HALO instrumentation
While DLR-FX provides and maintains the Basis HALO Measurement and Sensor System (BAHAMAS), other instruments are built and maintained by various groups throughout the HALO consortium. This page provides a non-exhaustive overview of current HALO instrumentation. For more details, links and references are provided, where possible. To contact any of the groups, please send a message to the HALO user coordination, who will be able to establish contact.
NOTE: This page is currently under construction!
Skip to Top | Remote sensing | Particle measurements | Trace gas measurements | Cloud probes (PMS) | Dropsondes
Remote sensing instruments
Instrument type: LIDAR
Measured species: atmospheric temperature, wind, and iron density
Mission participation: SouthTRAC (2019), WAVEGUIDE (2026)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
ALIMA is a powerful iron-resonance and Rayleigh lidar system for airborne measurements in the middle atmosphere, including the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The instrument probes the iron line at 372 nanometres.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.dlr.de/en/pa/research-transfer/research-infrastructure/instruments/alima
References: (TBA)
Instrument type: integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar
Measured species: column concentrations of CO2 and CH4
Mission participation: CoMet (2018), CoMet 2.0 Arctic (2022), CoMet 3.0 Tropics (2026)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
This unique lidar system is capable of measuring the column concentration of the two most important anthropogenically influenced greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), below the aircraft at the same time. CHARM-F was developed as a scientific instrument to help understanding the distribution of those greenhouse gases on local and regional scales and their cycles, but also as an airborne demonstrator for the German-French methane mission MERLIN.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.dlr.de/en/pa/research-transfer/research-infrastructure/instruments/charm-f
References:
Amediek A. et al., (2017): CHARM-F – a new airborne integrated-path differential-absorption lidar for carbon dioxide and methane observations: measurement performance and quantification of strong point source emissions, Appl. Opt. 56, 5182-519, doi: 10.1364/AO.56.005182.
Instrument type: limb-viewing imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS)
Measured species: temperature, trace-gas concentrations, as well as information on aerosol and cloud
Mission participation: TACTS/ESMVal (2012), POLSTRACC/GW-LCYCLE/SALSA (2015/16), WISE (2017), SouthTRAC (2019)
Instrument PI: FZ Jülich / KIT
With the Gimbaled Limb Observer for Radiance Imager of the Atmosphere (GLORIA) instrument the first and only limb-viewing imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) operated on board of high altitude research aircraft (HALO) to derive 2- and 3-D distribution of atmospheric parameters.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/ite/science/research_areas/earth-environment/gloria-fts
References:
Riese, M. et al. (2014): Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere (GLORIA) scientific objectives, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 1915–1928, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1915-2014
Friedl-Vallon, F. et al., (2014): Instrument concept of the imaging Fourier transform spectrometer GLORIA, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 3565–3577, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3565-2014.
Instrument type: mono-static, pulsed magnetron radar (35 GHz)
Measured species: Radar reflectivity; Linear Depolarization ratio –> Derived products: Cloud objects, Cloud fraction
Mission participation: (tba)
Instrument PI: Cologne University / Hamburg University / DLR-PA/ MPI-M (Hamburg)
HAMP MIRA is comprised of a nadir-pointing polarized cloud radar operating at 35.5GHz, and three modules of nadir-pointing radiometers operating over 26 frequencies in five bands. The radar MIRA-36 is a monostatic, pulsed, magnetron, Ka band, Doppler radar that operates at 35.5GHz. Using this frequency is possible because the HALO aircraft and its belly pod is sufficiently large to accommodate the relatively large antenna required at this frequency. The radar has two receivers to provide a co- and cross-polarization channel.
Link to instrument webpage:
https://www.mi.uni-hamburg.de/arbeitsgruppen/atmosphaerenmessungen/projekte/hamp.html
https://mpimet.mpg.de/en/research/observations/research-aircraft-halo
References:
Ewald, F. et al., (2019): Calibration of a 35 GHz airborne cloud radar: lessons learned and intercomparisons with 94 GHz cloud radars, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 1815–1839, doi:10.5194/amt-12-1815-2019.
Mech et al., (2014): HAMP – the microwave package on the High Altitude and LOng range research aircraft (HALO), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 4539–4553, doi:10.5194/amt-7-4539-2014.
