IFPICS: Combining the advantages of hyperspectral imaging and filter cameras for trace gas imaging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Nies ◽  
Christopher Fuchs ◽  
Jonas Kuhn ◽  
Nicole Bobrowski ◽  
Ulrich Platt
Keyword(s):  
Detection Limit ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
High Selectivity ◽  
Image Acquisition ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Spatio Temporal

<p>Imaging of atmospheric trace gases in the UV and visible wavelength range provides insight into the spatial distribution of physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere. Instruments for this purpose ideally combine a high spatio-temporal resolution with a high trace gas selectivity. In addition, they have to be built robust and compact for field measurements.</p><p>Atmospheric trace gas remote sensing by Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) is common and allows to measure several trace gases simultaneously with high selectivity and sensitivity. On the downside, image acquisition requires spatial scanning as for instance implemented in so-called hyperspectral cameras (also known as Imaging DOAS, IDOAS). This, however, results in reduced spatio-temporal resolution. Another approach to trace gas imaging is to use band pass filters, as for example in SO<sub>2</sub> cameras, which has the benefit of fast image acquisition combined with a high spatial resolution, but this advantage comes at the expense of low spectral sensitivity. Hence, only very high trace gas abundances can be reliably quantified, and the measurement is vulnerable to broadband interferences e.g. by aerosol.</p><p>We report an imaging technique combining the IDOAS and filter-based cameras’ advantages by utilizing the periodic transmission features of a Fabry-Perot-Interferometer (FPI). The FPI is tuned to two positions, so that its transmission either correlates or anti-correlates with the approximately periodic absorption structures of the target trace gas. From the measured intensities the differential optical density and the column density of the trace gas can be obtained with a high selectivity. Compared to IDOAS (or hyperspectral cameras) we only measure two different wavelength channels, however with maximum trace gas specific information. This reduces the amount of recorded data by at least two orders of magnitude for the same measurement resolution. This can be crucial for the feasibility of field measurements.</p><p>We present a compact and field-ready Imaging-FPI-Correlation-Spectroscopy (IFPICS) prototype. The FPI settings (or different FPIs) can be adapted to detect several different trace gases, our set-ups have been optimized for sulphur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), bromine monoxide (BrO) or formaldehyde (HCHO).</p><p>We anticipate from laboratory studies using scattered skylight and HCHO cuvettes a detection limit of 4.7x10<sup>16</sup> molec cm<sup>-2</sup> for an image of about 90x90 pixel and an integration time of 6s. Because of the similar absorption features of BrO we expect a detection limit of 1.6x10<sup>14 </sup>molec cm<sup>^-2</sup>. Additionally, an outlook on the application of BrO imaging in volcanic plumes is given.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Towards imaging of atmospheric trace gases using Fabry Perot Interferometer Correlation Spectroscopy in the UV and visible spectral range

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Kuhn ◽  
Ulrich Platt ◽  
Nicole Bobrowski ◽  
Thomas Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Visible Spectral Range ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Atmospheric Trace Gases ◽  
Fabry Perot ◽  
Sensitivity And Selectivity ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Abstract. Many processes in the lower atmosphere including transport, turbulent mixing and chemical conversions happen on time scales of the order of seconds (e.g. at point sources). Remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases in the UV and visible spectral range (UV/Vis) commonly uses dispersive spectroscopy (e.g. Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy, DOAS). The recorded spectra allow for the direct identification, separation and quantification of narrow band absorption of trace gases. However, these techniques are typically limited to a single viewing direction and limited by the light throughput of the spectrometer setup. While two dimensional imaging is possible by spatial scanning, the temporal resolution remains poor (often several minutes per image). Therefore, processes on time scales of seconds cannot be directly resolved by state of the art dispersive methods. We investigate the application of Fabry-Perot Interferometers (FPIs) for the optical remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases in the UV/Vis. By choosing a FPI transmission spectrum, which is optimised to correlate with narrow band (ideally periodic) absorption structures of the target trace gas, column densities of the trace gas can be determined with a sensitivity and selectivity comparable to dispersive spectroscopy, using only a small number of spectral channels (FPI tuning settings). Different from dispersive optical elements, the FPI can be implemented in full frame imaging setups (cameras), which can reach high spatio-temporal resolution. In principle, FPI Correlation Spectroscopy can be applied for any trace gas with distinct absorption structures in the UV/Vis. We present calculations for the application of FPI Correlation Spectroscopy to SO2, BrO and NO2 for exemplary measurement scenarios. Besides high sensitivity and selectivity we find that the spatio temporal resolution of FPI Correlation Spectroscopy can be more than two orders of magnitude higher than state of the art DOAS measurements. As proof of concept we built a one-pixel prototype implementing the technique for SO2 in the UV. Good agreement with our calculations and conventional measurement techniques are demonstrated and no cross sensitivities to other trace gases are observed.

scholarly journals Towards imaging of atmospheric trace gases using Fabry–Pérot interferometer correlation spectroscopy in the UV and visible spectral range

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 735-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Kuhn ◽  
Ulrich Platt ◽  
Nicole Bobrowski ◽  
Thomas Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Spectral Range ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Visible Spectral Range ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Atmospheric Trace Gases ◽  
Fabry Perot ◽  
Sensitivity And Selectivity ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Abstract. Many processes in the lower atmosphere including transport, turbulent mixing and chemical conversions happen on timescales of the order of seconds (e.g. at point sources). Remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases in the UV and visible spectral range (UV–Vis) commonly uses dispersive spectroscopy (e.g. differential optical absorption spectroscopy, DOAS). The recorded spectra allow for the direct identification, separation and quantification of narrow-band absorption of trace gases. However, these techniques are typically limited to a single viewing direction and limited by the light throughput of the spectrometer set-up. While two-dimensional imaging is possible by spatial scanning, the temporal resolution remains poor (often several minutes per image). Therefore, processes on timescales of seconds cannot be directly resolved by state-of-the-art dispersive methods. We investigate the application of Fabry–Pérot interferometers (FPIs) for the optical remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases in the UV–Vis spectral range. By choosing a FPI transmission spectrum, which is optimised to correlate with narrow-band (ideally periodic) absorption structures of the target trace gas, column densities of the trace gas can be determined with a sensitivity and selectivity comparable to dispersive spectroscopy, using only a small number of spectral channels (FPI tuning settings). Different from dispersive optical elements, the FPI can be implemented in full-frame imaging set-ups (cameras), which can reach high spatio-temporal resolution. In principle, FPI correlation spectroscopy can be applied for any trace gas with distinct absorption structures in the UV–Vis range. We present calculations for the application of FPI correlation spectroscopy to SO2, BrO and NO2 for exemplary measurement scenarios. In addition to high sensitivity and selectivity we find that the spatio temporal resolution of FPI correlation spectroscopy can be more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than state-of-the-art DOAS measurements. As proof of concept we built a 1-pixel prototype implementing the technique for SO2 in the UV. Good agreement with our calculations and conventional measurement techniques is demonstrated and no cross sensitivities to other trace gases are observed.

scholarly journals Field measurements of trace gases and aerosols emitted by peat fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, during the 2015 El Niño

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 11711-11732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea E. Stockwell ◽  
Thilina Jayarathne ◽  
Mark A. Cochrane ◽  
Kevin C. Ryan ◽  
Erianto I. Putra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Central Kalimantan ◽  
Peat Fires

Abstract. Peat fires in Southeast Asia have become a major annual source of trace gases and particles to the regional–global atmosphere. The assessment of their influence on atmospheric chemistry, climate, air quality, and health has been uncertain partly due to a lack of field measurements of the smoke characteristics. During the strong 2015 El Niño event we deployed a mobile smoke sampling team in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo and made the first, or rare, field measurements of trace gases, aerosol optical properties, and aerosol mass emissions for authentic peat fires burning at various depths in different peat types. This paper reports the trace gas and aerosol measurements obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whole air sampling, photoacoustic extinctiometers (405 and 870 nm), and a small subset of the data from analyses of particulate filters. The trace gas measurements provide emission factors (EFs; grams of a compound per kilogram biomass burned) for up to  ∼  90 gases, including CO2, CO, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons up to C10, 15 oxygenated organic compounds, NH3, HCN, NOx, OCS, HCl, etc. The modified combustion efficiency (MCE) of the smoke sources ranged from 0.693 to 0.835 with an average of 0.772 ± 0.053 (n  =  35), indicating essentially pure smoldering combustion, and the emissions were not initially strongly lofted. The major trace gas emissions by mass (EF as g kg−1) were carbon dioxide (1564 ± 77), carbon monoxide (291 ± 49), methane (9.51 ± 4.74), hydrogen cyanide (5.75 ± 1.60), acetic acid (3.89 ± 1.65), ammonia (2.86 ± 1.00), methanol (2.14 ± 1.22), ethane (1.52 ± 0.66), dihydrogen (1.22 ± 1.01), propylene (1.07 ± 0.53), propane (0.989 ± 0.644), ethylene (0.961 ± 0.528), benzene (0.954 ± 0.394), formaldehyde (0.867 ± 0.479), hydroxyacetone (0.860 ± 0.433), furan (0.772 ± 0.035), acetaldehyde (0.697 ± 0.460), and acetone (0.691 ± 0.356). These field data support significant revision of the EFs for CO2 (−8 %), CH4 (−55 %), NH3 (−86 %), CO (+39 %), and other gases compared with widely used recommendations for tropical peat fires based on a lab study of a single sample published in 2003. BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) are important air toxics and aerosol precursors and were emitted in total at 1.5 ± 0.6 g kg−1. Formaldehyde is probably the air toxic gas most likely to cause local exposures that exceed recommended levels. The field results from Kalimantan were in reasonable agreement with recent lab measurements of smoldering Kalimantan peat for “overlap species,” lending importance to the lab finding that burning peat produces large emissions of acetamide, acrolein, methylglyoxal, etc., which were not measurable in the field with the deployed equipment and implying value in continued similar efforts. The aerosol optical data measured include EFs for the scattering and absorption coefficients (EF Bscat and EF Babs, m2 kg−1 fuel burned) and the single scattering albedo (SSA) at 870 and 405 nm, as well as the absorption Ångström exponents (AAE). By coupling the absorption and co-located trace gas and filter data we estimated black carbon (BC) EFs (g kg−1) and the mass absorption coefficient (MAC, m2 g−1) for the bulk organic carbon (OC) due to brown carbon (BrC). Consistent with the minimal flaming, the emissions of BC were negligible (0.0055 ± 0.0016 g kg−1). Aerosol absorption at 405 nm was  ∼  52 times larger than at 870 nm and BrC contributed  ∼  96 % of the absorption at 405 nm. Average AAE was 4.97 ± 0.65 (range, 4.29–6.23). The average SSA at 405 nm (0.974 ± 0.016) was marginally lower than the average SSA at 870 nm (0.998 ± 0.001). These data facilitate modeling climate-relevant aerosol optical properties across much of the UV/visible spectrum and the high AAE and lower SSA at 405 nm demonstrate the dominance of absorption by the organic aerosol. Comparing the Babs at 405 nm to the simultaneously measured OC mass on filters suggests a low MAC ( ∼  0.1) for the bulk OC, as expected for the low BC/OC ratio in the aerosol. The importance of pyrolysis (at lower MCE), as opposed to glowing (at higher MCE), in producing BrC is seen in the increase of AAE with lower MCE (r2 =  0.65).

scholarly journals Field measurements of trace gases and aerosols emitted by peat fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia during the 2015 El Niño

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea E. Stockwell ◽  
Thilina Jayarathne ◽  
Mark A. Cochrane ◽  
Kevin C. Ryan ◽  
Erianto I. Putra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Central Kalimantan ◽  
Peat Fires

