OPC237H: Optical Particle Counter
Purpose of Participation
- Air borne measurement of number concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles.
Instrument description
The instrument 237H counts and measures the scattered light by aerosol particles. The ranges of measurements are >0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1 m. Scattered light is detected by a 90° mini-HeNe sensor and converted to a pulse signal. An electric device measures the height of each pulse to obtain the information on the particle size. The raw data from the detector is also sent to Pulse Height Analyzer to obtain size distribution.
| Species | Aerosol (in situ) |
| Method | Measurement of scattered light by aerosol particles |
| Quantity primary | Number concentration of aerosol particle |
| Quantity secondary | Size distribution of aerosol particles |
| Spectral range | 0.1 - 1 m |
| Altitude range | 0 - 8 km (up to aircraft limit) |
| Vertical resolution | Several 10 m |
| Temporal resolution | 2 seconds (highest) for OPC(6 size ranges) and 1 minute for PHA |
| Operation | Continuously in any condition |
| Precision | |
| Data availability (during campaign) | Next day |
| Final availability (after campaign) | Three month |