate of 10 Hz.

The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS consists of two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range while the FSBR operates between 0.68 to 3.3 μm. It has a response time of about 60 msec and can provide measurements about every 5 m for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is typically used for airborne operations, but it can be used to collect ground-based measurements as well.

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

The PVM-100 instrument developed by Gerber Scientific conducts particulate volume measurements using a forward-scattering laser spectrometer. A laser is used to measure the forward light scattering within a 3 cubic centimeter volume, and a liquid water content is inferred from the calculated scattering flux of the volume. Droplets in the 3-50 µm Diameter range can be detected with the instrument, and measurements can be taken up to 200 times a second.

The King Probe is an airborne cloud probe developed by Warren King (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and manufactured by Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) and Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT). The King Probe provides measurements of cloud liquid water content (LWC) by measuring the heat released when water droplets are vaporized. The King Probe operates at a constant temperature (~100 C) and has a data output rate of 1 to 10 Hz. It is typically used in cloud microphysics and aircraft icing studies.

The Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber (CFDC) is an aircraft-borne optical particle counter (OPC). As an OPC, this in-situ instrument utilizes vertical flow through two 100 cm chambers with varying wall temperatures to grow ice particles within an OPC at the bottom of the CFDC and determine their particle size distribution between 0.4 and 20 mm. Additionally, when conditions are kept in steady state, measurements of flow rate, temperature, and humidity can be made. Particle counts are measured every 0.2 s and particle spectra every 10 s.

The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for counting atmospheric aerosol particles.

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

The SAFS instruments determine wavelength dependent actinic flux from 280-420 nm. The actinic flux in combination with the absorption cross section and quantum yield molecular data will be used to calculate the photolysis frequencies of multiple photochemically important molecular processes, including O3, NO2, HONO, CH2O, H2O2, CH3OOH, HNO3, PAN, CH3NO3, CH3CH2NO3, and CH3COCH3.

Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentration. CPCs measure aerosol concentration by condensing fluid onto the particles, allowing them to grow to more detectable sizes for optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles with a size range of 7 nm-3 μm, can measure particle concentrations up to 100,000 particles/cc, and can provide measurements at 1-second intervals. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be deployed on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.

The Particle Into Liquid Sampler (PILS) is an in situ aerosol sampler manufactured by Brechtel Manufacturing Inc. PILS can be utilized by both ground-based and airborne platforms to collect continuous measurements of ambient aerosol bulk composition. The particles sampled by PILS are mixed with saturated water vapor to produce droplets that are analyzed by either an ion chromatograph (IC) or a total organic carbon detector (TOC). PILS can measure aerosol particles with a size range of 70 nm to 2.5 μm and has a time resolution of 3 min for airborne measurements and 15 min for ground-based.

The GC-MS instrument is a combination of two instruments: a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer. It is used on airborne platforms to study atmospheric chemistry, specifically non-methane halocarbons and volatile organic compounds.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

If instrument name or model is not available but documents show that specific chemical compounds or constituents or their properties were observed, can use instrument entry. Examples include: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, HNO3, HNO4, OH, H2SO4, CH3CN, O3, H2O, halocarbons, VOCs, nitrates, aerosols (including CCN), aerosol optical properties, etc...

This description will be added in a future version.

The Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA) is an in situ airborne analyzer that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. It uses a combination of fast gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy to provide atmospheric mixing ratios of VOCs. It can detect a wide range of VOCs with high precision (<3%) and accuracy (20% or better) at a time resolution of 40 seconds for a 2-minute cycle.

This description will be added in a future version.

The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.

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.

The Optical Particle Counter is an instrument based on the principle of light scattering from particles. It is a real time instrument that is typically used to measure particles above 0.05 μm in diameter.

A TUNABLE DIODE LASER is a solid-state laser in which as lasing is achieved by passing an injection current through the active region of a semiconductor across the p-n junction; tunable meaning it is used with a technique based upon the measurement of light absorption upon irrigating a sample using a tunable laser source.

The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is a laser-induced photometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 provides measurements of the black carbon (BC) mass content of individual aerosol particles as well as the optical and physical properties of the particles containing BC. SP2 can be utilized on airborne or ground-based platforms and can be deployed with a paired Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2). It can detect aerosol particles with a diameter size of 200-400 nm and can measure 25,000 particles/second.

