Abstract. We measured organic and inorganic gas-phase acids in the Front Range of Colorado to better understand their tropospheric sources and sinks using a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer. Measurements were conducted from 4 to 13 August 2014 at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory during the Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Éxperiment. Diurnal increases in mixing ratios are consistent with photochemical sources of HNO 3 , HNCO, formic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and pyruvic acid. Vertical profiles taken on the 300 m tower demonstrate net surface-level emissions of alkanoic acids, but net surface deposition of HNO 3 and pyruvic acid. The surface-level alkanoic acid source persists through both day and night, and is thus not solely photochemical. Reactions between O 3 and organic surfaces may contribute to the surface-level alkanoic acid source. Nearby traffic emissions and agricultural activity are a primary source of propionic, butyric, and valeric acids, and likely contribute photochemical precursors to HNO 3 and HNCO. The combined diel and vertical profiles of the alkanoic acids and HNCO are inconsistent with dry deposition and photochemical losses being the only sinks, suggesting additional loss mechanisms.
We present the results of a study that shows that a simple design modification is sufficient to avoid a major shortcoming in the layout of external warm loads commonly used in the calibration of spaceborne microwave radiometers. The modification consists of placing a layer of Plastazote, a polyethylene foam, over the opening of the warm load enclosure. The foam is transparent at micrometer and millimeter wavelengths, is opaque in the infrared and visible, and isolates the warm load from the environment, keeping the temperature of the radiometric warm load constant. The proposed solution can be easily implemented and is suitable even for retrofitting on instruments that have already been built but not yet launched, and the material presents no obvious shortcomings that could prevent its intended application in space.
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