Full text

Turn on search term navigation

Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2013

Abstract

Accurate measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) in humid air have been made using the cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technique. The measurements of CO mole fractions are determined from the strength of its spectral absorption in the near-infrared region (~1.57 μm) after removing interferences from adjacent carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and water vapor (H2 O) absorption lines. Water correction functions that account for the dilution and pressure-broadening effects as well as absorption line interferences from adjacent CO2 and H2 O lines have been derived for CO2 mole fractions between 360-390 ppm and for reported H2 O mole fractions between 0-4%. The line interference corrections are independent of CO mole fractions. The dependence of the line interference correction on CO2 abundance is estimated to be approximately -0.3 ppb/100 ppm CO2 for dry mole fractions of CO. Comparisons of water correction functions from different analyzers of the same type show significant differences, making it necessary to perform instrument-specific water tests for each individual analyzer. The CRDS analyzer was flown on an aircraft in Alaska from April to November in 2011, and the accuracy of the CO measurements by the CRDS analyzer has been validated against discrete NOAA/ESRL flask sample measurements made on board the same aircraft, with a mean difference between integrated in situ and flask measurements of -0.6 ppb and a standard deviation of 2.8 ppb. Preliminary testing of CRDS instrumentation that employs improved spectroscopic model functions for CO2 , H2 O, and CO to fit the raw spectral data (available since the beginning of 2012) indicates a smaller water vapor dependence than the models discussed here, but more work is necessary to fully validate the performance. The CRDS technique provides an accurate and low-maintenance method of monitoring the atmospheric dry mole fractions of CO in humid air streams.

Details

Title
Accurate measurements of carbon monoxide in humid air using the cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technique
Author
Chen, H.; Karion, A.; Rella, C. W.; Winder lich, J.; Gerbig, C.; Filges, A.; Newberger, T.; Sweeney, C.; Tans, P. P.
First page
1031
Publication year
2013
Publication date
2013
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
18671381
e-ISSN
18678548
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1349831825
Copyright
Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2013