HR: 0800h
AN: SA21A-0252    [Abstracts]
TI: Mass-analysis of Charged Aerosol Particles in a PMSE/NLC Layer by a Rocket-borne Spectrometer
AU: * Robertson, S
EM: scott.robertson@colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Horanyi, M
EM: mihaly.horanyi@colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Knappmiller, S
EM: scott.knappmiller@colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Kohnert, R
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Sternovsky, Z
EM: zoltan.sternovsky@colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Holzworth, R
AF: Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
AU: Shimogawa, M
AF: Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
AU: Friedrich, M
AF: Department of Communications and Wave Propagation, Technical University of Graz, Graz, A-8010, Austria
AU: Gumbel, J
AF: Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
AU: Khaplanov, M
AF: Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
AU: Megner, L
AF: Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
AU: Baumgarten, G
AF: Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Schloss-Str. 6, Kuehlungsborn, 18225, Germany
AU: Latteck, R
AF: Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Schloss-Str. 6, Kuehlungsborn, 18225, Germany
AU: Rapp, M
AF: Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Schloss-Str. 6, Kuehlungsborn, 18225, Germany
AU: Hoppe, U
AF: Norwegian Research Defense Research Establishment, Postboks 25, Kjeller, 2027, Norway
AB: The first of two "MASS" (Mesospheric Aerosol Sampling Spectrometer) rockets was launched from the Andoya Rocket Range at 22:51 UTC on 3 August 2007 into PMSE and NLC approximately 26 minutes after an AIM satellite overpass. The sun was 4 degrees below the horizon and the local riometer indicated that the ionospheric conditions were rather quiet, i.e., day time conditions as far as negative cluster ions are concerned. NLC were seen in the previous hour at 83 km by the ALOMAR RMR lidar pointed along the rocket trajectory and were detected at the same altitude by rocket-borne photometer measurements. The rocket carried an electrostatic mass analyzer for the charged fraction of the aerosol particles and both forward and aft deployable electric field booms. The mass analyzer was mounted on the tip of the payload and pointed in the ram direction. It has a forward inlet slit with area of 25 square centimeters and side vents for air exit. Aerosol particles with different ranges of charge-to-mass ratio are collected within the instrument housing on two sets of four biased collector plates, with one set for positive particles and one set for negative particles. A preliminary analysis of the data shows the density of negative particles with radius greater than 3 nm rising sharply at 83 and continuing to 89 km, collocated with PMSE detected by the ALWIN radar. Particles with 1-2 nm radii with both signs of charge and positive particles with less than1 nm radius were detected at 86-88 km. Initial charge-density estimates are several thousands per cubic centimeter for each of these size ranges. The E field booms detected significant potential variations in the PMSE/NLC region. Further analysis will examine in more detail the effects of aerodynamics, payload charging, and spurious charge generation by particle impacts.
UR: http://plasma.colorado.edu
DE: 3311 Clouds and aerosols
DE: 3349 Polar meteorology
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting