ACE Asia

The NSF Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE Asia) was flown in the spring of 2001 aboard the NSF C130.  The Drexel Atmospheric Chemistry Group used a highly specialized Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometer to determine SO₂ at very high frequency.  The program was flown complementary to the NASA TRACE P program in which we also participated and which is also described on this web site.

            We obtained a very large high frequency data set for the first time in this part of the world and documented the high flux of SO₂ to the North Pacific atmosphere.  The data are being evaluated but there is no doubt that the amount of SO₂ has increased almost an order of magnitude over the past 5 years.  The environmental consequences are being evaluated but clearly the impact will be substantial.