A11K-01:
Field test of a new instrument to measure UV/Vis (300-700 nm) ambient aerosol extinction spectra in Colorado during DISCOVER-AQ
Monday, 15 December 2014: 8:00 AM
Carolyn E Jordan1, Bruce E Anderson2, Andreas Joel Beyersdorf2, Jack E Dibb3, Margaret E Greenslade4, Robert Martin2, Eric M Scheuer1, Michael Shook2, Kenneth Lee Thornhill II5, Don Troop1, Edward Winstead5 and Luke D Ziemba2, (1)University of New Hampshire Main Campus, Durham, NH, United States, (2)NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, United States, (3)Univ New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States, (4)University of New Hampshire, Lowell, MA, United States, (5)Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Hampton, Hampton, VA, United States
Abstract:
An optical instrument has been developed to investigate aerosol extinction spectra in the ambient atmosphere. Based on a White-type cell design and using a differential optical approach, aerosol extinction spectra over the 300-700 nm ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) wavelength range are obtained. Laboratory tests conducted at NASA Langley Research Center (NASA LaRC) in March 2014 showed good agreement with Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift (CAPS PMex, Aerodyne Research) extinction measurements (at 450, 530, and 630 nm) for a variety of aerosols, e.g., scatterers such as polystyrene latex spheres and ammonium sulfate; absorbers such as dust (including pigmented minerals), smoke (generated in a miniCAST burning propane) and laboratory smoke analogs (e.g., fullerene soot and aquadag). The instrument was field tested in Colorado in July and August 2014 aboard the NASA mobile laboratory at various ground sites during the DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) field campaign. A description of the instrument, results from the laboratory tests, and summer field data will be presented. The instrument provides a new tool for probing in situ aerosol optical properties that may help inform remote sensing approaches well into the UV range.
