Airborne Measurements

STI scientists are pioneers in using aircraft to measure the three-dimensional distribution and transport of atmospheric chemical species. STI staff have performed airborne sampling for over 8000 flight hours. STI's twin-engine Piper Aztec has been transferred to Baylor University but is still available for STI projects, along with other aircraft in the Baylor fleet. The Aztec is instrumented to measure air quality and meteorological parameters and has been used in air quality research programs throughout the United States to document the sources, transport, and transformations of atmospheric pollutants. STI scientists have developed specialized software and data acquisition systems to record, display, and process aircraft data and have instrumented multiple aircraft for a single study when needed. We also provide support to government agencies and other research organizations to design research flight plans, develop airborne atmospheric measurement instrumentation, help instrument and operate their aircraft, and process and analyze their data.