'Measurement Methods in Atmospheric Sciences provides a comprehensive overview of in-situ and remote sensing measurement techniques for probing the Earth's atmosphere. The methods presented in this book span the entire range from classical meteorology via atmospheric chemistry and micrometeorological fiux determination to Earth observation from space. Standard instruments for meteorological and air quality monitoring methods, as well as specialized instrumentation predominantly used in scientific experiments, are covered. The presented techniques run from simple mechanical sensors to highly sophisticated electronic devices. Special emphasis is on the rapidly evolving field of remote sensing techniques. Here, active ground-based remote sending techniques such as SODAR and LIDAR find a detailed coverage. The book conveys the basic principles of the various observational and monitoring methods, enabling the user to identify the most appropriate method. An introductory chapter covers general principles (e. g. inversion of measured data, available platforms, statistical properties of data, data acquisition). Later chapters each treat methods for measuring a specific property (e.g. humidity, wind speed, wind direction). Long chapters provide an introductory tabular list of the methods treated. More than 100 figures and 400 references, mostly to the recent scientific literature, aid the reader in reading up on the details of the various methods at hand. Recommendations at the end of each major chapter provide additional hints on the use of some instruments in order to facilitate the selection of the proper instrument for a successful measurement. A large number of national and international standards, providing precise guidelines for measuring and acquiring reliable, reproducible and comparable data sets are listed in the appendix. A dedicated index allows easy access to this valuable information. The book addresses undergraduate and graduate students in meteorological and atmospheric sciences, physical geography, ecology, environmental sciences, agriculture and related disciplines as well as scientists in the process of planning atmospheric measurements in field campaigns or working with data already acquired. Practitioners in environmental agencies and similar institutions will benefit from instrument descriptions and the extended lists in the appendix.' (Publisher)

This practical handbook provides a clearly structured, concise and comprehensive account of the huge variety of atmospheric and related measurements relevant to meteorologists and for the purpose of weather forecasting and climate research, but also to the practitioner in the wider field of environmental physics and ecology. The Springer Handbook of Atmospheric Measurements is divided into six parts: The first part offers instructive descriptions of the basics of atmospheric measurements and the multitude of their influencing factors, fundamentals of quality control and standardization, as well as equations and tables of atmospheric, water, and soil quantities. The subsequent parts present classical in-situ measurements as well as remote sensing techniques from both ground-based as well as airborn or satellite-based methods. The next part focusses on complex measurements and methods that integrate different techniques to establish more holistic data. Brief discussions of measurements in soils and water, at plants, in urban and rural environments and for renewable energies demonstrate the potential of such applications. The final part provides an overview of atmospheric and ecological networks. Written by distinguished experts from academia and industry, each of the 64 chapters provides in-depth discussions of the available devices with their specifications, aspects of quality control, maintenance as well as their potential for the future. A large number of thoroughly compiled tables of physical quantities, sensors and system characteristics make this handbook a unique, universal and useful reference for the practitioner and absolutely essential for researchers, students, and technicians.

In this Very Short introduction, Paul Palmer looks at the structure and basic physics and chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere, comparing it to the atmospheres of other planets, particularly our neighbors, Venus and Mars. Palmer looks at the effects of pollutants and climate change, and what may happen to our atmosphere in the future

Almost all of the breakthroughs in understanding the atmospherehave been initiated by field observations, using a range ofinstrumental techniques. Developing or deploying instruments tomake further observations demands a thorough understanding of thechemical and spectroscopic principles on which such measurementsdepend. Written as an authoritative guide to the techniques of instrumentalmeasurement for the atmospheric scientist, research student orundergraduate, Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurementfocuses on the instruments used to make real time measurements ofatmospheric gas and aerosol composition. Topics covered include howthey work, their strengths and weaknesses for a particular task,the platforms on which they have been deployed and how they arecalibrated. It explains the fundamental principles upon which theinstrumental techniques are based (ie what property of a moleculecan be exploited to enable its detection), what limits instrumentalsensitivity and accuracy, and the information that can be gainedfrom their use.

This book describes the fundamental scientific principles underlying high quality instrumentation used for environmental measurements. It discusses a wide range of in situ sensors employed in practical environmental monitoring and, in particular, those used in surface based measurement systems. It also considers the use of weather balloons to provide a wealth of upper atmosphere data. To illustrate the technologies in use it includes many examples of real atmospheric measurements in typical and unusual circumstances, with a discussion of the electronic signal conditioning, data acquisition considerations and data processing principles necessary for reliable measurements. This also allows the long history of atmospheric measurements to be placed in the context of the requirements of modern climate science, by building the physical science appreciation of the instrumental record and looking forward to new and emerging sensor and recording technologies.

This highly practical handbook is an exhaustive treatment of eddy covariance measurement that will be of keen interest to scientists who are not necessarily specialists in micrometeorology. The chapters cover measuring fluxes using eddy covariance technique, from the tower installation and system dimensioning to data collection, correction and analysis. With a state-of-the-art perspective, the authors examine the latest techniques and address the most up-to-date methods for data processing and quality control. The chapters provide answers to data treatment problems including data filtering, footprint analysis, data gap filling, uncertainty evaluation, and flux separation, among others. The authors cover the application of measurement techniques in different ecosystems such as forest, crops, grassland, wetland, lakes and rivers, and urban areas, highlighting peculiarities, specific practices and methods to be considered. The book also covers what to do when you have all your data, summarizing the objectives of a database as well as using case studies of the CarboEurope and FLUXNET databases to demonstrate the way they should be maintained and managed. Policies for data use, exchange and publication are also discussed and proposed. This one compendium is a valuable source of information on eddy covariance measurement that allows readers to make rational and relevant choices in positioning, dimensioning, installing and maintaining an eddy covariance site; collecting, treating, correcting and analyzing eddy covariance data; and scaling up eddy flux measurements to annual scale and evaluating their uncertainty.

This first comprehensive review of airborne measurement principles covers all atmospheric components and surface parameters. It describes the common techniques to characterize aerosol particles and cloud/precipitation elements, while also explaining radiation quantities and pertinent hyperspectral and active remote sensing measurement techniques along the way. As a result, the major principles of operation are introduced and exemplified using specific instruments, treating both classic and emerging measurement techniques. The two editors head an international community of eminent scientists, all of them accepted and experienced specialists in their field, who help readers to understand specific problems related to airborne research, such as immanent uncertainties and limitations. They also provide guidance on the suitability of instruments to measure certain parameters and to select the correct type of device. While primarily intended for climate, geophysical and atmospheric researchers, its relevance to solar system objects makes this work equally appealing to astronomers studying atmospheres of solar system bodies with telescopes and space probes.