Abstract. A new inlet for studying the aerosol particles and hydrometeor residuals that compose mixed-phase clouds – the phaSe seParation Inlet for Droplets icE residuals and inteRstitial aerosol particles (SPIDER) – is described here. SPIDER combines a large pumped counterflow virtual impactor (L-PCVI), a flow tube evaporation chamber, and a pumped counterflow virtual impactor (PCVI) to separate droplets, ice crystals (∼3–25 µm), and interstitial aerosol particles for simultaneous sampling. Laboratory verification tests of each individual component and the composite SPIDER system were conducted. Transmission efficiency, evaporation, and ice crystals' survival were determined to show the capability of the system. The experiments show the SPIDER system can separate distinct cloud elements and interstitial aerosol particles for subsequent analysis. As a field instrument, SPIDER will help explore the properties of different cloud elements and interstitial aerosol particles in mixed-phase clouds.

Abstract. A new inlet for studying the aerosols and hydrometeor residuals that compose mixed-phase clouds – the phaSe seParation Inlet for Droplets icE residuals and inteRstitial aerosols (SPIDER) – is described here. SPIDER combines an omni-directional inlet, a Large-Pumped Counterflow Virtual Impactor (L-PCVI), a flow tube evaporation chamber, and a Pumped Counterflow Virtual Impactor (PCVI) to separate droplets, ice crystals, and interstitial aerosols for simultaneous sampling. Laboratory verification tests of each individual component and the composite SPIDER system were conducted. SPIDER was deployed to Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL), a mountain-top research facility at 3210 m a.s.l. in the Rocky Mountains, for a three-week field campaign. SPIDER performance as a field instrument is presented with data that demonstrates its capability of separating distinct cloud elements and interstitial aerosol. Possible design improvements of SPIDER are also suggested.

Abstract. A new inlet for studying the aerosol particles and hydrometeor residuals that compose mixed-phase clouds – the phaSe seParation Inlet for Droplets icE residuals and inteRstitial aerosol particles (SPIDER) – is described here. SPIDER combines a Large-Pumped Counterflow Virtual Impactor (L-PCVI), a flow tube evaporation chamber, and a Pumped Counterflow Virtual Impactor (PCVI) to separate droplets, ice crystals, and interstitial aerosol particles for simultaneous sampling. Laboratory verification tests of each individual component and then the composite SPIDER system were conducted. SPIDER was then deployed at Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL), a mountain-top research facility at 3210 m a.s.l. in the Rocky Mountains. SPIDER performance as a field instrument is presented with data that demonstrates its capability of separating cloud elements and interstitial aerosol particle. Possible design improvements of SPIDER are also suggested.

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