ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
The mission of the Atmospheric Sciences Group is to develop advanced in situ and remote sensors for monitoring trace species, including gases and aerosols, in the atmosphere. The group fields these sensors to support national and local monitoring efforts in global climate change, regional air quality, and homeland defense.
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CO2 and water vapor flux measurements suite mounted on University of Vermon'ts Proctor Maple Research Center Forest Canopy Tower in Underhill Center, VT |
Core Competencies
Core competencies include atomic and molecular spectroscopy, chemical kinetics, radiative transport, aerosol microphysics, and sensor system development. Core technologies include tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), quantum cascade lasers (QCL), cavity enhanced spectroscopy (CES), spark and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (S/LIBS), photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), and LIDAR, including backscatter, DIAL, and coherent systems for wind measurement.
Current Research Thrusts Include:
- Laser-based Sensor for High Precision Measurements of Ambient CO2
o Sponsor: DOE
o Objective: This program is developing a high precision, low cost sensor for CO2 that can be deployed in national monitoring networks.
- Highly compact CO2 sensor for balloon deployment
o Sponsor: DOE
o Objective: This program is developing a low cost, LED-based compact sensor for CO2 that can be deployed on small balloons.
- Compact Spark Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy-based Sensor for Soil Carbon
o Sponsor: DOE
o Objective: This program is developing an economical sensor to monitor the organic carbon content in soils for use in terrestrial carbon sequestration projects.
- Compact, Automated DIAL LIDAR for Water Vapor Profiling
o Sponsor: NOAA
o Objective: This program is developing an automated DIAL LIDAR for national monitoring networks that can make retrievals of vertical profiles of water vapor for meteorological applications.
- Compact UV LIDAR for Aerosol Profiling
o Sponsor: DOE ARRA
o Objective: This program is developing a compact UV LIDAR that can make retrievals of vertical profiles of aerosols in the troposphere.
Area Leadership
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Dr. David Sonnenfroh |
The Atmospheric Sciences Group is led by Dr. David Sonnenfroh. Dr. Sonnenfroh has 21 years of experience developing advanced optically-based sensors and instrumentation for a range of applications for commercial and national defense programs.
Contact
David M. Sonnenfroh
Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810-1077
Telephone: (978) 689-0003
Fax: (978) 689-3232
sonnenfroh@psicorp.com