Platform: UCR Mobile Laboratory

Researchers from University of California Riverside (UCR) deploy a mobile laboratory for isotope measurements in the environment / analysis vehicle for on-road capture of atmospheric data and observations (LIME/AVOCADO). Coordination for the LA basin and Central Valley is planned for 22 July during NASA DC-8 transit flight to Boise, ID, with other opportunities dependent on the fire season in southern California.

instrumented van
University of California Riverside mobile laboratory instrumented for LIME/AVOCADO

Capabilities include mobile survey measurements of CH4, CO2, N2O, NH3, and stable isotopes of CH4, CO2 and N2O, with winds measured from vehicle roof (2D) and 10 m tower on towed trailer (3D). The team is developing methods to calculate local source emissions using dispersion models & 3D winds.

Research goals for campaign coordination:

  • Validate Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) NH3 enhancement retrievals with surface observations of NH3
  • Measure in situ trace gas emission ratios of any local fires (e.g., within 4-5 hours drive of Riverside, CA)