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Aerosol measurements in the stratocumulus projectCloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) and Condensation Nuclei (CN) were measured from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra throughout the marine stratocumulus project. The total particle concentration was measured with a condensation nucleus counter. The CCN were measured with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) instantaneous CCN spectrometer. This instrument simultaneously measures the concentration of aerosol active at up to 100 different critical supersaturations (Sc). This is accomplished by exposing the sample to a fixed supersaturation field and using the size of the droplets produced in this cloud chamber to deduce the Sc of the nuclei upon which they have grown. Droplet size is associated with Sc through a calibration which is accomplished by passing soluble aerosols of known size and composition through the cloud chamber. This procedure results in a calibration curve of Sc vs. droplet size. This then allows the channel number to be directly associated with Sc. Thus, number concentration vs. Sc is obtained and this is a CCN spectrum. Since the instrument operates continuously, the measurements at all Sc's are available simultaneously. Samples are drawn directly from the ambient air and data is displayed in nearly real time. Samples were integrated over times of about 10 seconds so that substantial spatial resolution is available. Calibrations were performed once or twice a day and were found to be consistent. Preliminary results are shown.
Document ID
19910001193
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hudson, James G. (Desert Research Inst. Reno, NV, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Langley Research Center, FIRE Science Results 1988
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91N10506
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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