Project Title:

In-Situ Characterization of the Size and Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols by FT-IR

08.12-9806
In-Situ Characterization of the Size and Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols by FT-IR
Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 18343
East Harford
CT
06118
Solomon
Peter R.
18206
Amount 49,956
LaRC

Abstract:

The atmosphere contains many naturally occurring and manmade fine particles and aerosols.
 These particles affect weather, air quality and communications.  Knowledge of their
concentration, composition, distribution and transport is important to the prediction
of weather, detection and control of pollution, health, monitoring of vegetation
and atmospheric chemistry.  While methods presently exist for the capture, size classification
and composition determination of fine particles, there is a need for in-situ methods
of analysis of particulates directly within the atmosphere.  The chemical composition,
size and size distribution of aerosols can be determined using both absorption and
scattering measurements made with a Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrometer.
 The Measurements can provide data on the gaseous species concentration gas temperature
and particle temperature as well.  The technique can be used to provide data on aerosols
located between the instrument's source and detector or can be used with the sun
as a source.  The raw data is the total extinction or scattering along a line of
sight.  Spatial distribution profiles can be obtained using tomographic techniques
to deconvolute data along complementary lines of sight.  These complementary data
could be obtained with several instruments, with a mobile ground based or airborn
instrument using the sun as a source, by using a fixed detector and tracking the
sun at several positions or by using a fixed hot source on earth (e.g. mirrors reflecting
solar radiation) and a satellite detector.