Simultaneous Scaling of Spatiotemporal Representativeness for Concentration Mapping and Microphysical Properties Measurement of Aerosols

Daniel Cantin, OVIDIU PANCRATI, Denis Panneton, Pascal Dufour, Jonathan Fortin, Daniel Landry, Jean-François Cormier, François Châteauneuf, INO

     Abstract Number: 114
     Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods

Abstract
The challenges in assessing aerosols effects and impacts are partly due to incomplete knowledge of spatiotemporal variabilities of their physicochemical and optical properties. Proper spatiotemporal representativeness is thus essential for a wide range of applications, including indoor and outdoor air quality, occupational health and safety, and assessment of fugitive anthropogenic aerosol sources. To respond to these needs, INO has developed a LiDAR and a local in-situ monitoring platforms that are targeting aerosols detection and characterisation at different spatiotemporal scales.

Results from a compact portable LiDAR, called Sentinelle, are first presented. These were obtained in simulated conditions facility, as well as in industrial environment, and proved the instrument capacity to provide a representative mapping of aerosol dispersion at scale covering up to multiple hundred meters. The observed behaviors are used to identify/confirm the aerosol emission origin and their movement in large areas. Recent results showed the sensitivity of an automated calibration procedure with respect to the particle size distribution and aerosol composition, which frequently contributes to biased calibration responses. To increase the accuracy in aerosol concentration monitoring, the continuous measurements of particle size distribution and knowledge of composition are therefore required. Based on an in-house patented approach, the in-Situ Individual Particle Sizer (iSIPS) is an easily deployable, low maintenance prototype providing continuous and real-time particle size distribution measurements. This technology is non-intrusive, does not require air sampling through pumping or ventilators and thus provides a very convenient solution for continuous operation in remote locations.

The presented work will detail the potential synergies between these two technological solutions and latest experimental results and supportive simulation results. The overall solution enabled by these technologies under development directly addresses the multi-scale challenges of a realistic ground-truthing of global aerosol monitoring from a spatiotemporal point of view.