DUSTER. Aerosol collection in the stratosphere (original) (raw)
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DUSTER (Dust in the Upper Stratosphere Tracking Experiment and Retrieval). PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS
2011
The DUSTER project is aimed at uncontaminated collection and retrieval of stratospheric solid aerosol particles, in the submicron/micron range. The Earth stratosphere contains extraterrestrial dust, dust from natural and anthropogenic activities. Our main target is the study of dust originated in our planetary system. We present here the preliminary results of the June 2008 campaign. After recovery, collected particles were identified by comparing FESEM images taken on the pre-flight collector with those obtained on the post-fight collector. Possible contamination was monitored by FESEM observation of the 'Blank'. Morphology, dimension, and composition of collected particles were defined using a FESEM equipped with an EDX system. The collected sample are in the size range 0.5-150 µm, ≈ 30% of aerosols sizing 0.5 − 1.5 µm, a range poorly studied so far.
Sampling the constant drizzle of meteoric dust in the upper stratosphere
In our effort to sample the constant drizzle of meteoric dust DUSTER (Dust from the Upper Stratosphere Tracking Experiment and Retrieval) collected a surprisingly mineral-rich population of mostly nanometer, and lesser amounts of micrometer, particles. Our analysis shows that bolide disintegration could be a possible source for this dust in the upper stratosphere.
Astrobiology, 2014
The stratosphere is a known host to terrestrial microbes of most major biological lineages, but it is also host to incoming meteoric dust. Our goal is to (1) introduce DUSTER (Dust in the Upper Stratosphere Tracking Experiment and Retrieval), an active collector for the nondestructive collection of nano-to micrometer particles in the stratosphere between 30 and 40 km altitude, and (2) demonstrate that even a single particle can be collected free of resident atmospheric and laboratory contaminant particles. DUSTER improves the pervasive and persistent contamination problem in the field of aerobiology research. Here, we demonstrate the collector's advances by the identification of a (terrestrial) spore particle found among a population of nanometer-scale inorganic meteoric particles. This was possible because the size, shape, morphology, and chemical composition of each particle can be determined while still on the collector surface. Particles can be removed from DUSTER for specific laboratory analyses. So far, DUSTER has not been fitted for aerobiological purposes; that is, no attempts were made to sterilize the collector other than with isopropyl alcohol. Its design and laboratory protocols, however, allow adjustments to dedicated aerobiological sampling opportunities.
Dust aerosol retrieval results from MISR
Passive Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Clouds IV, 2004
Satellite measurements provide important tools for understanding the effect of mineral dust aerosols on past and present climate and climate predictions. Multi-angle instruments such as Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR) provide independent constraints on aerosol properties based on their sensitivity to the shape of aerosol scattering phase functions. The current MISR operational retrieval algorithm (version 16 and higher) was modified by incorporating new non-spherical dust models that account for naturally occurring dust shapes and compositions. We present selected examples of MISR version 16 retrievals over AERONET sunphotometer land and ocean sites during the passage of dust fronts. Our analysis shows that during such events MISR retrieves Angstrom exponents characteristic of large particles, having little spectral variation in extinction over the MISR wavelength range (442, 550, 672 and 866 nm channels), as expected. The retrieved fraction of non-spherical particles is also very high. This quantity is not retrieved by satellite instruments having only nadir-viewing cameras. Our comparison of current (version 16) MISR-retrieved aerosol optical thickness (AOT) with AERONET instantaneous AOT shows better coverage and stronger correlations than when making identical comparisons with previous AOT retrievals (version 15). The MISR algorithm successful mixtures include a non-spherical dust component with high frequency in retrievals over dark water and slightly lower frequency over land. Selection frequencies of non-spherical dust models also decrease in dusty regions affected by pollution.
In-situ measurements using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and remote sensing observations can independently provide dense vertically-resolved measurements of atmospheric aerosols; information which is highly required in climate models. In both cases, inverting the recorded signals to useful information requires assumptions and constraints, and this can make the comparison of the results difficult. Here we compare, for the first time, vertical profiles of the aerosol mass concentration derived from Light Detection And Ranging (lidar) observations and in-situ measurements using an Optical Particle Counter 5 (OPC) onboard a UAV during moderate and weak Saharan dust episodes. Agreement between the two measurement methods was within experimental uncertainty for the coarse-mode (i.e., particles having radii > 0.5 µm) where the properties of dust particles can be assumed with good accuracy. This result proves that the two techniques can be used interchangeably for determining the vertical profiles of the aerosol concentrations, bringing them a step closer towards their systematic exploitation in climate models.
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions, 2015
In this work we present an analysis of mineral dust optical and microphysical properties obtained from different retrieval techniques applied to active and passive remote sensing measurements, including a comparison with simultaneous in-situ aircraft measurements. Data were collected in a field campaign performed during a mineral dust outbreak a Granada, Spain, experimental site (37.16° N, 3.61° W, 680 m a.s.l.) on the 27 June 2011. Column-integrated properties are provided by sun- and star-photometry which allows a continuous evaluation of the mineral dust optical properties during both day and night-time. Both the Linear Estimation and AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) inversion algorithms are applied for the retrieval of the column-integrated microphysical particle properties. In addition, vertically-resolved microphysical properties are obtained from a multi-wavelength Raman lidar system included in EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network), by using both LIRIC (Lidar R...
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 2016
In this work we present an analysis of aerosol microphysical properties during a mineral dust event taking advantage of the combination of different state-of-the-art retrieval techniques applied to active and passive remote sensing measurements and the evaluation of some of those techniques using independent data acquired from in situ aircraft measurements. Data were collected in a field campaign performed during a mineral dust outbreak at the Granada, Spain, experimental site (37.16° N, 3.61° W, 680 m a.s.l.) on 27 June 2011. Column-integrated properties are provided by sun- and star-photometry, which allows for a continuous evaluation of the mineral dust optical properties during both day and nighttime. Both the linear estimation and AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) inversion algorithms are applied for the retrieval of the column-integrated microphysical particle properties. In addition, vertically resolved microphysical properties are obtained from a multi-wavelength Raman lidar...