Abstract. Peat fires in Southeast Asia have become a major annual source of trace gases and particles to the regional-global atmosphere. The assessment of their influence on atmospheric chemistry, climate, air quality, and health has been uncertain partly due to a lack of field measurements of the smoke characteristics. During the strong 2015 El Niño event we deployed a mobile smoke sampling team in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo and made the first, or rare, field measurements of trace gases, aerosol optical properties, and aerosol mass emissions for authentic peat fires burning at various depths in different peat types. This paper reports the trace gas and aerosol measurements obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whole air sampling, photoacoustic extinctiometers (405 and 870 nm), and a small subset of the data from analyses of particulate filters. The trace gas measurements provide emission factors (EFs, g compound per kg biomass burned) for CO2, CO, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons up to C10, 15 oxygenated organic compounds, NH3, HCN, NOx, OCS, HCl, etc.; up to ~90 gases in all. The modified combustion efficiency (MCE) of the smoke sources ranged from 0.693 to 0.835 with an average of 0.772 ± 0.053 (n = 35) indicating essentially pure smoldering combustion and the emissions were not initially strongly lofted. The major trace gas emissions by mass (EF as g/kg) were: carbon dioxide (1564 ± 77), carbon monoxide (291 ± 49), methane (9.51 ± 4.74), hydrogen cyanide (5.75 ± 1.60), acetic acid (3.89 ± 1.65), ammonia (2.86 ± 1.00), methanol (2.14 ± 1.22), ethane (1.52 ± 0.66), dihydrogen (1.22 ± 1.01), propylene (1.07 ± 0.53), propane (0.989 ± 0.644), ethylene (0.961 ± 0.528), benzene (0.954 ± 0.394), formaldehyde (0.867 ± 0.479), hydroxyacetone (0.860 ± 0.433), furan (0.772 ± 0.035), acetaldehyde (0.697 ± 0.460), and acetone (0.691 ± 0.356). These field data support significant revision of the EFs for CO2 (−8 %), CH4 (−55 %), NH3 (−86 %), CO (+39 %) and other gases compared with widely-used recommendations for tropical peat fires based on a lab study of a single sample published in 2003. BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) are important air toxics and aerosol precursors and were emitted in total at 1.5 ± 0.6 g/kg. Formaldehyde is probably the air toxic gas most likely to cause local exposures that exceed recommended levels. The field results from Kalimantan were in reasonable agreement with recent (2012) lab measurements of smoldering Kalimantan peat for “overlap species,” lending importance to the lab finding that burning peat produces large emissions of acetamide, acrolein, methylglyoxal, etc., which were not measureable in the field with the deployed equipment and implying value in continued similar efforts. The aerosol optical data measured include EFs for the scattering and absorption coefficients (EF Bscat and EF Babs, m2/kg fuel burned) and the single scattering albedo (SSA) at 870 and 405 nm, as well as the absorption Ångstrӧm exponents (AAE). By coupling the absorption and co-located trace gas and filter data we estimated black carbon (BC) EFs (g/kg) and the mass absorption coefficient (MAC, m2/g) for the bulk organic carbon (OC) due to brown carbon (BrC). Consistent with the minimal flaming, the emissions of BC were negligible (0.0055 ± 0.0016 g/kg). Aerosol absorption at 405 nm was ~52 times larger than at 870 nm and BrC contributed ~96 % of the absorption at 405 nm. Average AAE was 4.97 ± 0.65 (range, 4.29–6.23). The average SSA at 405 nm (0.974 ± 0.016) was marginally lower than the average SSA at 870 nm (0.998 ± 0.001). These data facilitate modeling climate-relevant aerosol optical properties across much of the UV/visible spectrum and the high AAE and lower SSA at 405 nm demonstrate the dominance of absorption by the organic aerosol. Comparing the Babs at 405 nm to the simultaneously measured OC mass on filters suggests a low MAC (~0.1) for the bulk OC, as expected for the low BC / OC ratio in the aerosol. The importance of pyrolysis (at lower MCE), as opposed to glowing (at higher MCE), in producing BrC is seen in the increase of AAE with lower MCE (r2 = 0.65).

Technological advances to improve the quantification of volcanic emissions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Fuchs ◽  
Jonas Kuhn ◽  
Nicole Bobrowski ◽  
Ulrich Platt
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Volcanic Activity ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Integration Time ◽  
Volcanic Plume ◽  
Flux Measurements

<p>Variations in volcanic trace gas composition and fluxes are a valuable indicator for changes in magmatic systems and therefore allow monitoring of the volcanic activity. An established method to measure trace gas emissions is to use remote sensing techniques like, for example, Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and more recently SO<sub>2</sub>-cameras, that can quantify volcanic sulphur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) emissions during quiescent degassing and eruptive phases, making it possible to correlate fluxes with volcanic activity. </p><p>We present flux measurements of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> emissions based on the novel remote sensing technique of Imaging Fabry-Pérot Interferometer Correlation Spectroscopy (IFPICS) in the UV spectral range. The basic principle of IFPICS lies in the application of an Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI) as wavelength selective element. The FPIs periodic transmission profile is matched to the periodic spectral absorption features of SO<sub>2</sub>, resulting in high spectral information for its detection. This technique yields a higher trace gas selectivity and sensitivity than imaging approaches based on interference filters, e.g. SO<sub>2</sub>-cameras and an increased spatio-temporal resolution over spectroscopic imaging techniques, e.g. imaging DOAS. Hence, IFPICS shows reduced cross sensitivities to broadband absorption (e.g. to ozone, aerosols), which allows the application to weaker volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> emitters and increases the range of possible atmospheric conditions. It further raises the possibility to apply IFPICS to other trace gas species like, for example, bromine monoxide, that still can be characterized with a high spatial and temporal resolution (< 1 HZ).</p><p>In October 2020, we acquired SO<sub>2</sub> column density distribution images of Mt Etna volcanic plume with a detection limit of 2x10<sup>17</sup> molec cm<sup>-2</sup>, 1 s integration time, 400x400 pixel spatial, and 0.3 Hz temporal resolution.  We compare the SO<sub>2</sub> fluxes retrieved by IFPICS with simultaneous flux measurements using the mutli-axis DOAS technique.</p>

