To answer the scientific objectives requires development of a new calibration/validation strategy that considers in detail both the analytical issues that address accuracy and precision of in situ and remote instrumentation, broadly applicable to a wide variety of species, with sensitivities demonstrated to the scientific community. Measurements must be possible over a wide range of conditions and altitudes, and the instruments should show reductions in cost, weight, and servicing frequency, allowing repetitive and systematic measurement strategies.
We define next the core instruments presented in this proposal that are a component of the full instrument array required for both the AURA calibration/validation and for the testing of scientific hypotheses central to scientific progress in the field. While these instruments are described in detail in the text of the proposal, we present here a brief summary.
- Laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of IO
- Laser-induced fluorescence/atomic resonance scattering instrument for the detection of BrO, ClO, ClONO2, BrONO2, and ClOOCl
- Laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of OH and HO2
- Photofragment laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of HDO and H2O
- Laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of NO2 and thermal dissociation measurement of PAN and N2O5
- Cavity ringdown/integrated cavity output spectroscopy instrument for the detection of HDO, H2O, and H218O
- Laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of CH2O
- Lyman-α fragment fluorescence instrument for the detection of water vapor and total water and UV absorption detection of O3
- The ozone instrument
- Interferometer for the detection of absolute, spectrally resolved radiance