Research into methods for the real-time measurement of light-absorbing aerosols began in Berkeley in 1978.  The first-ever Aethalometer® was deployed in a field study in the summer of 1980: the first aircraft measurements were made in 1982, and in 1986 an Aethalometer started making measurements of aerosol Black Carbon at the most remote location on the planet, the South Pole Observatory.  Magee Scientific Company was established that same year to develop further and commercialize the Aethalometer and make it available to the aerosol research and monitoring community.  Aethalometers have been used in increasing numbers over the years: several thousand instruments have been delivered to locations on all 7 continents, and more than 7,400 publications using Aethalometer data have been published in the open scientific literature.

The History of the Aethalometer®

The Aethalometer is the instrument most used globally for the real-time measurement of light-absorbing Black (or ‘Elemental’) carbon aerosol particles.  Almost two thousand Aethalometers have been delivered to locations on all seven continents – from the Sahara Desert to the South Pole, from Brazil to Tibet, from the streets of New York City to the mountaintop of Mauna Loa, Hawaii.

In 1979 the Aethalometer was first conceptualized; prototypes were developed during the 1980s for research projects at remote locations.

In 1986, Magee Scientific was formed, and the first commercial unit was delivered.

In 1995, production was transferred to Europe.

In 1997, the basic AE16 Aethalometer measuring aerosol Black Carbon at 880 nm was joined by models offering optical analysis at additional wavelengths.  The AE21 series added analysis in the near-ultraviolet at 370 nm, which had been found to respond with great sensitivity to aromatic organic species found in wood smoke and tobacco smoke.  The AE31 series introduced optical analysis at 7 wavelengths from 370 nm to 950 nm.  Analysis across the optical spectrum has found widespread application in source apportionment studies, atmospheric optics, and radiative transfer.

In 2001, the AE42 Portable Aethalometer was announced, offering the same electronics, analytical performance, and instrument features: but packaged in a smaller chassis with an internal battery for mobile operation.  This extended the applications in the area of public health, epidemiological studies, and fieldwork.  The AE42 enabled real-time measurements of carbon particulate concentrations on buses and trains, in living and working areas, in hospitals, airports, public spaces, and mobile mapping.

In 2002, the ‘Extended Range’ option was offered on all models for enhanced performance in locations of high aerosol concentration as an alternative to the original ‘High Sensitivity’ version.

In 2007, the company “Aerosol” was established in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to concentrate exclusively on the science, technology, and commercialization of instrumentation for carbonaceous aerosol measurements.

In 2008, we started developing a new Aethalometer: the ‘Next Generation’ Model AE33.  This incorporated scientific and technical advances designed to offer greatly improved measurement performance, user features, communications, and interface: and built-in features to perform routine performance tests and data quality validation.  Most importantly, the new instrument incorporated the patented DualSpot™ measurement method.  This provides two significant advantages: eliminating the changes in response due to ‘aerosol loading’ effects; and a real-time calculation of the ‘loading compensation’ parameter, which offers insights into aerosol optical properties.

In 2012, the Model AE33 was released after extensive development and testing in conjunction with leading research institutes in Europe.

In 2015, we obtained a license from the Desert Research Institute (Reno, NV, USA) to manufacture and commercialize the “DRI-2015” Multi-Wavelength Thermal Carbon Analyzer.

In 2017, we announced the Total Carbon Analyzer, Model TCA-08.  This revolutionary instrument measures the Total Carbon Content (TC) of suspended aerosol particles in real-time for monitoring and scientific applications.

In 2020, we released the Carbonaceous Aerosol Speciation System CASS – A revolutionary OC/EC Analyzer and the Magee Scientific Aethalometer® model AE43 – NEW portable Black Carbon Monitor.