Open AccessContinuous bioaerosol monitoring in a tropical environment using a UV fluorescence particle spectrometer
Author(s) -
Stanley Warren R.,
Kaye Paul H.,
Foot Virginia E.,
Barrington Stephen J.,
Gallagher Martin,
Gabey Andrew
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.310
Subject(s) - bioaerosol , aerosol , particle (ecology) , spectrometer , environmental science , remote sensing , particle size , fluorescence , particle counter , materials science , optics , meteorology , physics , chemistry , geography , ecology , biology
An instrument designed to continuously monitor ambient bioaerosol concentrations is presented. The instrument is a compact, relatively low‐cost, UV aerosol spectrometer that monitors and classifies individual airborne particles by simultaneously recording both fluorescence excitation‐emission data and multi‐angle spatial elastic scattering data from each particle. The former can indicate the possible presence of specific biological fluorophores within the particle while the latter provides an assessment of particle size and shape. These parameters can facilitate discrimination between biological and non‐biological particles and potentially allow classification of biological particle types. Example measurements are given, illustrating data from the Borneo rain forest. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society