Instrument Testing & Validation

Test, intercomparison and benchmarking services of technology from private to enhance innovation. For example: study, with the help of AGORA, in situ equipment, of impact of aerosols on new materials, properties of aerosols key for health industry, detection of hazardous aerosol particles. 

The Cabauw site offers expertise, service and training for cloud radar calibration as part of the ACTRIS topical center for cloud remote sensing (CCRES).

The CESAR location in Cabauw is characterised by a 213 m high observation tower and surrounding observation field, located 50 km far from the North Sea. The site is ideal for atmospheric research on relations between the atmospheric boundary layer, land surface, weather, climate and atmospheric composition. The site is representative for long-term atmospheric studies because surroundings do not differ significantly from those in 1972 when the site was commissioned. 

The Cabauw site offers expertise, service and training for UV-VIS trace gas remote sensing intercomparisons as part of the ACTRIS topical center for trace gas remote sensing (CREGARS).

Deployment of a mobile aerosol lidar for short-term campaigns and/or direct comparisons with similar instruments. The instrument operates at 1064, 532 and 355 nm wavelengths, with polarization at 532 nm and nighttime extinction capabilities at 532 and 355 nm. It can be operated inside a van (provided by RADO on request) or accommodated in the user’s laboratory (specific conditions to be discussed in advance).
The service includes:
·       Deployment and installation of the instrument at the user’s premises
·       Calibration, and operation of the instrument

Testing of aerosol lidar prototypes by direct comparison with the reference Aerosol High-power Lidar operated at RADO premises by the ACTRIS Centre for Aerosol Remote Sensing (CARS). The instrument operates at 1064, 532 and 355 nm wavelengths, with polarization and daytime extinction capabilities, including HSRL at 532 nm. The user can either send the instrument, or accompany the instrument at RADO’s premises.
The service includes:
·       Support from the technical staff to install and operate the instruments

Weather forecast for Mt. Hoher Sonnblick: From permanently updated very short range forecasts (Nowcasts) over day-to-day forecasts to long-term and trends over weeks

Climate scenarios and climate change information for Sonnblick, for different altitude levels by the year 2100

Individual consulting on meteorological topics of any kind associated with Mt. Hoher Sonnblick (in particular weather briefings)

Availability period: All year round 24/7

Access to avalanche warning system and individual consulting on avalanche topics associated with Sonnblick

Aerosol generation and ageing in the temperature range -16 to 26°C and possibility for ramping of temperature during experiments. 
Sea spray simulation chamber (AEGOR) can be connected to the AURA chamber.
A suite of state of the art on-line and off-line methods are available for gas and particle characterization.
For a description of the methods for off-line analysis: https://chem.au.dk/en/research/research-areas-and-research-groups/analyticalchemistry/ac3/equipment/ 
 

The service consists of:
- Provision of data from simulation chamber experiments,
- possibility to perform 6hr experiments in the simulation chamber, 
- technical service to use own instruments,
- training for planning, evaluation and interpretation of experiments. 
- Hands-on training sessions with state of the art instrumentation connected to PACS-C2 
- Training on how to perform chamber experiments by experienced scientists.

The QUAREC facility (the simulation chamber and the analytical instruments) allows investigating:
-      homogeneous gas-phase reaction systems (determination of rate coefficients and products formation for the reactions of OH, NO3 halogens and ozone with VOCs)
-      formation of airborne particulates in homogeneous gas-phase reaction systems.

Estimated duration: None, but the request of access should be sent at least 2 months in advance.

QUAREC can be used to test instruments developed for use in air quality measurements: 
- testing and comparison of instruments and methods
- scientific and technical training.  

Estimated duration: None, but the request of access should be sent at least 2 months in advance.

The service consists of:
- Provision of data from simulation chamber experiments,
- possibility to perform several day-long experiments in the simulation chamber, 
- technical service to use own instruments,
- training for planning, evaluation and interpretation of experiments. 

Availability period: Typically between April and September (photo-chemistry experiments)

Estimated duration: None, although access has to be coordinated with other activities in laboratory

Application, testing, and/or validation of custom retrieval techniques based on measurements of LACROS. LACROS datasets are provided to the user. It is also possible to create customized data products, in agreement to the needs of the user. Possibilities are, e.g., special operation modes or scan modes of the LACROS instruments.

Availability period: The service is available. It can either be applied to existing datasets or to observations at the current location of LACROS.

Deployment of the LACROS suite, or components, at a user-defined custom location. It will require strong coordination between user and service provider.
 

Availability period: The service is available, but needs to fit into the deployment schedule of LACROS.

Estimated duration: 

-    Must fit into the regular, existing deployment schedule of the site
-    Deployment duration is at least 4 weeks
-    Preparation time at least 3 months, but additionally depending on the conditions present at the measurement location and administrative regulations

This service aims on providing special, customized datasets to companies (weather forecast, industry, NGOs), research organizations, or policy makers. Based on constraints provided by the user, the service provider screens the dataset for fitting scenarios and provides the requested tailored datasets. 

Training of users (scientists, private sector) in instrument handling, campaign planning, calibration procedures, or application of algorithms. On-site training as well as virtual training is possible. 
 

The service consists of:
·       Quality-assurance of physical and optical in-situ aerosol measurements achieved via instrument intercomparisons, calibration workshops, round-robin test and on-site intercomparisons
·       Capacity building to perform high-quality physical and optical in-situ aerosol characterization via on-site trainings and trainings in the calibration workshops

Estimated duration: There are special time slots for the workshops.