Instrument type: Microwave radiometers in: K-band (22- 31 GHz), V-band (50 – 58 GHz), W-band (90 GHz), F-band (119 GHz), and G-band (183 GHz)
Measured species: Brightness Temperature –> Derived products: Liquid water path, Rain water path, Water vapour profiling, Water condensate (liquid/ice) path Temperature profiling
Mission participation: (tba)
Instrument PI: Cologne University / Hamburg University / DLR-PA/ MPI-M (Hamburg)
HAMP MIRA is comprised of a nadir-pointing polarized cloud radar operating at 35.5GHz, and three modules of nadir-pointing radiometers operating over 26 frequencies in five bands. The modules contain
(1) two independent packages with parallel antenna axis for the K and V bands. (Both units are direct detection filter bank receivers);
(2) two independent receiver packages: one direct detection radiometer (90GHz) and one heterodyne receiver in double-sideband mode (four channels along the 118.75GHz O2 line from ±1.4 to ±8.5GHz);
(3) a single heterodyne receiver providing seven channels along the 183.31GHz H2O line (±0.6 to ±12.5GHz, double side band).
The radiometers view the atmosphere through existing apertures in the belly pod, which are covered by window material with low microwave attenuation.
Link to instrument webpage:
https://www.mi.uni-hamburg.de/arbeitsgruppen/atmosphaerenmessungen/projekte/hamp.html
https://mpimet.mpg.de/en/research/observations/research-aircraft-halo
References:
Mech et al., (2014): HAMP – the microwave package on the High Altitude and LOng range research aircraft (HALO), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 4539–4553, doi:10.5194/amt-7-4539-2014.
Instrument type: dopplar wind lidar
Measured species: horizontal wind vector below the aircraft
Mission participation: NAWDIC (2026)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
HEDWIG is a novel 1.6-µm Doppler wind lidar instrument for HALO.
Link to instrument webpage: previous instrument, operated ion the DLR-FALCON aircraft; DLR’s coherent Doppler wind lidar (2 µm DWL)
References:
(previous instrument, operated ion the DLR-FALCON aircraft; DLR’s coherent Doppler wind lidar (2 µm DWL): Witschas et al., 2017: Airborne Wind Lidar Measurements of Vertical and Horizontal Winds for the Investigation of Orographically Induced Gravity Waves. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 34, 1371–1386, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-17-0021.1.
Instrument type: 2 channel solar backscatter absorption spectroscopy
Measured species: methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and oxygen (O2)
Mission participation: tba
Instrument PI: Bremen University
The spectrometer covers important parts of the near infrared (NIR) / short wave infrared (SWIR) spectral region (around 1600 nm, 1660 nm and 760 nm) for CO2, CH4 and O2 measurements. The instrument has been designed for flexible operation on board of different airborne research platforms. The instrument is designed to measure the column averaged mixing ratio of CH4 and CO2 (i.e. XCH4 and XCO2) with a relative accuracy and precision of equal or better than ~1% with respect to the atmospheric background concentration.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.iup.uni-bremen.de/optronics/mamap-airborne-remote-sensing-of-greenhouse-gases/index.htm
References:
Huhs, o., et al., (2026): Impact of stray light on greenhouse gas concentration retrievals and emission estimates as observed with the passive airborne remote sensing imager MAMAP2D-Light, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 871–898, doi:10.5194/amt-19-871-2026.
Gerilowski, K. et al., (2011): MAMAP – a new spectrometer system for column-averaged methane and carbon dioxide observations from aircraft: instrument description and performance analysis, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 4, 215–243, doi:10.5194/amt-4-215-2011.
Instrument type: passive optical spectrometer
Measured species:
UV: O3, BrO, OClO, CH2O, and O4
VIS: O3, O4, NO2, H2O, IO, and C2H2O2
Mission participation: tba
Instrument PI: Heidelberg University
A six-channel optical spectrometer for airborne nadir and limb measurements of atmospheric trace gases, liquid and solid water, and spectral radiances in the UV/vis and NIR spectral ranges.
References:
Hüneke, t. et al., (The novel HALO mini-DOAS instrument: inferring trace gas concentrations from airborne UV/visible limb spectroscopy under all skies using the scaling method, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 4209–4234, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4209-2017): The novel HALO mini-DOAS instrument: inferring trace gas concentrations from airborne UV/visible limb spectroscopy under all skies using the scaling method, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 4209–4234, doi:10.5194/amt-10-4209-2017.
Instrument type: imaging spectroscopy
Measured species: cloud and aerosol optical properties and atmospheric trace gases.
Mission participation: tba
Instrument PI: LMU Munich
With its high spectral and spatial resolution, the instrument is designed to measure solar radiation in the visible and shortwave infrared region that is reflected from, or transmitted through clouds and aerosol layers. It is based on two hyperspectral cameras that measure in the solar spectral range between 400 and 2500 nm with a spectral bandwidth between 2.5 and 12.0 nm.
