AE43是實時觀測黑碳氣溶膠的便攜式儀器，可同時 在紫外、可見和近紅外的7個波長上對大氣黑碳氣溶膠進行長期觀測。

同時使用370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880 和 950nm七波段的光源測量黑碳氣溶膠的光吸收。

The Aethalometer? draws the sample air stream through a filter tape with a flow rate from 2 to 5 liters per minute. Aerosols are collected on two spots on the tape, and are illuminated by a multi-wavelength light source. Detectors measure the attenuation of light by the absorbing components of the aerosols, relative to a reference through an un-exposed portion of the tape. The filter tape advances on a time schedule, or when a pre-set loading limit is reached. The instrument operates completely automatically from power-up, and provides continuous real-time data with no operator attention.