0000000001331381
AUTHOR
Martin Zöger
The ACRIDICON-CHUVA campaign: Studying tropical deep convective clouds and precipitation over Amazonia using the new German research aircraft HALO
Abstract Between 1 September and 4 October 2014, a combined airborne and ground-based measurement campaign was conducted to study tropical deep convective clouds over the Brazilian Amazon rain forest. The new German research aircraft, High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO), a modified Gulfstream G550, and extensive ground-based instrumentation were deployed in and near Manaus (State of Amazonas). The campaign was part of the German–Brazilian Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of Convective Cloud Systems–Cloud Processes of the Main Precipitation Systems in Brazil: A Contribution to Cloud Resolving Modeling and to the GPM (Global Precipitatio…
ML-CIRRUS: The Airborne Experiment on Natural Cirrus and Contrail Cirrus with the High-Altitude Long-Range Research Aircraft HALO
Abstract The Midlatitude Cirrus experiment (ML-CIRRUS) deployed the High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO) to obtain new insights into nucleation, life cycle, and climate impact of natural cirrus and aircraft-induced contrail cirrus. Direct observations of cirrus properties and their variability are still incomplete, currently limiting our understanding of the clouds’ impact on climate. Also, dynamical effects on clouds and feedbacks are not adequately represented in today’s weather prediction models. Here, we present the rationale, objectives, and selected scientific highlights of ML-CIRRUS using the G-550 aircraft of the German atmospheric science community. The first combi…
The airborne mass spectrometer AIMS – Part 1: AIMS-H<sub>2</sub>O for UTLS water vapor measurements
Abstract. In the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), the accurate quantification of low water vapor concentrations has presented a significant measurement challenge. The instrumental uncertainties are passed on to estimates of H2O transport, cloud formation and the role of H2O in the UTLS energy budget and resulting effects on surface temperatures. To address the uncertainty in UTLS H2O determination, the airborne mass spectrometer AIMS-H2O, with in-flight calibration, has been developed for fast and accurate airborne water vapor measurements. We present a new setup to measure water vapor by direct ionization of ambient air. Air is sampled via a backward facing inlet that inclu…
In-situ observations of young contrails – overview and selected results from the CONCERT campaign
Lineshaped contrails were detected with the research aircraft Falcon during the CONCERT – CONtrail and Cirrus ExpeRimenT – campaign in October/November 2008. The Falcon was equipped with a set of instruments to measure the particle size distribution, shape, extinction and chemical composition as well as trace gas mixing ratios of sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), reactive nitrogen and halogen species (NO, NO<sub>y</sub>, HNO<sub>3</sub>, HONO, HCl), ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and carbon monoxide (CO). During 12 mission flights over Europe, numerous contrails, cirrus clouds and a volcanic aerosol layer were probed at altitudes between 8.5 and 11.6 km…
Aircraft-based observation of meteoric material in lower-stratospheric aerosol particles between 15 and 68° N
We analyse aerosol particle composition measurements from five research missions between 2014 and 2018 to assess the meridional extent of particles containing meteoric material in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). Measurements from the Jungfraujoch mountaintop site and a low-altitude aircraft mission show that meteoric material is also present within middle- and lower-tropospheric aerosol but within only a very small proportion of particles. For both the UTLS campaigns and the lower- and mid-troposphere observations, the measurements were conducted with single-particle laser ablation mass spectrometers with bipolar-ion detection, which enabled us to measure the chemical c…
Aircraft-based observation of meteoric material in lower stratospheric aerosol particles between 15 and 68° N
Abstract. In this paper we analyze aerosol particle composition measurements from five research missions conducted between 2014 and 2018 sampling the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), to assess the meridional extent of particles containing meteoric material. Additional data sets from a ground based study and from a low altitude aircraft mission are used to confirm the existence of meteoric material in lower tropospheric particles. Single particle laser ablation techniques with bipolar ion detection were used to measure the chemical composition of particles in a size range of approximately 150 nm to 3 μm. The five UTLS aircraft missions cover a latitude range from 15 to 68° N,…
Enhanced sulfur in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in spring 2020
Sulfur compounds in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) impact the atmosphere radiation budget, either directly as particles or indirectly as precursor gas for new particle formation. In situ measurements in the UTLS are rare but are important to better understand the impact of the sulfur budget on climate. The BLUESKY mission in May and June 2020 explored an unprecedented situation. (1) The UTLS experienced extraordinary dry conditions in spring 2020 over Europe, in comparison to previous years, and (2) the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic caused major emission reductions from industry, ground, and airborne transportation. With the two research aircraft HALO and Falc…
HNO3 partitioning in cirrus clouds
During the 1997 POLSTAR-1 winter campaign in northern Sweden a flight was performed across a cold trough of air (similar or equal to 196 K) in the tropopause region. Measurements of total water vapour, nitric acid, particles and reactive nitrogen (NOy) were taken. The particle measurements indicate that about 3% of the particles in the moist tropospheric air were ice particles. Forward and backward facing NOy inlets were used simultaneously to determine condensed phase HNO3. The combined NOy and particle measurements reveal that less than 1% of a monolayer of NOy could have resided on the ice particles. This casts doubt on the hypothesis that sedimenting cirrus particles generally lead to a…
Aircraft-based observation of meteoric material in lower stratospheric aerosol particles between 15 and 68° N
In this paper we analyze aerosol particle composition measurements from five research missions conducted between 2014 and 2018 sampling the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), to assess the meridional extent of particles containing meteoric material. Additional data sets from a ground based study and from a low altitude aircraft mission are used to confirm the existence of meteoric material in lower tropospheric particles. Single particle laser ablation techniques with bipolar ion detection were used to measure the chemical composition of particles in a size range of approximately 150 nm to 3 μm. The five UTLS aircraft missions cover a latitude range from 15 to 68…