Link to instrument webpage: [German only] https://www.meteorologie.lmu.de/DokuWiki/doku.php?id=arbeitsgruppen:wolkenspektrometer
References:
Ewald, f. et al., (2016): Design and characterization of specMACS, a multipurpose hyperspectral cloud and sky imager, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2015–2042, doi:10.5194/amt-9-2015-2016
Instrument type: multi-wavelength H2O-DIAL (differential absorption lidar)
Measured species: water vapor profiles from the lower stratosphere to the planetary boundary layer
Mission participation: NAWDIC (2026), ASCCI (2025), PERCUSION (2024), HALO-(AC)3 (2021), CIRRUS-HL (2021), EUREC4A (2020), WISE (2017), NAWDEX (2016), NARVAL 2 (2016), POLSTRACC/GW-LCYCLE/SALSA (2015/16), ML-CIRRUS (2014)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
This high-performance airborne water vapor differential absorption lidar uses a four-wavelength/three-absorption line measurement scheme in the 935 nm H2O absorption band to cover the whole troposphere and lower stratosphere simultaneously. Additional high spectral resolution aerosol and depolarization channels allow precise aerosol characterization.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.dlr.de/en/pa/research-transfer/research-infrastructure/instruments/wales
References:
Wirth, M., Fix, A., Mahnke, P. et al. (2009): The airborne multi-wavelength water vapor differential absorption lidar WALES: system design and performance. Appl. Phys. B 96, 201–213, doi: 10.1007/s00340-009-3365-7.
Skip to Top | Particle measurements | Trace gas measurements | Cloud probes (PMS) | Dropsondes
Particle measurements
Instrument type: single particle laser ablation instrument
Measured species: composition of aerosol particles and cloud residuals
Mission participation: CAFE-AFRICA (2018), CIRRUS-HL (2021), HALO-South (2025)
Instrument PI: MPI-C (Mainz)
The ALABAMA is a single particle laser ablation instrument that was developed especially for aircraft operation onboard HALO.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.mpic.de/3578579/ALABAMA
References: Clemen, H.-C. et al., (2020): Optimizing the detection, ablation, and ion extraction efficiency of a single-particle laser ablation mass spectrometer for application in environments with low aerosol particle concentrations, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 5923–5953, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5923-2020.
Brands, M. et al., (2020): Characterization of a Newly Developed Aircraft-Based Laser Ablation Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (ALABAMA) and First Field Deployment in Urban Pollution Plumes over Paris During MEGAPOLI 2009, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 45, 46-64, doi: 10.1080/02786826.2010.517813.
Instrument type: Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
Measured species: size and chemical mass loading information for non-refractory sub-micron aerosol particles
Mission participation: ACHRIDICON-CHUVA (2014), EMeRGe-EU (2017), EMeRGe-Asia (2018), CAFE-Africa (2018), BLUESKY (2020), CAFE-Brazil (2022/23), CAFE-Pacific (2024), HALO-South (2025)
Instrument PI: MPI-C (mainz)
The instrument has been designed to provide real-time quantitative information on size-resolved mass loadings for volatile and semi-volatile molecular components present in/on ambient aerosol particles.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.mpic.de/3578524/c-tof-ams1
References:
Basic instrument description:
Drewnick, Fet al., (2005): A new Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (TOF-AMS) : Instrument Description and First Field Deployment, Aerosol Science & Technology 39, 637-658, doi:10.1080/02786820500182040.
Aircraft application:
Schmale, J. et al., (2010): Aerosol layers from the 2008 eruptions of Mt. Okmok and Mt. Kasatochi: In-situ UT/LS measurements of sulfate and organics over Europe, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D00L07, doi:10.1029/2009JD013628.
Schmale, J. et al., (2011): Source identification and airborne chemical characterisation of aerosol pollution from long-range transport over Greenland during POLARCAT summer campaign 2008, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 10097-10123, doi:10.5194/acp-11-10097-2011.
Schulz, C. et al., (2018): Aircraft-based observations of isoprene-epoxydiol-derived secondary organic aerosol (IEPOX-SOA) in the tropical upper troposphere over the Amazon region, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 14979-15001, doi:10.5194/acp-18-14979-2018.
