The Continuous-Impactor-Replicator for Laboratory Cloud Composition Analysis

Abstract

The design and operation of a cloud-sampling device for laboratory applications is described. The cloud particles are collected in a continuous or sequential fashion by impaction, with volatile particle shape and size preservation accomplished by making permanent casts in a thin plastic layer which hardens after exposure. With the aid of impaction theory and an experimental calibration, the sampling characteristics are shown to be well-suited for determining the composition of the super-micron constituents of the water and ice particle clouds artificially produced in the laboratory.