Call to collect aerosols on tethered balloon flights and analyze samples
![Tethered balloon flight in November 2020 at Oliktok Point, Alaska](/uploads/TBS-OLI-Nov2020.jpg)
The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility and Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) are seeking collaborative research applications through the Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) program. The FICUS program was established in 2014 to encourage and enable ambitious research projects integrating the expertise and capabilities of multiple user facilities.
EMSL has developed a new aerosol impactor, the automated Size- and Time-resolved Aerosol Collector (STAC), to fly as a guest instrument on ARM’s tethered balloon system (TBS). STAC is an automated sampler that collects aerosol particles in the size range of 0.1-0.5µm and with a few seconds’ time resolution.
The FICUS opportunity will enable researchers to capture aerosols during upcoming ARM campaigns and analyze the physical, chemical, optical, and microphysical properties of aerosol particles using multimodal microscopy, spectroscopy, and advanced mass spectrometry techniques at EMSL.
To learn more about STAC, planned ARM TBS flights, the focus topic area, and proposal review criteria—and to submit a Letter of Intent—go to the FICUS Research web page.
A Letter of Intent is required to facilitate planning of the peer-review process, ensure alignment of proposals to EMSL and ARM missions and capabilities, and assist users in building strong proposals. Letters of Intent are due Monday, February 8. Get guidance for submitting your Letter of Intent.
Decisions and invitations for full proposals will be sent by Wednesday, February 24.
Projects under this call are scheduled to start in October.
# # #ARM is a DOE Office of Science user facility operated by nine DOE national laboratories.