SGER: Airborne Aerosol Number Flux Measurements

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA

Investigators

Abstract

This SGER grant supports the measurement and data analysis of aerosol fluxes over ocean surfaces. The instrumentation to be used is an airborne aerosol flux measurement system, which utilizes eddy-correlation and a fast condensation particle counter. Data from a previous campaign and new data from an experiment using the CIRPAS (Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies) Twin Otter aircraft will be studied to further test the design, characterization, and operation of the mobile aerosol flux measurement system, and determine the importance of sea-salt aerosols as CCN (cloud condensation nuclei). Successful implementation of this system would significantly improve marine aerosol studies through better detection of aerosol sinks and sources, including sea-spray emissions. The system could also be used over land for transport and deposition studies. This project will take advantage of an ongoing airborne field project funded by ONR (Office of Naval Research).