CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere

<p>Airborne observations of vertical aerosol particle distributions are crucial for detailed process studies and model improvements. Tethered balloon systems represent a less expensive alternative to aircraft to probe shallow atmospheric boundary layers (ABLs). This study presents the newly de...

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Main Authors: C. Pilz, S. Düsing, B. Wehner, T. Müller, H. Siebert, J. Voigtländer, M. Lonardi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-12-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/15/6889/2022/amt-15-6889-2022.pdf
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author C. Pilz
S. Düsing
B. Wehner
T. Müller
H. Siebert
J. Voigtländer
M. Lonardi
author_facet C. Pilz
S. Düsing
B. Wehner
T. Müller
H. Siebert
J. Voigtländer
M. Lonardi
author_sort C. Pilz
collection DOAJ
description <p>Airborne observations of vertical aerosol particle distributions are crucial for detailed process studies and model improvements. Tethered balloon systems represent a less expensive alternative to aircraft to probe shallow atmospheric boundary layers (ABLs). This study presents the newly developed cubic aerosol measurement platform (CAMP) for balloon-borne observations of aerosol particle microphysical properties. With an edge length of 35 cm and a weight of 9 kg, the cube is an environmentally robust instrument platform intended for measurements at low temperatures, with a particular focus on applications in cloudy Arctic ABLs. The aerosol instrumentation on board CAMP comprises two condensation particle counters with different lower detection limits, one optical particle size spectrometer, and a miniaturized absorption photometer. Comprehensive calibrations and characterizations of the instruments were performed in laboratory experiments. The first field study with a tethered balloon system took place at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) station in Melpitz, Germany, in the winter of 2019. At ambient temperatures between <span class="inline-formula">−</span>8 and 15 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, the platform was operated up to a 1.5 km height on 14 flights under both clear-sky and cloudy conditions. The continuous aerosol observations at the ground station served as a reference for evaluating the CAMP measurements. Exemplary profiles are discussed to elucidate the performance of the system and possible process studies. Based on the laboratory instrument characterizations and the observations during the field campaign, CAMP demonstrated the capability to provide comprehensive aerosol particle measurements in cold and cloudy ABLs.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-d178ab6a89e64437bfece155b35af6382022-12-22T04:35:59ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482022-12-01156889690510.5194/amt-15-6889-2022CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphereC. Pilz0S. Düsing1B. Wehner2T. Müller3H. Siebert4J. Voigtländer5M. Lonardi6Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Department of Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany​​​​​​​Leipzig Institute for Meteorology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany<p>Airborne observations of vertical aerosol particle distributions are crucial for detailed process studies and model improvements. Tethered balloon systems represent a less expensive alternative to aircraft to probe shallow atmospheric boundary layers (ABLs). This study presents the newly developed cubic aerosol measurement platform (CAMP) for balloon-borne observations of aerosol particle microphysical properties. With an edge length of 35 cm and a weight of 9 kg, the cube is an environmentally robust instrument platform intended for measurements at low temperatures, with a particular focus on applications in cloudy Arctic ABLs. The aerosol instrumentation on board CAMP comprises two condensation particle counters with different lower detection limits, one optical particle size spectrometer, and a miniaturized absorption photometer. Comprehensive calibrations and characterizations of the instruments were performed in laboratory experiments. The first field study with a tethered balloon system took place at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) station in Melpitz, Germany, in the winter of 2019. At ambient temperatures between <span class="inline-formula">−</span>8 and 15 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, the platform was operated up to a 1.5 km height on 14 flights under both clear-sky and cloudy conditions. The continuous aerosol observations at the ground station served as a reference for evaluating the CAMP measurements. Exemplary profiles are discussed to elucidate the performance of the system and possible process studies. Based on the laboratory instrument characterizations and the observations during the field campaign, CAMP demonstrated the capability to provide comprehensive aerosol particle measurements in cold and cloudy ABLs.</p>https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/15/6889/2022/amt-15-6889-2022.pdf
spellingShingle C. Pilz
S. Düsing
B. Wehner
T. Müller
H. Siebert
J. Voigtländer
M. Lonardi
CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
title_full CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
title_fullStr CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
title_full_unstemmed CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
title_short CAMP: an instrumented platform for balloon-borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
title_sort camp an instrumented platform for balloon borne aerosol particle studies in the lower atmosphere
url https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/15/6889/2022/amt-15-6889-2022.pdf
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