Instruments
The Centre for Atmospheric Science makes measurements of many atmospheric parameters and uses a wide variety of instruments to do so. Some of the instruments we use are described on these pages and are grouped together in the categories below. Some of these pages are also accessed from the FGAM instrument table.
In Situ Meteorology
Our meteorology instrumentation includes instruments to measure parameters such as wind, temperature, humidity and precipitation. These include sonic anemometers, radiosondes, automatic weather stations and the present weather sensor.
In Situ Aerosol
Our aerosol instrumentation includes instruments to measure chemical and physical properties of atmospheric aerosol, including aerosol mass spectrometers, differential mobility analyzers and optical instruments.
In Situ Cloud
Our cloud physics instrumentation includes instruments to measure cloud properties including the key parameters of droplet size distribution, liquid water content and ice crystal size and habit distributions. These instruments are based around optical scattering and imaging techniques.
In Situ Trace Gas
Instrumentation to measure trace gas concentrations and reaction rates for a wide variety of atmospheric species. These instruments include standard air quality monitoring instruments and specialist instruments such as quantum cascade lasers and chemical ionization mass spectrometers.
Radiation
Our radiation instruments include broadband radiometers, spectral radiometers and spectrophotometers. These instruments allow detailed measurements of solar and terrestrial radiation, with a particular emphasis on UV radiation. Some also have the capability to determine total column ozone and sulfur dioxide.
Remote Sensing
Our remote sensing instrumentation includes instruments to measure atmospheric parameters such as cloud properties, aerosol, ozone and wind remotely, from ground based or airborne platforms. These instruments are able to measure profiles of such parameters as a function of height above the measurement location and include radars, lidars and sodars.