Introduction
Atmospheric aerosols significantly influence climate, air quality, and human health, yet their vertical distribution and physicochemical properties remain underexplored. Traditional ground-based observations often fail to capture altitude-dependent variations in aerosol composition and mixing states. To address this gap, a novel drone-based aerosol sampling system integrated with a rotating cascade impactor has been developed. This innovation enables size-selective and altitude-resolved single-particle sampling, combined with advanced Raman-based spectroscopic analyses, providing new insights into particle transformations and aging processes across different atmospheric layers.
Development of the Drone-Based Rotating Cascade Impactor System
The newly engineered drone-mounted rotating cascade impactor features a series of rotating impaction stages designed for precise size-selective sampling of atmospheric particles. Its lightweight and portable design ensures operational flexibility at upper altitudes without compromising sampling efficiency. The rotating mechanism improves deposition quality, enabling better analysis of particle morphology and composition. This engineering advancement addresses a key challenge in atmospheric science—obtaining high-resolution, vertical particle profiles under real-world conditions.
Integration with Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
For the first time, this aerial platform has been combined with Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for in situ characterization of individual aerosol particles. RMS provides detailed vibrational spectra for chemical identification, while SERS enhances detection sensitivity for trace-level species, especially in submicron particles. This dual approach enables high-confidence identification of functional groups and mineral phases, improving understanding of particle sources and transformation mechanisms.
Field Application during High-Pollution Events
The system was deployed during a high-pollution episode, allowing simultaneous ground-level and upper-atmosphere sampling. Results revealed marked compositional differences between altitudes. Coarse-mode particles (1.35–5.5 μm) in upper-level air showed a predominance of internally mixed particles (53%), indicative of multiphase processing and long-range transport. In contrast, submicron aerosols (<1 μm) were dominated by nitrate particles (77%), suggesting fresh formation in coastal air masses with minimal atmospheric aging.
Insights into Aerosol Transformation and Long-Range Transport
Chemical analysis revealed CaSO₄ as the dominant sulfate-containing species (38%) in coarse particles, implying secondary formation via heterogeneous reactions during transport. Such findings underscore the role of atmospheric aging in altering particle mixing states and chemical properties. The vertical differences observed point to the necessity of high-altitude sampling for detecting aged aerosols, which may be underestimated in ground-based monitoring networks.
Implications for Future Atmospheric Observations and Instrumentation
This study demonstrates the feasibility and scalability of integrating lightweight aerial sampling platforms with high-resolution analytical techniques. The drone-based rotating cascade impactor system offers a powerful tool for improving aerosol observation networks by capturing vertical heterogeneity in particle properties. Future deployments could enhance climate modeling, air quality forecasting, and source apportionment studies, contributing to more effective environmental management and policy-making.
Hashtags:
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