The Airborne Multiangle Aerosol Size Spectrometer: A next generation aerosol probe

Atmospheric aerosol have important impacts on climate and air quality and affect efforts to retrieve information regarding the Earth’s surface, including oceans. Airborne measurements of aerosol size are critical to understanding physical drivers over time and space, and to validate satellite and other remotely sensed observations. The current state of the art instrument for measuring aerosol size on aircraft is now almost 50 years old, and a replacement is badly needed. We propose development of a next-generation aerosol probe that leverages two scattering measurement techniques to reduce uncertainties -- the Airborne Multiangle Aerosol Size Spectrometer. Integrated side scattering provides sizing information for submicron particles and small angle light scattering provides sizing information for supermicron particles. In this project, we will also determine if the complementary techniques can provide additional information regarding particle shape and refractive index. The goal is to provide a near aircraft ready prototype instrument capable of supporting aerosol measurement requirements for the next decade, integrating modern flow control, electronics, and data processing/output capabilities.

The airborne probe would be core measurement instrumentation for suborbital aircraft campaigns examining air quality, climate, and aircraft emissions, and satellite validation. Specific missions with relevance include PACE Satellite mission (ocean biology, aerosols, clouds), the upcoming ACCP Mission (aerosols, clouds, convection, precipitation), TEMPO (geostationary air quality observations), and CAMP2Ex (tropical meteorology and aerosol science).

A next-generation aerosol sizing probe would be a core component on research aircraft operated by other US and non-US agencies, including DOE, NCAR, NOAA, DLR (Germany), FAAM (UK), and SAFIRE (France). The optical technology at the heart of the probe could be adapted for ground/laboratory use, opening more applications: air quality monitoring, clean room monitoring, and academic aerosol research.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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