A fast response, open flow, integrating nephelometer for fine scale measurements of aerosol and cloud particles

The Controlled Towed Vehicle (CTV) has the capability to provide low level, 10 m, detailed information on ocean-atmosphere interactions for several hour periods of time with the tow aircraft maintaining a comfortable and safe flight altitude of 1000-2000 ft. Previous work has detailed turbulence, water vapor and carbon dioxide fluxes from the CTV. In this proposal the capabilities of the CTV will be expanded to provide detailed up and down looking radiometric information, droplet size and concentration measurements over the size range 2-50 microns, laser range measurement of wave height, fast response aerosol concentration measurements and ozone measurements for flux information. With the expanded capability, the CTV can be used for basic ocean-atmosphere measurements as well as studies in hurricanes, and over land conducting research on forest fires, sandstorms and chemical spills, which would require low level measurements, with the tow aircraft safely above the study area.