Measuring the concentration, the size, and a number of intrinsic physicochemical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles is key for understanding their environmental impacts. Although a wide number of instruments is currently available for measuring those properties, the associated complexity and relative high cost limits their use in dense monitoring networks as well as on highly mobile platforms (e.g., drones). In this paper I will provide a brief overview of existing aerosol instrumentation and highlight emerging challenges and future trends in the field.
