Articles | Volume 14, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6795-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6795-2021
Research article
 | 
21 Oct 2021
Research article |  | 21 Oct 2021

UAS Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (UCATS) – a versatile instrument for trace gas measurements on airborne platforms

Eric J. Hintsa, Fred L. Moore, Dale F. Hurst, Geoff S. Dutton, Bradley D. Hall, J. David Nance, Ben R. Miller, Stephen A. Montzka, Laura P. Wolton, Audra McClure-Begley, James W. Elkins, Emrys G. Hall, Allen F. Jordan, Andrew W. Rollins, Troy D. Thornberry, Laurel A. Watts, Chelsea R. Thompson, Jeff Peischl, Ilann Bourgeois, Thomas B. Ryerson, Bruce C. Daube, Yenny Gonzalez Ramos, Roisin Commane, Gregory W. Santoni, Jasna V. Pittman, Steven C. Wofsy, Eric Kort, Glenn S. Diskin, and T. Paul Bui

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Cited articles

Brewer, P. J., Gieseking, B., Ferracci, V. F., Ward, M., Carroll, P., Bell, S., and Hall, B.: International pilot study CCQM-P193: 10µmol/mol water vapour in nitrogen, Metrologia, 57, 08015, https://doi.org/10.1088/0026-1394/57/1A/08015, 2020. 
Bujok, O., Tan, V., Klein, E., Nopper, R., Bauer, R., Engel, A., Gerhards, M., Afchine, A., McKenna, D. S., Schmidt, U., Wienhold, F. G., and Fischer, H.: GHOST – A Novel Airborne Gas Chromatograph for In Situ Measurements of Long-Lived Tracers in the Lower Stratosphere: Method and Applications, J. Atmos. Chem., 39, 37–64, 2001. 
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Short summary
We built UCATS to study atmospheric chemistry and transport. It has measured trace gases including CFCs, N2O, SF6, CH4, CO, and H2 with gas chromatography, as well as ozone and water vapor. UCATS has been part of missions to study the tropical tropopause; transport of air into the stratosphere; greenhouse gases, transport, and chemistry in the troposphere; and ozone chemistry, on both piloted and unmanned aircraft. Its design, capabilities, and some results are shown and described here.
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