An Automated Aerosol Mass Spectrometer for the Regular Chemical Characterization of Aerosol Particles in the Upper Troposphere and Lowermost Stratosphere(AMS-CARIBIC)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Stephan Borrmann; Professor Dr. Alfred Wiedensohler
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2013 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 237520285

The overall goal of the present proposal are regular measurementsof the aerosol particle chemical composition in the upper troposphereand lowermost stratosphere (UT/LMS). This region is important for andsensitive to climate change, and hence is of particular interest foratmospheric research. The measurements shall be carriedout in the framework of the passenger aircraft project IAGOS-CARIBIC (www.caribic.de). The present proposal comprises the construction, characterization, certification, and first application of a new,small and light aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS).Specific objectives are:- to modify a commercial aerosol mass spectrometer (most likely an instrument from Aerodyne Inc., www.aerodyne.com) for automated aircraft-borne operation- to characterize the new AMS performance under the changing operatingconditions experienced during flight and with respect to its analyticaland particle sizing capability- to receive the aviation approval by Lufthansa Technik to fly the AMS in CARIBIC- to accomplish first measurement flights with the new AMS as part of the CARIBIC container- to establish data quality assurance and data analysis procedures for monthly AMS flights

• DFG Programme: Research Grants