The CalTech Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne single mass spectrometer. CIT-CIMS utilizes CF3O-ion chemistry and compact time-of-flight and triple quadrupole spectrometers to measure specific atmospheric trace gases such as nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sulfur dioxide. It was designed with rapid scan capabilities, allowing it to operate at a high temporal resolution (10 Hz) and detect a wide mass range. CIT-CIMS is typically used for airborne observations, but it can be used for ground-based observations as well.

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The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for counting atmospheric aerosol particles.

The Fourier Transformation Spectrometer (FTS) is a high-resolution airborne and ground-based spectrometer. FTS measures the solar radiance reflected from the surface, which can be used to derive measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. It has a spatial resolution of around 100m x 1000m and a measurement frequency of 1 Hz for typical research flight conditions.

NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument. It provides measurements of nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere at a spatial resolution better than 100m for typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be utilized on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms allowing it to be used in various types of atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.

The Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) is an in situ airborne photometer manufactured by Radiance Research. It uses Beer's Law to measure the change in light transmission of aerosol particles. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol absorption and extinction. PSAP operates across three wavelengths (467, 530, and 660 nm) and has a temporal resolution of 1 second. It is typically deployed on aircraft, but it can be deployed on other platforms such as ships and vehicles.

The Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMA) is an in situ airborne and ground-based analyzer that measures the physical properties of aerosol particles such as size distribution and concentration. It can measure particles in the size range of 0.013 to 0.75 mm at a size resolution of 0.013 mm at 0.2 mm. The TDMA is sometimes combined with an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) to allow measurements of particles in the submicron range. A typical measurement sequence of TDMA can take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Nephelometers are in situ airborne or ground-based optical sensors. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate across three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, and have a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes

This data will be added in future versions.

This data will be added in future versions

If instrument model or detailed specification information is not available, can use this instrument entry for radiometers of various types (typically microwave-band) that are flown on aircraft.

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If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

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The Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is an airborne imaging lidar developed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used for making topographical maps and studying the vertical structure of vegetation and ice. It has an operating wavelength of 1064 nm and has pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. LVIS has a swath width of 2 km and a horizontal resolution of 20 m at a flight altitude of 10 km.

This description will be added in future versions.

This description will be added in a future version.

This description will be added in a future version

A pyrometer is an instrument that measures temperature remotely, i.e. by measuring radiation from the object, without having to be in contact. The KT11 Infrared Radiation Pyrometer provides temperature measurements in the range of -30 to 500 Celsius by intercepting incoming infrared radiation emitted by surfaces. The high stability and noise suppression of the instrument allows for high response times of readings as well as the capability of temperature measurements of small objects. The KT-19II infrared pyrometer was manufactured by Heitronics, and sees a spectrum of 8-12um. The KT-19 is a radiometer that measures the brightness temperature of the surface beneath the aircraft. The KT-19 instrument can estimate the surface temperature by knowing the emissivity of the target. The response time is adjustable from 5 msec, to monitor and control extremely short production cycles, up to 10 minutes, to integrate measurements in long-term thermal processes with an extremely high resolution.

The Digital Mapping System (DMS) is an airborne camera system maintained and operated by the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) located at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). It captures high resolution natural color and panchromatic images of terrain which can be used to create mosaics and topographic maps. DMS has a cross-track spatial resolution of 10 cm at nadir and swath width of about 570 m at a flight altitude of 1,500 feet. The DMS is ideal for a variety of scientific programs to monitor variation in environmental conditions, assess global change, and respond to natural disasters

This description will be added in a future version.

The Passive Active L- and S-band Sensor (PALS) is a combined airborne polarimetric radiometer and radar developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It was designed to evaluate the benefits of combining remote passive and active sensors for ocean salinity and soil moisture measurements. Both the radiometer and radar within PALS operate across the L- (1.41 GHz, 1.26 GHz) and S-band (2.69 GHz, 3.15 GHz) frequencies to measure brightness temperature and radar backscatter of ocean salinity and soil moisture. PALS has a spatial resolution ranging from 600 to 1500 m depending on the altitude of the aircraft. PALS can be equipped on many different aircraft due to its design and is typically used for validation of Aquarius and SMAP satellite observations.