The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX

Natalie Kille; Kyle J. Zarzana; Johana Romero Alvarez; Christopher F. Lee; Jake P. Rowe; Benjamin Howard; Teresa Campos; Alan Hills; Rebecca S. Hornbrook; Ivan Ortega; Wade Permar; I. Ting Ku; Jakob Lindaas; Ilana B. Pollack; Amy P. Sullivan; Yong Zhou; Carley D. Fredrickson; Brett B. Palm; Qiaoyun Peng; Eric C. Apel; Lu Hu; Jeffrey L. Collett; Emily V. Fischer; Frank Flocke; James W. Hannigan; Joel Thornton; Rainer Volkamer

doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX

Natalie Kille, Kyle J. Zarzana, Johana Romero Alvarez, Christopher F. Lee, Jake P. Rowe, Benjamin Howard, Teresa Campos, Alan Hills, Rebecca S. Hornbrook, Ivan Ortega, Wade Permar, I. Ting Ku, Jakob Lindaas, Ilana B. Pollack, Amy P. Sullivan, Yong Zhou, Carley D. Fredrickson, Brett B. Palm, Qiaoyun Peng, Eric C. ApelLu Hu, Jeffrey L. Collett, Emily V. Fischer, Frank Flocke, James W. Hannigan, Joel Thornton, Rainer Volkamer

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biomass burning is an important and increasing source of trace gases and aerosols relevant to air quality and climate. The Biomass Burning Flux Measurements of Trace Gases and Aerosols (BB-FLUX) field campaign deployed the University of Colorado Airborne Solar Occultation Flux (CU AirSOF) instrument aboard the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft during the 2018 Pacific Northwest wildfire season (July-September). CU AirSOF tracks the sun even through thick smoke plumes using short-wave infrared wavelengths to minimize scattering from smoke particles, and uses Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTS) to measure the column absorption of multiple trace gases at mid-infrared wavelengths. The instrument is described, characterized, and evaluated using colocated ground-based remote sensing and airborne in situ data sets. Vertical column density (VCD) measurements agree well with a colocated stationary high-resolution FTS for carbon monoxide (CO, slope within 2%), formaldehyde (HCHO, 3%), formic acid (HCOOH, 18%), ethane (C₂H₆, 4%), ammonia (NH₃, 4%), hydrogen cyanide (HCN, 10%), and peroxyacyl nitrate (PAN_FTS, 1%; we distinguish the molecule PAN from PAN_FTS, which includes similar molecules and is measured as a sum by FTS). Airborne VCD measurements are compared with in situ measurements aboard the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft during a coordinated mission to the Rabbit Foot Fire near Boise, Idaho by digesting VCDs into normalized excess column ratios (NEMRs). Column NEMRs from CU AirSOF, expressed as VCD enhancements over background and normalized to CO enhancements, are found to agree with the in situ NEMRs within 20% for HCHO, methanol (CH₃OH), ethylene (C₂H₄), C₂H₆, NH₃, and HCN and within 30-66% for HCOOH and PAN. CU AirSOF integrates over plume heterogeneity, is inherently calibrated, and provides an innovative, flexible, and quantitative tool to measure emission mass fluxes from wildfires.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	582-596
Number of pages	15
Journal	ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
Volume	6
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281
State	Published - Mar 17 2022

Funding

Financial support for the BB-FLUX project is from National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant AGS-1754019. This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), which is a major facility sponsored by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 1852977. The NCAR FTS observation program at Boulder, Colorado is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). WE-CAN data were collected using NSF’s Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities, which are managed and operated by NCAR’s Earth Observing Laboratory. I.T.K., J.L., I.B.P., A.P.S, J.L.C., and E.V.F. were supported by NSF Grant AGS-1650786. W.P. and L.H. were supported by NSF Grant AGS-1650275. B.B.P., Q.P., C.D.F., and J.T. were supported by NSF Grant AGS-1652688 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Grant NA17OAR4310012. C.F.L. received summer support from the Department of Chemistry at CU Boulder. We thank David Thomson for software development and support during system integration on the aircraft. We thank Dr. Theodore Koenig for useful discussions. We thank the entire BB-FLUX and WE-CAN science teams, the pilots of both aircraft, and the entire UW Flight Center staff.

