Using an Array of Ion Mobility Spectrometers in the Field for Real-Time Reporting of Chemical Vapor Concentration Measurements

Field tests were carried out where hundreds of kilograms of chemical agent surrogates were explosively disseminated to gather real time chemical concentration information at specific ground locations downwind from a CW agent attack, to assess behavior of plumes of tactical quantities of chemical agents, and to assess the use of such information for verification of cloud propagation models. Small IMS detectors were set out in arrays 0.3 to 3 km from the dissemination points. Real-time ( one second) detector responses were transmitted via RF modems to a central location. Insights into chemical cloud behavior are presented. Comparisons of actual concentration measurements and predictions using cloud travel models are discussed. See also ADM001849. Presented at the Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research 2004 held in Hunt Valley, MD on 15-17 Nov 2004. Pub. in the Proceedings of the Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research 2004, p1-8, 2004. The original document contains color images.