Instrument

PILS
Particle Into Liquid Sampler

The Particle Into Liquid Sampler (PILS) is an in situ aerosol sampler manufactured by Brechtel Manufacturing Inc. It can be deployed on both ground-based and airborne platforms to collect continuous data on the bulk composition of ambient aerosols. The particles collected by PILS are mixed with saturated water vapor to form droplets, which are then analyzed by either an ion chromatograph (IC) or a total organic carbon detector (TOC). PILS can detect aerosol particles ranging from 70 nm to 2.5 μm in size and offers a time resolution of 3 minutes for airborne measurements and 15 minutes for ground-based measurements.

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

Sampler

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Sulfate Particles

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Organic Particles

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Nitrate Particles

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Particulate Matter

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

3 min, 15 min

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(02)01015-4

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Rodney Weber
Technical Contact
Rodney Weber
Instrument Maker
Brechtel
Funding Source
US Environmental Protection Agency
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Unpublished

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

46 Campaigns · 185 Instruments

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

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

DICE

DC-8 Inlet Characterization Experiment

2003

California

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· 0 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Stationary

69 Campaigns · 103 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

33 Campaigns · 155 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

TRACE

Transport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

1992—2001

Brazil, Southern Africa, Tropical Atlantic, Central & Western Regions of the Pacific Ocean Basin

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· 25 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 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

79 Campaigns · 176 Instruments

OWLETS

Ozone Water-Land Environmental Transition Study

2017—2018

Chesapeake Bay

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· 12 Data Products

CARES

Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study

2010

Central Valley, 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

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

24 Campaigns · 87 Instruments

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 28 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

Falcon

Dassault Falcon 20-E5

6 Campaigns · 44 Instruments

ACTIVATE

Aerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

2020—2022

Western North Atlantic Ocean

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· 12 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

17 Campaigns · 96 Instruments

INTEX-NA

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

2004—2006

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

view all deployment dates

· 21 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

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

INTEXA_DC8_AIRCRAFT10.5067/ASDCDAAC/INTEXA/0008

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

OWLETS-2 Ceilometer Aerosol Data10.5067/Suborbital/OWLETS-2/Aerosol_Data_1

CampaignsOzone Water-Land Environmental Transition Study

PlatformsField Site

DISCOVER-AQ Colorado Deployment NREL-Golden Ground Site Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_Ground_NREL-Golden_Data_1

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

PlatformsPermanent Land Site, Balloon Launch Site

FormatsHDF, ICARTT

TRACE-P P-3B In-Situ Trace Gas Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/TRACE-P/TraceGas_InSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsTransport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsGTE

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

FIREX-AQ NOAA-CHEM Twin Otter In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/FIREXAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_N48_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsDeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

FormatsICARTT

ACTIVATE Falcon In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/ACTIVATE_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_Falcon_Data_1

CampaignsAerosol Cloud meTerology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment

PlatformsDassault Falcon 20-E5

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 California Deployment P-3B Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_California_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

PILSParticle Into Liquid Sampler

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

PILS
Particle Into Liquid Sampler