NCAR/RAF Aerosol and Cloud Particle

Instrumentation for DYCOMS-II

Investigator meeting

15-Feb-2001

Jeffco

Outline• PMS probes - size ranges & data rates

• Calibration & maintenance plans1 - before field deployment2 - at field site3 - after returning to Jeffco

• Analysis software ncplot, ncpp & xpms2d

– available to investigators

• Solicit questions and suggestions

DYCOMS-IIParticle Probe Locations

aerosol sampling with instruments inside aircraft

CVI CCN CN RDMA + other

Probe Calibrations

Probes will be calibrated for size using standard reference particles

refractive index of PSL 1.59, glass beads 1.56, water 1.33

PSL’s & Glass Spheres

Particle Probe Maintenance Plan

• Jeffco - before and after field project– Optical cleaning & alignment– Electronic baselines– Electronic response times– Calibration particles - full size range (5+ sizes)

• On-site checks as needed– Point checks between flights

easy on King Air not so easy on C-130,

especially at field sites

Calibration example (PCASP 220nm PSL)

1 sec per box

Calibrations project archive

RAF Analysis Software (Chris Webster)

• ncplot – time plots, xy, xyz, spectral

• ncpp – PMS probe size distributions

• xpms2d – Two-D probe image display

• available to investigators ask Chris for a demo

Questions and Suggestions ?

• Probe performance checks– special concerns for pre- or post- flight ?

• Calibrate with particular kinds of particles

– Salt, ammonium sulfate, .. ?