Abstract. Globally, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air
pollution is a leading contributor to death, disease, and environmental
degradation. Satellite-based measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD) are
used to estimate PM2.5 concentrations across the world, but the
relationship between satellite-estimated AOD and ground-level PM2.5 is
uncertain. Sun photometers measure AOD from the Earth's surface and are
often used to improve satellite data; however, reference-grade photometers
and PM2.5 monitors are expensive and rarely co-located. This work
presents the development and validation of the aerosol mass and optical
depth (AMOD) sampler, an inexpensive and compact device that simultaneously
measures PM2.5 mass and AOD. The AMOD utilizes a low-cost
light-scattering sensor in combination with a gravimetric filter measurement
to quantify ground-level PM2.5. Aerosol optical depth is measured using
optically filtered photodiodes at four discrete wavelengths. Field
validation studies revealed agreement within 10 % for AOD values measured
between co-located AMOD and AErosol RObotics NETwork (AERONET) monitors and
for PM2.5 mass measured between co-located AMOD and EPA Federal
Equivalent Method (FEM) monitors. These results demonstrate that the AMOD
can quantify AOD and PM2.5 accurately at a fraction of the cost of
existing reference monitors.
Supplementary material to "A low-cost monitor for measurement of fine particulate matter and aerosol optical depth – Part 2: Citizen science pilot campaign in northern Colorado"
