Cloud particle characterization is essential to monitor water and energy cycle, and radiation balance on planet Earth. Miniaturized, self contained, rugged and integrated instrumentation is needed for in situ characterization of cloud particles aboard a weather balloon or a UAV. Based on a patent pending miniaturized sensor, we propose to integrate a number of techniques into a single sensor for simultaneous measurement of cloud particle velocity, particle size distribution, liquid volume content, ice volume content, and the particle phase function. In the Phase I effort, a prototype particle-sizing sensor based on an existing miniaturized sensor will be designed and fabricated. The feasibility of the proposed cloud characterization sensor will be established through a series of tests using Caltechs, DOEs, or NASAs test facilities. Information on the sensor accuracy, effectiveness in separating droplets from ice particles, and the particle phase information will be assessed.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed device is compact, low weight, rugged, low power, and assembled with off-the-shelf components. It is highly suitable for field use in hostile conditions (UAVs and weather balloons). These attributes also make the device versatile and usable in a wide range of applications in process and quality control, research and development, food industry, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and environmental protection (particulate pollution).
