Breakout Summary Report

ARM/ASR User and PI Meeting

Breakout Description

This breakout session was designed to provide the community updates from ARM on AMSG topics of interest and gather feedback for the upcoming AMSG strategic plan.   Major themes emerged from this breakout session, as detailed below. Most attendees stressed the need for ARM to engage with strategic partners (including both domestic and international partnerships), encouraged an IOP sampling strategy for ARM, stressed the importance of NSA aerosol measurements and mobile or distributed sensor networks,  and agreed that ARM needs to measure the entire aerosol size distribution (SMPS and APS).    

Main Discussion

The Main Discussion was structured as follows:

4:15-4:20:  Introduction to AMSG including charter and membership

                        Explanation of the agenda and goals of breakout session                   Gannet Hallar

Highlights on current focus and progress by ARM on AMSG topics of interest: 

4:20 – 4:30       Partnerships with ARM                                                 Olga Mayol-Bracero

4:30- 4:40         NSA Aerosol Update                                                      Olga Mayol-Bracero

4:40 – 4:50       AMF3 BNF U.S. site                                                       Chongai Kuang 

4:50 – 5:05       IOP sampling strategies

                     Review of IOP sampling plan presented by AMSG in 2023          Gannet Hallar

                     Implementation in current ARM Aerosol Measurement Plan      Adam Theisen

5:50-5:10         ARM INP measurements                                            Jessie Creamean  

Next was the planned activity to gain feedback from community (5:10-6:15). First, we had a 2-minute lightning presentation (1 slide only) to provide an introduction.   The goal of this format was to provide as much time for feedback as possible. The following topics were presented:

Reconciling remote-sensing and in situ observation - Lightning talk – Allison McComiskey 

Needs for technical paper from ARM - Lightning talk – Chongai Kuang 

Making data available through WMO for inclusion in global model comparisons –

Lightning talk – Gannet Hallar

Integration of Aerosol Measurement with Models - Lightning talk – Gannet Hallar 

Needed Data products in the future for aerosol science - Lightning talk – John Shilling

Following these talks, we used a padlet form (padlet.com) and paper forms (in room) to solicit input from the audience.  The forms included the following prompts: 

Problems and Roadblocks

Research Elements

Solutions/Recommendations

Roadmap to Modeling

  Specifically, these forms were printed in large poster format, and we asked for those present in the room to use sticky notes at their desk to respond to any/all aspects of the form.   We were specifically looking for feedback on how to reduce the barrier of entry for users.  A padlet (padlet.com) form was available for online and/or anonymous users.

Key Findings

Key Findings

The following information/feedback was received directly via this activity.

  Problems and Roadblocks currently faced:

• Point measurements in comparison to modeled grid is still a roadblock.


• We need to make instruments easier and cheaper to maintain. How can operations be streamlined?


• Each VAP should contain uncertainty (relative uncertainties) to be more useful.


• VAPS should be evaluated as much as possible and documented before making available online.


• Where to site future measurements? This is a problem/roadblock.


• Scaling up aerosol and trace gases (CO, CO₂, H₂O + isotopes… ) using solar spectrometers for process is needed. Mature autonomy already done at SGP (TCCON) using NASA/NSF funds. 


• Any closure study needing scaling observation that integrates spatio-temporal heterogeneity is needed. Scaled up V.A.R.

Research Elements Needs

• A specific VAP need is ice nucleating active sites that uses INP and aerosol size distribution data.


• Need profiles of CCN and INP.


• Trace gases are needed at ppt level for some specific species (SO₂ and NO_x).


• Regarding model measurement compares, as a measurement person, I don’t have access to model output (or at least that is my perception). All model-to-measurement comparisons seem to come from modelers (not a bad thing, just a fact).

Solutions/Recommendations

• Need to focus on making sure ARM data is used correctly. Data can be very complex and early career (i.e., students) almost always need assistance in understanding data.


• Instrument Intercomparing should be done with care, Agreement on light absorption does not equate to agreement on mass.


• Need to collect 75 (?) micron particles through AOS inlet. Don’t forget the full coarse mode.


• Need calibration of aerosol measurements.


• Need VAP for higher-level SP2 (coating, mixing state, color, temp).


• SMPS (IOP sampling) needed at each site; APS is also needed. These should be baseline measurements.


• Need more aerosol techniques papers pertaining to ARM sampling strategies.


• Fight to keep/bring back “Atmospheric Measurement Technologies” SBIR topics.


• Automate a tethered balloon-like system and deploy in several locations around facilities.

Roadmap to Modeling

• For integrating measurement and modeling – we need merged aerosol VAP, which has been started, but need in a timely manner for field campaigns.


• Data Discovery lists data as green (good) but sometimes it is not. This needs to be solved.


• Need to get a small group of modelers (E^3SM) together to see which datastreams are used by diagnostics. I suspect there are some datastreams that should be used that are currently not used.

Finally, discussion topics, issues, or needs that AMSG should focus on in the future (i.e., when planning for 2024 workshop) were collected via online padlet.  These are listed and grouped according to the number of votes received online for each specific idea.

• NSA aerosol measurements (15 votes); including NSA connections to Toolik, as IMPROVE is considering removing the aerosol measurements (1 vote).


• IOP Sampling strategy (11 votes).


• The SMPS and APS are both needed as baseline instruments (8 votes):
  
  
  
  • More specifically, phase out UHSAS, expand SPMSP size range and add APS (additional 3 votes).
  
  
  • Also, more specifically, Larger DMA size range with 1:10 size resolution.
  
  
  
  


• How do we capture spatial variability around ARM deployment, e.g., use of mobile or distributed sensor networks (9 votes).


• International partnerships with ARM data (8 votes).


• Strategic partnerships to extend ARM capabilities:
  
  
  
  • Discussion on how to develop a framework to readily support strategic partnerships between ARM, labs, universities, and other agencies to meet critical observing needs (7 votes).
  
  
  • More specifically via partnerships, specifically allow (i.e., fund) university PIs, etc. to make their own ambient measurements at their home sites to contribute to understanding spatial heterogeneity across the US (1 vote).
  
  
  • Space for guest instruments will be critical for the success of IOPs especially at BNF site (1 vote).
  
  
  • Examples of strategic partnerships were provided as follows: TEON at SGP and Aeronet at SGP.
  
  
  • Similar suggestion – scaling up using other platforms agencies, e.g., Aeronet TCCON satellites etc. for E3SM via partnerships, e.g., NASA, NOAA, Europe JaXa, etc.
  
  
  
  


• SEUS AMF3 site operational (6 votes).


• Compositional measurements are needed, specifically measurements of refractory AND non-refractory species (need measurement of the things that ACSM can’t see such as sea salt, dust, and other inorganics (5 votes).


• Cloud droplet measurements/ice crystal habit (3 votes).


• Developing a coherent, transparent process for instrument “sunsetting” (3 votes).


• Modeler involvement with measurements:
  
  
  
  • What data are being used in models?
  
  
  • Role reversal - use of models by those conducting measurements.
  
  
  
  


• As a new VAP request – n_s ice nucleation active sites calculated from INP concentrations and aerosol size distribution (1 vote).


• Ice nucleation mechanism (1 votes).


• What topics does the AMS have for workforce development? How can the ARM workforce development team help the AMSG?


• Aerosol mixing state ( 0 vote) – (please note this low rating may be bias, as the item was located at the very bottom of website, very far away from all other discussion).


• Cultivation of new discoveries through novel measurements.

Issues

N/A

Needs

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Decisions

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Future Plans

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Action Items

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