Platform: NOAA-CHEM Twin Otter Instruments

Brown Carbon Particle-into-Liquid Sampler (BrC-PILS)

NOAA CIRES York University
instrument on rack in lab

Water-soluble organic aerosol absorption (Mm-1) and concentration (μgC cm-3) measurements

Wavelengths: 350 - 600 nm
Sampling time: 4 s
Sensitivity: ~1.0 Mm-1 in 4 s

Measurement Science Goals:

  • What is the lifetime of brown carbon downwind of a fire?
  • Is the lifetime different during day vs night?
  • What is the major loss process?
  • What is the chemical composition of primary brown carbon?
  • How does it evolve downwind?

Research Team

Rebecca Washenfelder

Rebecca Washenfelder

NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division

Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson

CIRES at NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division

Lisa Azzarello

Lisa Azzarello

York University