Attention:
Please note that operations of the SP2 requires experienced scientific staff on board the aircraft.
Summary
SP2 is an ideal instrument for measuring black carbon, known as soot. It is the only probe in the world that directly measures the black carbon in individual aerosol particles. Its high sensitivity and fast response makes it the premier instrument for characterizing pollution sources and measuring black carbon in snow, ice or water.
The instrument measures the time-dependent scattering and incandescence signals produced by individual black carbon containing particles as they travel through a continuous-wave laser beam. Any particle traversing the laser beam will scatter light, and the black carbon component of a particle will absorb some of the laser energy until its temperature is raised to the point at which it incandesces. The amplitude of the incandescence signal is related to the amount of refractory black carbon material contained in the illuminated particle.
| Manufacturer | Droplet measurement technologies |
|---|---|
| Model | SP2 |
| Serial No. | 1203-048 |
| Type | scattering photometer |
| REGISTRY-Link | ↪ REGISTRY (6791) |
Contacts
| Name | Institution | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Andreas Herber | Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research | Device Contact |
Components and Specifications
The SP2 system consists of the photometer unit, which is installed in a rack. It is connected via tubing to an air inlet. An external SP2 pump installed in a rack sustains the vacuum in the lines. Additionally, drying cartridges can be installed in the airflow and air flow meter are connected to the system to visually check on the air flow. Operation of the SP2 requires an external monitor for visualization.
Specifications of SP2 (without mounting)
Position
| Info | The sensor unit is installed in a rack. It is connected via stainless steel tubes to an air inlet in the cabin roof. |
| X | 0.0 none |
| Y | 0.0 none |
| Z | 0.0 none |
Data logging, storage and archiving
Logged parameter
| Parameter | O2ARegistry Output Type | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| black carbon mass derived from incandescence | black carbon | ng/m3 |
| single-particle laser incandescence | radiation | none |
| single-particle light scattering | particle number concentration | none |