TCAPAIR

Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP): Aerial Campaign

7 July 2012 - 28 February 2013

Lead Scientist: Larry Berg

Observatory: AMF, PVC

This campaign is designed to provide a detailed set of observations with which to 1) perform radiative and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) closure studies, 2) evaluate a new retrieval algorithm for aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the presence of clouds using passive remote sensing 3) extend a previously developed technique to investigate aerosol indirect effects, and 4) evaluate the performance of a detailed regional-scale model and a more parameterized global-scale model in simulating particle activation and AOD associated with the aging of anthropogenic aerosols. To meet these science objectives, the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) and the Mobile Aerosol Observing System (MAOS) will be deployed on Cape Cod (MA) for a 12-month period starting in the summer of 2012 in order to quantify aerosol properties, radiation and cloud characteristics at a location subject to both clear- and cloudy- conditions, and clean- and polluted-conditions. These observations will be supplemented by two aircraft intensive observation periods (IOPS), one in the summer and a second in the winter. Each IOP will require two aircraft. The first aircraft will be equipped with a suite of in situ instrumentation to provide measurements of aerosol optical properties, particle composition (sampled through both an isokinetic and counterflow virtual impactor inlets) and direct-beam irradiance. The second aircraft will fly directly over the first and use a multiwavelength High Spectral Resolution Lidar and scanning polarimeter to provide continuous optical and cloud properties in the column below. Each mission will consist of the two aircraft simultaneously making measurements within two columns of air. One column will be located over the AMF Cape Cod site while a second column will be located a few hundred kilometers east of Cape Cod. The in situ aircraft will make a series of stair-step profiles within the first column followed by sampling within and above the marine boundary layer as it transits to the second, more remote column for a second set of stair-step profiles. The second aircraft will provide concurrent downward profiling measurements from above. Planned flight periods: 2012-07-06 to 2012-07-30 and 2013-02-04 to 2013-02-28.