The AERI: new deployments, upgrades, and measurement applications

Abstract

The AERI (Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer) has served as a primary instrument for the continuous measurement of down welling infrared emission within the DOE-ARM (Department of Energy - Atmospheric Radiation Measurement) program since 1993. AERI instruments have been deployed at ARM measurement sites that include the NSA (North Slope of Alaska), the TWP (Topical Western Pacific), and the SGP (Southern Great Plains). Marine versions of the AERI instrument (M-AERIs) have also operated on board ships by the University of Miami to measure SST (Sea Surface Temperature). The UW-SSEC (University of Wisconsin - Space Science and Engineering Center) operates an AERI instrument that is housed in a mobile vehicle (Winnebago) and that has been used in support of several field campaigns for surface emissivity measurements and for satellite instrument validation. Efforts are now underway to upgrade and modify the AERI systems that will implement a rapid sampling scheme to improve temporal resolution. ARM is in the process of redeploying SGP boundary facility AERIs to additional TWP and NSA field sites. The NSA AERIs are equipped with detectors suitable for extended spectral range (3.3-25 microns) and has been be used in support of the M-PACE (Mixed Phase Cloud Experiment) in the fall of 2004. The UW-SSEC is also undertaking activities to develop an AERI to be part of the AMF (ARM Mobile Facility) and expect to upgrade this instrument to a M-AERI that will be suitable for SST and emissivity measurements during field deployments. This manuscript will summarize the AERI modifications and upgrades that are underway.