Surface instrument plot - https://tame.physics.utoronto.ca/surface-aq-data/

How these instruments work

TAME’s surface in-situ instruments are used to measure the concentration of gases directly at ground level, where people are most exposed. These instruments draw in ambient air and analyze it using a variety of techniques, (spectroscopy, chemiluminescence, or sensor-based detection) depending on the gas being measured. They provide high-time-resolution data on pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and fine particulate matter.

Unlike the Pandora instruments, which measure the total column of gases overhead, the surface in-situ instruments provide localized, surface-level concentrations. This distinction allows researchers to connect what people breathe at street level with what is observed through the various layers of the atmosphere.

Our surface in-situ instruments are deployed across Toronto to track variations in atmospheric gasses among neighborhoods and near emission sources. These measurements help in validating atmospheric models, evaluating exposure risks, and informing strategies for cleaner and healthier urban air.