Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Research Applications
Aerosol Size Distribution

During the Arctic Ocean Expedition (AOE-2001), the TLS performed boundary layer profile measurements of turbulence, aerosol concentraton, and other basic meteorological quantities (temperature, velocity, relative humidity, pressure,...).

The aerosol payload flown by the TLS consisted of a PortaCount+ (TSI inc.) condensation particle counter (CPC) with 4 inlets which delivered low resolution particle size spectra as a function of altitude. Additional measurements were obtained from raising a 200 m long teflon inlet tube feeding a Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer. Profiles ranged from a few hundred meters (when using the raised inlet system) to over 2.4 km.

Below are contour plots of meteorological variables and aerosol concentrations in different size ranges computed from 6 vertical profiles collected over a 3 hour period. The vertical resolution of the profiles is 0.5 m for the meteorological data and 10 m for each set of 4 aerosol size measurements.

Windspeed and Water Vapor Contour Plots

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Total (i.e. all sizes) Aerosol Particle Count

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Aerosol Particle Count for Various Sizes

~20 nm:

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~40 nm:

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~100 nm:

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~300 nm:

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For more information, contact Mike Jensen at jensenm@cires.colorado.edu