A light-weight, high-sensitivity particle spectrometer for PM2.5 aerosol measurements

Gao, R. S.; Telg, Hagen; McLaughlin, Richard J.; Ciciora, S. J.; Watts, L. A.; Richardson, M.; Schwarz, J. P.; Perring, A. E.; Thornberry, T. D.; Rollins, A. W.; Markovic, M. Z.; Bates, T. S.; Johnson, James E.; Fahey, D. W.

doi:10.1080/02786826.2015.1131809

Cited by 99 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…There does appear to be a slight redistribution of particles on the small end of the size spectrum (between 200 and 300 nm) from the first two flights to the last flight. Note that sharp features in the size distribution like the dip at ∼ 300 nm or the peak at 350 nm are caused by a mismatch of the index of refraction of the environmental aerosol particles and the particles used to calibrate POPS (Gao et al, 2016).…”

Section: Flight Testing and Airborne Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To characterize aerosol size distribution, the Printed Optical Particle Spectrometer (POPS, Gao et al, 2016) designed, engineered and constructed at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), was integrated into the aircraft. This lightweight, low-cost sensor is constructed using 3-D printing technology and provides aerosol concentrations and particle size distributions for particles between 140 and 3000 nm.…”

Section: Aerosol Size Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research

et al. 2016

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Abstract. This paper presents details of the University of Colorado (CU) "Pilatus" unmanned research aircraft, assembled to provide measurements of aerosols, radiation and thermodynamics in the lower troposphere. This aircraft has a wingspan of 3.2 m and a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg, and it is powered by an electric motor to reduce engine exhaust and concerns about carburetor icing. It carries instrumentation to make measurements of broadband up-and downwelling shortwave and longwave radiation, aerosol particle size distribution, atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and pressure and to collect video of flights for subsequent analysis of atmospheric conditions during flight. In order to make the shortwave radiation measurements, care was taken to carefully position a high-quality compact inertial measurement unit (IMU) and characterize the attitude of the aircraft and its orientation to the upward-looking radiation sensor. Using measurements from both of these sensors, a correction is applied to the raw radiometer measurements to correct for aircraft attitude and sensor tilt relative to the sun. The data acquisition system was designed from scratch based on a set of key driving requirements to accommodate the variety of sensors deployed. Initial test flights completed in Colorado provide promising results with measurements from the radiation sensors agreeing with those from a nearby surface site. Additionally, estimates of surface albedo from onboard sensors were consistent with local surface conditions, including melting snow and bright runway surface. Aerosol size distributions collected are internally consistent and have previously been shown to agree well with larger, surface-based instrumentation. Finally the atmospheric state measurements evolve as expected, with the near-surface atmosphere warming over time as the day goes on, and the atmospheric relative humidity decreasing with increased temperature. No directional bias on measured temperature, as might be expected due to uneven heating of the sensor housing over the course of a racetrack pattern, was detected. The results from these flights indicate that the CU Pilatus platform is capable of performing research-grade lower tropospheric measurement missions.

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Section: Flight Testing and Airborne Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Aerosol Size Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research

et al. 2016

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“…An instrument that measures 3D wind velocity could be the Rain Dynamics multi-angle inertial probe (MIP), and one that measures drop size distributions could be the Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT) backscatter cloud probe (BCP), [41], and one that measures aerosol size distribution could be the Hendix Scientific printed optical particle spectrometer (POPS), [42]. (These instruments are merely listed as examples and other instruments that perform a similar function might be suitable.)…”

Section: Approach For Developing the Sensor Payloadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing the Framework for Integrating Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems into Cloud Seeding Activities

Tp¹,

Axisa²

2016

J Aeronaut Aerospace Eng

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This paper introduces an engineering approach to develop autonomous unmanned aircraft systems technology for integration in future weather modification (cloud seeding) programs with the goal to improve operational efficiency and evaluation accuracy. It builds upon the process already established in a previous paper by Axisa and DeFelice who constructed a framework underlying the development of new technologies for use in cloud seeding activities, identifying their potential benefits and limitations and providing initial guidance.

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“…Such corrections (Long et al 2010) were applied to the Pilatus's fast-response (0.3 s, 95%) sensors to de Boer et al 2016b), were developed specifically for UAS applications. In addition to the broadband instrumentation, Pilatus was the first platform to deploy the Printed Optical Particle Spectrometer (POPS; Gao et al 2016) at Oliktok Point. This instrument, originally developed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), provides aerosol size distributions for particles between 140 and 3,000 nm and was previously deployed on UASs at Ny Alesund, Norway (Telg et al 2017).…”

Section: Initial Progress Toward Routine Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Bird’s-Eye View: Development of an Operational ARM Unmanned Aerial Capability for Atmospheric Research in Arctic Alaska

Boer

Ivey

Schmid

et al. 2018

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

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Thorough understanding of aerosols, clouds, boundary layer structure, and radiation is required to improve the representation of the Arctic atmosphere in weather forecasting and climate models. To develop such understanding, new perspectives are needed to provide details on the vertical structure and spatial variability of key atmospheric properties, along with information over difficult-to-reach surfaces such as newly forming sea ice. Over the last three years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has supported various flight campaigns using unmanned aircraft systems [UASs, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones] and tethered balloon systems (TBSs) at Oliktok Point, Alaska. These activities have featured in situ measurements of the thermodynamic state, turbulence, radiation, aerosol properties, cloud microphysics, and turbulent fluxes to provide a detailed characterization of the lower atmosphere. Alongside a suite of active and passive ground-based sensors and radiosondes deployed by the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program through the third ARM Mobile Facility (AMF-3), these flight activities demonstrate the ability of such platforms to provide critically needed information. In addition to providing new and unique datasets, lessons learned during initial campaigns have assisted in the development of an exciting new community resource.

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A light-weight, high-sensitivity particle spectrometer for PM2.5 aerosol measurements

Cited by 99 publications

References 25 publications

The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research

The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research

Developing the Framework for Integrating Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems into Cloud Seeding Activities

A Bird’s-Eye View: Development of an Operational ARM Unmanned Aerial Capability for Atmospheric Research in Arctic Alaska

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