Instrument payload
The state-of-the-science payload is the result of a several decade long tradition within the consortium in developing airborne instrumentation, employing laser-optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and actinometry. The instruments sensitively measure radiation, water vapor; species that are emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources (NMVOC and their isotopes, CH4, NOx, CO, SO2); short-lived radicals that initiate and propagate photo-oxidation processes (OH, HO2, ROx, BrO); longer-lived oxidants (e.g. O3); reaction intermediates (OVOC including aldehydes, ketones); and products that can be removed from the atmosphere by deposition processes (acids, peroxides). This set of measurements uniquely constrains atmospheric chemistry processes to test and advance atmospheric chemistry and climate models.