Instrument

SMPS
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer

The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ aerosol sensor manufactured by TSI Incorporated. The SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles, thereby determining the size distribution. It also counts aerosol particles using a condensation particle counter (CPC). It detects particles in the 10-1000 nm size range and typically completes each scan in about 10 seconds. The SMPS can be used on airborne or ground-based platforms.

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

Meter/Analyzer

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Particle Properties

Vertical Measurement Regions

Lower Stratosphere, Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

<10s

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/smps_handbook.pdf

Online Information

Lead Investigator
James Smith
Technical Contact
James Smith
Instrument Maker
TSI
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

45 Campaigns · 182 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

SARP

Student Airborne Research Program

2009—2026

Southern California, Virginia

Ongoing

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Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2025-06-15	2025-08-02
2025-06-22	2025-08-09
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

· 25 Data Products

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 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

KORUS-AQ

Korean United States - Air Quality

2016

South Korean peninsula, including surrounding seas

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· 20 Data Products

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 27 Data Products

HIWC

High Ice Water Content Radar Study

2015—2022

Southeastern United States, Florida, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Southern California, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

ASIA-AQ

Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality

2024

East and Southeast Asia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand

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· 8 Data Products

ATR-42

1 Campaign · 16 Instruments

HyMeX

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

2012

The Mediterranean

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· 3 Data Products

Vehicle

21 Campaigns · 68 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

FIREX-AQ

Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

2019

Northwestern and Southeastern US

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· 27 Data Products

MOOSE

Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment

2021

Southern Ontario, Southeastern Michigan

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· 2 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Stationary

63 Campaigns · 100 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

ATOMIC

Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign

2020

Tropical North Atlantic east of Barbados

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· 1 Data Product

Field Site

Stationary

76 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

TARFOX

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

1996

Western Atlantic Ocean, US Eastern Seaboard

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· 5 Data Products

LMOS

Lake Michigan Ozone Study

2017

Lake Michigan

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· 13 Data Products

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

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· 0 Data Products

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

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

AMAZE-08

Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment

2008

Central Amazon Basin

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· 0 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

30 Campaigns · 153 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

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 Data Products

C-130

C-130 Hercules

17 Campaigns · 96 Instruments

NAAMES

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study

2015—2018

Northwestern Atlantic Ocean

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· 13 Data Products

G-V

Gulfstream-V

8 Campaigns · 38 Instruments

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 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

CV-580

Convair-580

8 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

C-131A

Convair C-131 Samaritan

5 Campaigns · 32 Instruments

SCAR

Smoke/Sulfates, Clouds, and Radiation

1993—1995

Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Central Brazil

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· 6 Data Products

Atlantis

R/V Atlantis

2 Campaigns · 33 Instruments

CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010

California

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· 0 Data Products

B-200

Beechcraft B-200 King Air

39 Campaigns · 84 Instruments

DEVOTE

Development and Evaluation of satellite ValidatiOn Tools by Experimenters

2011

Eastern and Southeastern United States

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· 5 Data Products

G-1

Gulfstream-159

4 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

CHAPS

Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Process Study

2007

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational eXperiment (TARFOX) - Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer from Wallops ground station10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/TARFOX/0004

CampaignsTropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

PlatformsField Site

DC3 In-Situ NSF/NCAR GV-HIAPER Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_NSF-GV-HIAPER_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsGulfstream-V

FIREX-AQ MACH2 Surface Mobile In-Situ Measurements10.5067/ASDC/FIREXAQ_SurfaceMobile_MACH2_InSitu_Data_1

CampaignsFire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality

PlatformsVehicle

FormatsICARTT

LMOS Zion Ground Site Data10.5067/Suborbital/LMOS/Ground_Zion_Data_1

CampaignsLake Michigan Ozone Study

PlatformsField Site