Cloudpuck will be a low-cost, highly accurate device for measuring concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), a parameter critical for understanding human impacts on climate, which is…

Cloudpuck will be a low-cost, highly accurate device for measuring concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), a parameter critical for understanding human impacts on climate, which is central to the NOAA mission. CCN are naturally- and human-emitted particulates in the atmosphere affecting the brightness of clouds, with higher concentrations cooling the climate, and are a major uncertainty in climate forecasting. The cloudpucks operating principle, which relies on observations of droplets forming in a chamber, will allow IT to serve as a resource in science classrooms, demonstrating key science principles by allowing an often-unseen pollutant - atmospheric particles - to be seen through captivating real-time videos. Cloudpuck relies on modern manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, and exploits low-cost computing platforms such as the raspberry PI. Its CCN measurements are in excellent agreement with state-of-the-art technology, making IT well-suited for citizen science. O