Funders	Funder number
AGS-1754019
1852977
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	AGS-1650786, AGS-1652688, AGS-1650275
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	NA17OAR4310012
National Center for Atmospheric Research

Keywords

atmospheric chemistry
biomass burning
emissions
measurement technique
remote sensing
western United States
wildfires

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

Cite this

Kille, N., Zarzana, K. J., Romero Alvarez, J., Lee, C. F., Rowe, J. P., Howard, B., Campos, T., Hills, A., Hornbrook, R. S., Ortega, I., Permar, W., Ku, I. T., Lindaas, J., Pollack, I. B., Sullivan, A. P., Zhou, Y., Fredrickson, C. D., Palm, B. B., Peng, Q., ... Volkamer, R. (2022). The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 6(3), 582-596. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

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title = "The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX",

abstract = "Biomass burning is an important and increasing source of trace gases and aerosols relevant to air quality and climate. The Biomass Burning Flux Measurements of Trace Gases and Aerosols (BB-FLUX) field campaign deployed the University of Colorado Airborne Solar Occultation Flux (CU AirSOF) instrument aboard the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft during the 2018 Pacific Northwest wildfire season (July-September). CU AirSOF tracks the sun even through thick smoke plumes using short-wave infrared wavelengths to minimize scattering from smoke particles, and uses Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTS) to measure the column absorption of multiple trace gases at mid-infrared wavelengths. The instrument is described, characterized, and evaluated using colocated ground-based remote sensing and airborne in situ data sets. Vertical column density (VCD) measurements agree well with a colocated stationary high-resolution FTS for carbon monoxide (CO, slope within 2\%), formaldehyde (HCHO, 3\%), formic acid (HCOOH, 18\%), ethane (C2H6, 4\%), ammonia (NH3, 4\%), hydrogen cyanide (HCN, 10\%), and peroxyacyl nitrate (PANFTS, 1\%; we distinguish the molecule PAN from PANFTS, which includes similar molecules and is measured as a sum by FTS). Airborne VCD measurements are compared with in situ measurements aboard the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft during a coordinated mission to the Rabbit Foot Fire near Boise, Idaho by digesting VCDs into normalized excess column ratios (NEMRs). Column NEMRs from CU AirSOF, expressed as VCD enhancements over background and normalized to CO enhancements, are found to agree with the in situ NEMRs within 20\% for HCHO, methanol (CH3OH), ethylene (C2H4), C2H6, NH3, and HCN and within 30-66\% for HCOOH and PAN. CU AirSOF integrates over plume heterogeneity, is inherently calibrated, and provides an innovative, flexible, and quantitative tool to measure emission mass fluxes from wildfires.",

keywords = "atmospheric chemistry, biomass burning, emissions, measurement technique, remote sensing, western United States, wildfires",

author = "Natalie Kille and Zarzana, \{Kyle J.\} and \{Romero Alvarez\}, Johana and Lee, \{Christopher F.\} and Rowe, \{Jake P.\} and Benjamin Howard and Teresa Campos and Alan Hills and Hornbrook, \{Rebecca S.\} and Ivan Ortega and Wade Permar and Ku, \{I. Ting\} and Jakob Lindaas and Pollack, \{Ilana B.\} and Sullivan, \{Amy P.\} and Yong Zhou and Fredrickson, \{Carley D.\} and Palm, \{Brett B.\} and Qiaoyun Peng and Apel, \{Eric C.\} and Lu Hu and Collett, \{Jeffrey L.\} and Fischer, \{Emily V.\} and Frank Flocke and Hannigan, \{James W.\} and Joel Thornton and Rainer Volkamer",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "582--596",

journal = "ACS Earth and Space Chemistry",

issn = "2472-3452",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "3",

}

Kille, N, Zarzana, KJ, Romero Alvarez, J, Lee, CF, Rowe, JP, Howard, B, Campos, T, Hills, A, Hornbrook, RS, Ortega, I, Permar, W, Ku, IT, Lindaas, J, Pollack, IB, Sullivan, AP, Zhou, Y, Fredrickson, CD, Palm, BB, Peng, Q, Apel, EC, Hu, L, Collett, JL, Fischer, EV, Flocke, F, Hannigan, JW, Thornton, J & Volkamer, R 2022, 'The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX', ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 582-596. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

TY - JOUR

T1 - The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument

T2 - Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX

AU - Kille, Natalie

AU - Zarzana, Kyle J.

AU - Romero Alvarez, Johana

AU - Lee, Christopher F.

AU - Rowe, Jake P.

AU - Howard, Benjamin

AU - Campos, Teresa

AU - Hills, Alan

AU - Hornbrook, Rebecca S.

AU - Ortega, Ivan

AU - Permar, Wade

AU - Ku, I. Ting

AU - Lindaas, Jakob

AU - Pollack, Ilana B.

AU - Sullivan, Amy P.

AU - Zhou, Yong

AU - Fredrickson, Carley D.

