HINC-Auto
HINC-Auto is based on the same operational principle and partly on design and operation principle as the University of Toronto Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber (UT-CFDC) and the Horizontal Ice Nucleation Chamber. It has been modified to enhance accuracy, portability and to be run autonomously and continuously at measurmeent stations. This allows collection of a time series of the concentration of aerosols that can aid in the formation of ice clouds, called ice nucleating particles (INPs).
HINC-Auto (see picture below) is currently in continuous operation sampling INP concentrations at the High Alpine Research Station Jungfraujoch and since May 2023 at the Swiss Midland site Payerne. The research goal in this work is:
1) For Junfraujoch: to get insight on the the annual INP concentration cycle and distinguish background INP concentrations from instrusions when air masses arrive from the convectively lifted boundary layer air or North Africa (Saharan Dust Events) to understand the role of aerosol perturbations on the INP concentration and thus cloud formation.
2) For Payerne: To monitor the diurnal, seasonal and annual INP concentration at this site that is significanly affected by bioaerosols such as pollen and fragments and spores. This site also experiences some anthropogenic emissions in its vicinity.
Realtime INP concentrations (Std L-1) at the High Alpine Research Station, Jungfraujoch (top panel) and at the Swiss Midland site Payerne (bottom panel). Refresh the page to see updated data (every 25 mins). If you would like to use the data, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. An example of the data on INP concentrations can be found here and usage policies and data is described here. The realtime INP concentrations along with a display of other aerosol data can be found on the external page Global Atmospheric Watch monitoring page of Jungfraujoch.