The Photochemistry of Ozone Loss in the Arctic Region In Summer (POLARIS) campaign was designed to understand the seasonal behavior of polar stratospheric ozone as it changes from very high concentrations in spring down to very low concentrations in autumn. POLARIS had three deployments based out of California, Alaska, and Hawaii in the boreal spring, summer, and fall of 1997. Airborne observations of nitrogen, halogen, and hydrogen families, as well as aerosols were supplemented by balloon measurements such as ozonesondes and radiosondes. POLARIS was funded by NASA, in partnership with NOAA.
The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is a microwave radiometer. The MTP measures natural thermal emission from oxygen molecules at various frequencies between 55 GHz and 59 GHz at 15 second intervals. It returns this measurement as brightness temperature. MTP was developed at JPL and later modified at NCAR.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
The Airborne Tunable Laser Absorption Spectrometer (ATLAS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer developed by NASA. ATLAS utilizes second-harmonic absorption spectrometry to measure trace gases in the lower stratosphere such as nitrous oxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The laser within ATLAS is tuned to the infrared absorption band of the target gas and is frequency modulated at 2 kHz with the second-harmonic detection occurring at 4 kHz. ATLAS provides measurements at a time resolution of 1 s and has a spatial resolution of about 200 m when deployed on the ER-2 aircraft.
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...
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Whole Air Sampler (WAS) is an airborne in-situ instrument that collects samples of air for analysis of trace gasses, such as nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), Halocarbons, Alkyl Nitrates, and various sulfur compounds that are present in the troposphere. Air samples collected via the WAS then undergo gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine which gasses are present in the sample. The WAS collects samples every minute, which enables scientists to get a clear picture of the chemical composition of the environment as research aircraft pass through.
The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) is an airborne lidar system designed at NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses four lasers to detect lidar backscatter to provide profile measurements of ozone and aerosols in the atmosphere. DIAL operates in the ultraviolet (289-300 nm) for ozone measurements and operates in the visible (572-600 nm) and infrared (1064 nm) for aerosols. It has a horizontal spatial resolution of approximately 15 km and has a measurement accuracy of 5 ppbv.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio
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The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for
counting atmospheric aerosol particles.
Earth Science > >
The NOAA Dual-Beam UV-Absorption Ozone Photometer (NOAA-O3) is an in situ optical balloon-borne and airborne instrument that measures ozone concentrations in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at the 254 nm wavelength allowing it to calculate the ozone number density due to the accurate ozone absorption cross section at that wavelength. It has a sampling rate of 2 Hz and a horizontal resolution of 100 to 200 meters at typical research flight speeds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone
The Focused Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer (FCAS) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. FCAS measures the light scattered by the individual aerosol particles to determine the particle size distribution. It can detect aerosol particles in the size range of 0.06 to 2 μm and can operate at altitudes up to 20 km. Typically, FCAS provides measurements at a sampling rate of 10 seconds.
Harvard Water Vapor (HWV) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed at Harvard University that measures water vapor mixing ratios in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. HWV consists of two instruments with distinctly different methods for detecting water vapor: the Lyman-α photo-fragment fluorescence instrument (LyA) and a tunable diode laser direct absorption instrument (HHH -Harvard Herriott Hygrometer). By combining both instruments, HWV is able to identify and limit systematic errors while in flight. It provides measurements of water vapor mixing ratio from 1 to 1000 ppmv at a frequency of 1 Hz and with an accuracy of 5%.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles > Water Vapor Mixing Ratio Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The JPL Laser Hygrometer (JLH) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It uses a tunable diode laser that operates at 1.37 μm to measure atmospheric water vapor in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. JLH has a minimum spatial resolution of 25 m and has a detection range of 1 to 500 ppmv. It has a typical sampling rate of 1 Hz and can provide measurements at a precision of 0.05 ppmv.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The Aircraft Laser Infrared Absorption Spectrometer (ALIAS) is a high-resolution spectrometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to fly aboard the NASA ER-2. ALIAS takes real-time measurements of various nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen compounds, including NO2, CH4, and HCl. Its ability to be flown at high altitudes paired with its fast sample rate makes the ALIAS an ideal instrument to study atmospheric chemistry processes within polar stratospheric clouds (PSC’s).
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.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Nitrogen Oxides
The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument used for measuring atmospheric state parameters. MMS provides high resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind direction and speed immediately around the plane. Additional parameters can be derived such as potential temperature, true airspeed, turbulence dissipation rate, and Reynolds number. Measurements of all parameters are typically collected at a rate of 20 Hz.
Argus is a two-channel, tunable diode laser instrument that was developed at NASA Ames Research Center. Argus collects in situ measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere by using second harmonic spectroscopy. Argus operates in the mid-infrared range (3.3 and 4.7 micrometers) and has an accuracy of about 3% for data rates of 0.1 to 0.5 Hz. Argus is ideal for small payload platforms such as balloons and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) due to its lightweight and compact design.
The Aircraft Laser Infrared Absorption Spectrometer (ALIAS) is a high-resolution spectrometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to fly aboard the NASA ER-2. ALIAS takes real-time measurements of various nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen compounds, including NO2, CH4, and HCl. Its ability to be flown at high altitudes paired with its fast sample rate makes the ALIAS an ideal instrument to study atmospheric chemistry processes within polar stratospheric clouds (PSC’s).
The NOAA Water instrument is a two-channel, closed-path, tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer developed to measure both water vapor and enhanced total water content (sum of water vapor and inertially enhanced condensed phase) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. It was originally designed to fly on the NASA Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, but it can fly on any high-altitude aircraft. The detection cells within the instrument are operated at a constant temperature, pressure, and flow conditions to maintain a constant sensitivity to ingested water regardless of the environment that is being sampled. Calibration of the instrument can also be completed periodically on-board to ensure the instrument remains stable during flight.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
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.
The NOAA Dual-Beam UV-Absorption Ozone Photometer (NOAA-O3) is an in situ optical balloon-borne and airborne instrument that measures ozone concentrations in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at the 254 nm wavelength allowing it to calculate the ozone number density due to the accurate ozone absorption cross section at that wavelength. It has a sampling rate of 2 Hz and a horizontal resolution of 100 to 200 meters at typical research flight speeds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone
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...