AU - Palm, Brett B.

AU - Peng, Qiaoyun

AU - Apel, Eric C.

AU - Hu, Lu

AU - Collett, Jeffrey L.

AU - Fischer, Emily V.

AU - Flocke, Frank

AU - Hannigan, James W.

AU - Thornton, Joel

AU - Volkamer, Rainer

PY - 2022/3/17

Y1 - 2022/3/17

N2 - Biomass burning is an important and increasing source of trace gases and aerosols relevant to air quality and climate. The Biomass Burning Flux Measurements of Trace Gases and Aerosols (BB-FLUX) field campaign deployed the University of Colorado Airborne Solar Occultation Flux (CU AirSOF) instrument aboard the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft during the 2018 Pacific Northwest wildfire season (July-September). CU AirSOF tracks the sun even through thick smoke plumes using short-wave infrared wavelengths to minimize scattering from smoke particles, and uses Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTS) to measure the column absorption of multiple trace gases at mid-infrared wavelengths. The instrument is described, characterized, and evaluated using colocated ground-based remote sensing and airborne in situ data sets. Vertical column density (VCD) measurements agree well with a colocated stationary high-resolution FTS for carbon monoxide (CO, slope within 2%), formaldehyde (HCHO, 3%), formic acid (HCOOH, 18%), ethane (C2H6, 4%), ammonia (NH3, 4%), hydrogen cyanide (HCN, 10%), and peroxyacyl nitrate (PANFTS, 1%; we distinguish the molecule PAN from PANFTS, which includes similar molecules and is measured as a sum by FTS). Airborne VCD measurements are compared with in situ measurements aboard the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft during a coordinated mission to the Rabbit Foot Fire near Boise, Idaho by digesting VCDs into normalized excess column ratios (NEMRs). Column NEMRs from CU AirSOF, expressed as VCD enhancements over background and normalized to CO enhancements, are found to agree with the in situ NEMRs within 20% for HCHO, methanol (CH3OH), ethylene (C2H4), C2H6, NH3, and HCN and within 30-66% for HCOOH and PAN. CU AirSOF integrates over plume heterogeneity, is inherently calibrated, and provides an innovative, flexible, and quantitative tool to measure emission mass fluxes from wildfires.

AB - Biomass burning is an important and increasing source of trace gases and aerosols relevant to air quality and climate. The Biomass Burning Flux Measurements of Trace Gases and Aerosols (BB-FLUX) field campaign deployed the University of Colorado Airborne Solar Occultation Flux (CU AirSOF) instrument aboard the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft during the 2018 Pacific Northwest wildfire season (July-September). CU AirSOF tracks the sun even through thick smoke plumes using short-wave infrared wavelengths to minimize scattering from smoke particles, and uses Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTS) to measure the column absorption of multiple trace gases at mid-infrared wavelengths. The instrument is described, characterized, and evaluated using colocated ground-based remote sensing and airborne in situ data sets. Vertical column density (VCD) measurements agree well with a colocated stationary high-resolution FTS for carbon monoxide (CO, slope within 2%), formaldehyde (HCHO, 3%), formic acid (HCOOH, 18%), ethane (C2H6, 4%), ammonia (NH3, 4%), hydrogen cyanide (HCN, 10%), and peroxyacyl nitrate (PANFTS, 1%; we distinguish the molecule PAN from PANFTS, which includes similar molecules and is measured as a sum by FTS). Airborne VCD measurements are compared with in situ measurements aboard the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft during a coordinated mission to the Rabbit Foot Fire near Boise, Idaho by digesting VCDs into normalized excess column ratios (NEMRs). Column NEMRs from CU AirSOF, expressed as VCD enhancements over background and normalized to CO enhancements, are found to agree with the in situ NEMRs within 20% for HCHO, methanol (CH3OH), ethylene (C2H4), C2H6, NH3, and HCN and within 30-66% for HCOOH and PAN. CU AirSOF integrates over plume heterogeneity, is inherently calibrated, and provides an innovative, flexible, and quantitative tool to measure emission mass fluxes from wildfires.

KW - atmospheric chemistry

KW - biomass burning

KW - emissions

KW - measurement technique

KW - remote sensing

KW - western United States

KW - wildfires

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85122044580

U2 - 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

DO - 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00281

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85122044580

SN - 2472-3452

VL - 6

SP - 582

EP - 596

JO - ACS Earth and Space Chemistry

JF - ACS Earth and Space Chemistry

IS - 3

ER -

The CU Airborne Solar Occultation Flux Instrument: Performance Evaluation during BB-FLUX

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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