Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurment NeTwork (ASCENT)

The Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT) is a new comprehensive, high-time-resolution, long-term measurement network in the U.S. for the characterization of aerosol chemical composition and physical properties. ASCENT is supported by the National Science Foundation.

Leveraging existing networks, a total of 12 sites have been established across the country, including rural/remote/background, urban, and tribal sites. Each site is equipped with a suite of advanced aerosol instrumentation for real-time measurements of fine aerosol chemical composition and properties: Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM, non-refractory aerosols), Xact (trace metals), Aethalometer (black/brown carbon), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS, aerosol number size distribution and concentration). In addition, value-added products will be developed, including parameterizations of FT-IR and ACSM data to increase the chemical resolution of organic aerosols from the ACSM, as well as aerosol source apportionment analyses.

More comprehensive information can be found at ASCENT at Caltech.