An Improved Raindrop Chemistry Spectrometer

A spectrometer allowing size-fractional chemical analysis of raindrops has been described previously by the authors. Modifications to this raindrop chemistry spectrometer now allow improved performance in windy conditions. Instrument verifications show that drop-size distribution parameters can be estimated to 2%, and pH versus drop-size spectra can be obtained to 0.02 pH units in wind speeds up to 3 m s-1. Improved resolution will allow trace chemical analysis for comparison with detailed rain chemistry models.