November 2020 – 40 Years Aethalometer^®

The Aethalometer^® from Magee Scientific / Aerosol celebrates its 40th anniversary.

In the 1970s, research of carbonaceous aerosols was still in the fledgling stage. It was believed that soot and smoke were historical relics of industrialization with its coal-burning steam engines and not a problem in the modern world. “Black Carbon” hadn’t even been defined. The only recognized explanation for air pollution was that it was car exhaust which created smog.

That was not enough for Tony Hansen’s Berkeley research group at the University of California. August 20, 1980 marks the date of the first publication describing the Aethalometer^® and the first field study took place in the same year. In 1986 Magee Scientific was founded.

Ever since, the Aethalometer^® has been continuously evolved and optimized. Eventually, in 2012, Aerosol developed the model that is today used globally for the optical measurement of black carbon: the Model AE33 Aethalometer^®.

By now, several thousand Aethalometers^® have been installed worldwide, in more than 70 countries on all seven continents: from gold mines in the USA to glaciers in the Himalayas; from the Amazon jungle to the Sahara desert; from Spitzbergen to the South Pole.

We say congratulations and look forward to the next 40 years!

Detailed article by Magee Scientific: Link

Also take a look at our other soot / black carbon measuring instruments from AethLabs, Brechtel and Dekati: Link