Skip to Top | Remote sensing | Trace gas measurements | Cloud probes (PMS) | Dropsondes
Trace Gas measurements
Instrument type: Chemiluminescence detector
Measured species: Total reactive nitrogen (NOy)
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
The AENEAS (AtmosphEric Nitrogen oxides mEAsuring System) instrument measures total reactive nitrogen. Total reactive nitrogen (NOy) is the sum of all reactive nitrogen species in the atmosphere, namely NO, NO2, HNO3, PAN, HNO2, HNO4, N2O5, ClONO2, and others. The detection of total reactive nitrogen is based on a well-established technique, comprising catalytic conversion and chemiluminescence.
References: Ziereis, H. et al., (2022): Redistribution of total reactive nitrogen in the lowermost Arctic stratosphere during the cold winter 2015/2016, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3631–3654, doi:10.5194/acp-22-3631-2022.
Instrument type: Mass spectrometer
Measured species: H2O | OR | HCl, HNO3, SO2 and HONO
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: DLR-PA
AIMS uses SF5− reagent ions for the simultaneous measurement of trace gas concentrations of HCl, HNO3 and SO2 in the pptv to ppmv (10−12 to 10−6 mol mol−1) range with in-flight and online calibration (AIMS-TG). In the AIMS-H2O configuration, air is directed through the gas discharge region where ion–molecule reactions lead to the production of hydronium ion clusters, H3O+(H2O)n (n = 0, 1, 2), in a complex reaction scheme similar to the reactions in the D-region of the ionosphere. These ions are counted to quantify the ambient water vapor mixing ratio.
References: Kaufmann et al., (2016): The airborne mass spectrometer AIMS – Part 1: AIMS-H2O for UTLS water vapor measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 939–953, doi:10.5194/amt-9-939-2016.
Jurkat et al., (2016): The airborne mass spectrometer AIMS – Part 2: Measurements of trace gases with stratospheric or tropospheric origin in the UTLS, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 1907–1923, doi:10.5194/amt-9-1907-2016.
Instrument type: Off-Axis-Integrated-Cavity-Output-Spectroscopy (ICOS)
Measured species: OCS, CO2, CO, CH4and H2O (tropospheric)
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: FZ Jülich
This spectrometer carries out high resolution carbonyl sulfide (OCS) measurements during aircraft campaigns to improve our understanding of the contribution of OCS to the stratospheric aerosol layer. It uses the Off-Axis-Integrated-Cavity-Output-Spectroscopy (ICOS) measurement technique to determine OCS, CO2, CO, CH4 and tropospheric H2O.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/ice/ice-4/research/synergetic-use-of-instruments-and-models/halo
References: Kloss, C. et al., 2021, Airborne Mid-Infrared Cavity enhanced Absorption spectrometer (AMICA), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 5271–5297, doi:10.5194/amt-14-5271-2021
Instrument type: Chemiluminescence detector
Measured species: Ozone (O3)
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: KIT
FAIRO’s sensitivity is ~9000 counts s−1 per ppbv of ozone. Its precision is entirely determined by the number of photons reaching the detector (being a photomultiplier), i.e. is quantum-noise limited. The relative precision (ΔO3/O3 in %) thus follows Poisson statistics and scales with the square root of the measurement frequency f and with the inverse O3 mixing ratio: ΔO3/O3 ∝ f0.5 · O3−0.5. At typical O3 mixing ratios between 10 and 100 ppbv (and 1 bar), the precision is 0.3–1.0% at f = 10 Hz. The maximum measurement frequency is 50 Hz.
References: Zahn A. et al., (2012): A fast and precise chemiluminescence ozone detector for eddy flux and airborne application, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5, 363–375, doi:10.5194/amt-5-363-2012.
Instrument type: Lyman-α hygrometer
Measured species: total/gas-phase H2O
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: FZ Jülich
The Lyman-α hygrometer FISH (Fast In-situ Stratospheric Hygrometer) is one of the most advanced and sensitive in-situ instruments world-wide for mea- suring water vapor in the UTLS. This climate-sensitive region has the lowest water vapor concentrations, making it a particular challenge for measuring in- struments. For almost three decades the instrument was flown on many different research aircraft and places around the world and measured water vapor and the ice water content of cirrus clouds.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/ice/ice-4/research/synergetic-use-of-instruments-and-models/halo
References: Meyer et al., 2015, Two decades of water vapor measurements with the FISH fluorescence hygrometer: a review, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 8521–8538, doi:10.5194/acp-15-8521-2015.
Zöger et al., 1999, Fast in situ stratospheric hygrometers: A new family of balloon-borne and airborne Lyman α photofragment fluorescence hygrometers. J. Geophys. Res., doi: 10.1029/1998JD100025.
