Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerosol Observing Systems (AOS) for Surface-Based In Situ Atmospheric Aerosol and Trace Gas Measurements

Journal Article · 30 November 2019 · Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-19-0077.1 · OSTI ID:1577919

Uin, Janek  ^[1]; Aiken, Allison C. ^[2]; Dubey, Manvendra K. ^[2]; Kuang, Chongai ^[1]; Pekour, Mikhail ^[3]; Salwen, Cynthia ^[1]; Sedlacek, Arthur J. ^[1]; Senum, Gunnar ^[1]; Smith, Scott ^[1]; Wang, Jian ^[4]; Watson, Thomas B. ^[1]; Springston, Stephen R. ^[1]

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1. Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York
2. Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
3. Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
4. Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri

Aerosols alter Earth’s radiative budget both directly and indirectly through interaction with clouds. Continuous observations are required to reduce the uncertainties in climate models associated with atmospheric processing and the interactions between aerosols and clouds. Field observations of aerosols are a central component of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Facility’s global measurements. The ARM mission goal is to “provide the climate research community with strategically located in situ and remote sensing observatories designed to improve the understanding and representation, in climate and earth system models, of clouds and aerosols as well as their interactions and coupling with the Earth’s surface.” Since 1996, ARM has met this goal by operating Aerosol Observing Systems (AOS) for in situ measurement of aerosols. Currently the five ARM AOSs are the most comprehensive field deployable aerosol systems in the United States. The AOS suite includes seven measurement classes: number concentration, size distribution, chemical composition, radiative and optical properties, hygroscopicity, trace gases, and supporting meteorological conditions. AOSs are designed as standardized measurement platforms to enable intercomparison across the ARM Facility for regional process studies within a global context. The instrumentation and measurement capabilities of the ARM AOSs, along with a history of their design and field deployments are presented here.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 1577919
• Journal Information: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Journal Name: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 36; ISSN 0739-0572
• Publisher: American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English