Advanced Aerosol Research Systems
Aerosol–cloud interactions include both the effects of aerosol particles on clouds by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and the modification of aerosol due to chemical and physical cloud processing. Aerosol–cloud interaction leads to large uncertainties in predicted cloud properties and impacts on radiative balance and precipitations on a regional to global scale.
Envea-APAQ partners with the most specialised technology providers to study aerosol's physical properties and chemical composition, and enable impactful scientific research to develop new knowledge and insights on the complexities of atmosphere and climate system.
SP2 Single Particle Soot Photometer
The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) utilizes the high optical power available intra-cavity from an Nd:YAG laser. Light-absorbing particles, mainly black or elemental carbon in atmospheric measurements, absorb energy and are heated to the point of incandescence. The energy emitted in this incandescence is measured, and a quantitative determination of the black carbon mass of the
particle is made. This mass measurement is independent of the particle mixing state, and hence the SP2 is a reliable measure of the black carbon mass concentration.
The SP2 directly measures the black carbon, known as soot, in individual aerosol particles. Its high sensitivity, fast response, and specificity to elemental carbon make it the premier instrument for the following tasks:
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Characterizing pollution sources
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Characterizing soot in snow, ice or water
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Calibrating Aethalometers
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Documenting thin, atmospheric layers of contamination
Measurement Principle : Laser incandescence and particle light-scattering
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Nd:YAG intracavity laser-induced particle incandescence (LII) measures black carbon independently of particle mixing state.
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Single particle incandescence is measured and correlated to black carbon mass
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Single particle light scattering is measured and used to indicate particle size, non-BC containing aerosol number, and mass concentrations.
CCN-100/200
Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter
The CCN-100/200 measures the count and size of individual aerosol particles that can form into cloud droplets. Its fast response time allows use in either airborne or ground-based stations. The CCN is available in single-column (CCN-100) or dual-column (CCN-200) versions.
The CCN-100 is used for measurements of a single supersaturation, whereas the CCN-200 enables the user to measure two supersaturations simultaneously – a critical capability for droplet activation kinetics of aerosols and split sample experiments comparing the response of aerosols.
Enable climate models and accurate predictions of climate change with the CCN-100/200 – the only instrument of its kind to measure CCN concentrations in space and time.
Measurement principle: Supersaturation generation and particle light-scattering
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A continuous-flow thermal-gradient diffusion chamber measures aerosols that can act as cloud condensation nuclei.
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Inside the chamber, a thermodynamically unstable, supersaturated water vapor condition is created by taking advantage of the difference in diffusion rates between water vapor and heat.
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The supersaturated water vapor condenses on the cloud condensation nuclei in the sample air to form droplets, which are counted and sized.
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WIBS Bioaerosol Sensor
The WIBS-5 is the world’s only instrument for real-time, single particle measurement of atmospheric bacteria, molds, pollen, and other bioaerosols. WIBS-5 measures fluorescence to infer the presence of biological material in particles and provides detailed data on size, relative measure of shape, and fluorescent properties to enable classification of pollen, bacteria, and fungi.
Measurement principle: Particle light-scattering and fluorescence detection.
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Particles are excited by 280 nm and 370 nm flashlamps.
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Forward-scattered light from a 635 nm diode laser determines particle size and asphericity.
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Two emission bands give a detailed excitation-emission matrix which is highly sensitive to common fluorophores such as tryptophan and NADH.