In Situ Airborne Formaldehyde (ISAF) Thomas F. Hanisco (NASA GSFC) Glenn Wofe (NASA JCET) Jason St. Clair (NASA JCET) Daniel Anderson (U Md) ATom Science Team Meeting 22-24, July, 2015
HCHO regional/seasonal profiles
CONTRAST (Guam Jan/Feb 2014) Atom-like
Modeled and Measured HCHO during descent near Manus UWCM Box Model Results Modeled and Measured HCHO during descent near Manus Model underpredicts HCHO at pressures greater than 700 hPa. Model predicts methane chemistry dominates at all levels. Isoprene and it’s oxidation products not important.
SH HCHO underpredicted. Something interesting here? G. Zeng, et al, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2015
In situ airborne formaldehyde (ISAF) Size: 43 x 38 x 60 cm Weight: 25 kg Power: 200 W @ 28 VDC The configuration for the GV includes a pump (300 W 10 kg) and control interface box (5 kg).
Measuring Formaldehyde The laser is continuously tuned between a large formaldehyde rotational transition and a non-resonant wavelength. Dl = 0.005 nm The concentration of formaldehyde is proportional to the difference between the online and the offline signals. Detection Limit = 20 pptv/s Accuracy: +/- 10% Zero uncertainty: +/- 20 pptv Data rate 10 Hz Fluorescence = Online(Fluorescence + Rayleigh + Raman) – Offline(Rayleigh + Raman) Maria Cazorla, et al., Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8(2), (2015).
Team members Steve Bailey, Jason St. Clair, Andrew Swanson Glenn Wolfe Heather Arkinson (U Md)