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Current Projects
LACO is involved in several
projects aiming the development of instrumentation, algorithms, and on the
measurements of aerosol and cloud properties. Some selected on going
projects are:
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Development of the PACS Multiangle
imaging polarimeter for the NAS decadal survey
ACE mission
o The
PACS prototype is currently under construction
o In
Collaboration with NASA GSFC, LACO intends to fly a prototype of the PACS
imaging polarimeter in the summer of 2010.
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Development of a polarized imaging nephelometer for the measurement of the full phase
matrix of aerosol and cloud particles
o A
Prototype of the UMBC Imaging Nephelometer (I-Neph) was built and tested in the LACO. The instrument
measures aerosol phase function inside a closed chamber with sensitivity
down to Rayleigh scattering, and angular coverage
from 1.5 to 178.5degs, with 0.5degs resolution.
o We
have designed and plan to build a polarized and open version of the I-Neph to fly on aircrafts. We anticipate flying in the
Wallops P3 Aircraft as part of the Decadal Survey ACE mission and for Glory
validation
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Development of instrumentation, algorithms, and
techniques for the remote sensing measurement of the vertical profile of
cloud microphysics and thermodynamic properties.
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Development of laboratory methods for the
generation of wet and dry aerosols in the lab, and its RH, temperature, and
thermodynamic phase conditioning, allowing also for the production and
freezing of simulated cloud particles.
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Cloud-CubeSat: Development of a Pico satellite for the
measurement of the vertical profile of cloud microphysics and thermodynamic
properties in deep convective clouds. Cloud-CubeSat
involves strong student participation and a versatile multi-institution
collaboration. Currently the Cloud-Cubesat
partner involve:
o LACO
and JCET at UMBC
o NASA
Goddard
§
We were funded (together with NASA Wallops)
in FY08 by a NASA GSFC Educational IRAD proposal to develop the bus and
other subsystems applicable to the Cloud-CubeSat sytem.
§
While Wallops is focusing on the bus
development, the UMBC-LACO group will focus on the development of the cloud
scanner instrument and on its science application.
o NASA
Wallops Flight Facility
o Olin College of Engineering – Based on
Dr. Martins’ presentation
on the Cloud CubeSat, the Olin students addressed
two essential projects for the Cloud-CubeSat
Development:
1- ACS System
2- Sun Position Sensor
o Northrop
Grumman
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Measurement of in situ spectral aerosol absorption
from the deep UV (200nm) to the extended NIR range (2500nm).
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Satellite remote sensing of spectral aerosol
absorption over land and ocean using MODIS and the soon to be launched
Glory APS sensors.
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