Instrument type: in situ gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
Measured species: short-lived brominated source gases: CH2Br2, CHBr3, CH2ClBr, CHCl2Br and CHClBr2
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: GU Frankfurt
GhOST-MS is a two-channel GC instrument. An electron capture detector (ECD) is used in an isothermal channel to measure SF6 and CFC-12 with a time resolution of 1 min. The second channel is temperature programmed and uses a cryogenic pre-concentration system and a mass spectrometer (MS) for detection. It measures halocarbons in the chemical ionization mode with a time resolution of 4 min.
References: Keber, T. et al., (2020): Bromine from short-lived source gases in the extratropical northern hemispheric upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 4105–4132, doi:10.5194/acp-20-4105-2020.
Instrument type: Gas chropatograph and mass spectrometer
Measured species: CH2Cl2, CHCl3, CH3Cl, CFC-11, CFC-113, HFC-125, HFC-134a, and iso- and n-pentane
Mission participation: (TBA)
Instrument PI: University of Wuppertal
HAGAR-V comprises a two-channel gas chromatograph (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD) as well as a non-dispersive infrared absorption module for the detection of CO2. It additionally comprises a mass spectrometer (MS) coupled to two GC channels which can thus be used either for the detection of a wide range of atmospheric trace gases (different target species on each channel) or to double the measurement frequency (same target species on both channels).
References: Lauther, V. et al., (2022): In situ observations of CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 show efficient transport pathways for very short-lived species into the lower stratosphere via the Asian and the North American summer monsoon, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2049–2077, doi:10.5194/acp-22-2049-2022.
Lauther, V.: Airborne in situ measurements of short-lived chlorocarbons and investigation of their pathways from northern hemispheric source regions into the lowermost stratosphere, PhD thesis, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, doi:10.25926/KQVQ-HB36, 2020.
Werner, A. et al., (2010): Quantifying transport into the Arctic lowermost stratosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 11623–11639, doi:10.5194/acp-10-11623-2010.
Instrument type: multi-phase water sensor
Measured species: water vapour and condensed water (simultaneously)
Mission participation: (tba)
Instrument PI: PTB Darmstadt
HAI is based on a special variant of TDLAS (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) which is self-calibrating. A robust, open and aerodynamic measuring cell located outside the aircraft body directly measures the gaseous water vapour content of the air flowing through it. Another two-channel measuring unit is located inside the aircraft, at the end of a heated sample collection tube where two sensors working independently of each other measure the total water content of the sample.
Link to instrument webpage: Click to read information on HAI in a press release by PTB
References: V. Ebert, M. Kraemer, A. Afchine, and B. Buchholz, (2014): HAI: A novel airborne multi-channel hygrometer for fast multi-phase H2O quantification: Performance of the HAI instrument during the first flights on the German HALO aircraft, American Geosciences Union Fall meeting, 15-19 December 2014, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, USA, Session In Situ and Spaceborne Observations of Atmospheric Water Vapor and Temperature II, paper A54C-06.
B. Buchholz, A. Afchine, M. Krämer, and V. Ebert, (2014): Fast, multi-phase H2O measurements on board of HALO: Results from the novel HAI instrument during the first field campaigns. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 16, EGU 2014-9241, 2014, EGU General Assembly 2014.
Instrument type: Quantum Cascade Laser based spectrometer
Measured species: N2O, CO
Mission participation: WISE (2017), PHILEAS (2023), ASCCI (2025), NAWDIC (2026)
Instrument PI: JGU Mainz
UMAQS is based on the “Aerodyne Research Inc.“ Quantum Cascade Laser Mini Monitor which uses an astigmatic multi path Herriot cell with an optical pathlength of 76m. This instrument applies the direct absorption spectroscopy.
Link to instrument webpage: https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb08-ipa-en/messinstrumenteaghoor/
References: Müller, S. et al., 2015, In situ detection of stratosphere-troposphere exchange of cirrus particles in the midlatitudes, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42: 949–955. doi: 10.1002/2014GL062556.
Kunkel, D. et al., 2019, Evidence of small-scale quasi-isentropic mixing in ridges of extratropical baroclinic waves, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 12607–12630, doi:10.5194/acp-19-12607-2019.
Skip to Top | Remote sensing | Particle measurements | Cloud probes (PMS) | Dropsondes
Cloud probes (PMS)
Skip to Top | Remote sensing | Particle measurements | Trace gas measurements | Dropsondes
Dropsondes
Skip to Top | Remote sensing | Particle measurements | Trace gas measurements | Cloud probes (PMS)
Learn more about…