scholarly journals Coded continuous wave meteor radar

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 7879-7907
Author(s):  
J. Vierinen ◽  
J. L. Chau ◽  
N. Pfeffer ◽  
M. Clahsen ◽  
G. Stober
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pulse Compression ◽  
Continuous Wave ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Meteor Radar ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Pulse Spacing

Abstract. The concept of coded continuous wave meteor radar is introduced. The radar uses a continuously transmitted pseudo-random waveform, which has several advantages: coding avoids range aliased echoes, which are often seen with commonly used pulsed specular meteor radars (SMRs); continuous transmissions maximize pulse compression gain, allowing operation with significantly lower peak transmit power; the temporal resolution can be changed after performing a measurement, as it does not depend on pulse spacing; and the low signal to noise ratio allows multiple geographically separated transmitters to be used in the same frequency band without significantly interfering with each other. The latter allows the same receiver antennas to be used to receive multiple transmitters. The principles of the signal processing are discussed, in addition to discussion of several practical ways to increase computation speed, and how to optimally detect meteor echoes. Measurements from a campaign performed with a coded continuous wave SMR are shown and compared with two standard pulsed SMR measurements. The type of meteor radar described in this paper would be suited for use in a large scale multi-static network of meteor radar transmitters and receivers. This would, for example, provide higher spatio-temporal resolution for mesospheric wind field measurements.

scholarly journals Determination of an effective trace gas mixing height by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS)

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1663-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Zhou ◽  
S. N. Yang ◽  
S. S. Wang ◽  
T. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Trace Gases ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Gas Mixing ◽  
Mixing Height ◽  
Free Atmosphere ◽  
Layer Height

Abstract. A new method for the determination of the Mixing layer Height (MH) by the DOAS technique is proposed in this article. The MH can be retrieved by a combination of active DOAS and passive DOAS observations of atmospheric trace gases; here we focus on observations of NO2. Because our observations are sensitive to the vertical distribution of trace gases, we refer to the retrieved layer height as an ''effective trace gas mixing height'' (ETMH). By analyzing trace gas observations in Shanghai over one year (1017 hourly means in 93 days in 2007), the retrieved ETMH was found to range between 0.1 km and 2.8 km (average is 0.78 km); more than 90% of the measurements yield an ETMH between 0.2 km and 2.0 km. The seasonal and diurnal variation of the ETMH shows good agreement with mixing layer heights derived from meteorological observations. We investigated the relationship of the derived ETMH to temperature and wind speed and found correlation coefficients of 0.65 and 0.37, respectively. Also the wind direction has an impact on the measurement to some extent. Especially in cases when the air flow comes from highly polluted areas and the atmospheric lifetime of NO2 is long (e.g. in winter), the NO2 concentration at high altitudes over the measurement site can be enhanced, which leads to an overestimation of the ETMH. Enhanced NO2 concentrations in the free atmosphere and heterogeneity within the mixing layer can cause additional uncertainties. Our method could be easily extended to other species like e.g. SO2, HCHO or Glyoxal. Simultaneous studies of these molecules could yield valuable information on their respective atmospheric lifetimes.

scholarly journals Direct observation of two dimensional trace gas distribution with an airborne Imaging DOAS instrument

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 11879-11907 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-P. Heue ◽  
T. Wagner ◽  
S. P. Broccardo ◽  
D. Walter ◽  
S. J. Piketh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Gas Distribution ◽  
Dimensional Distribution ◽  
Airborne Imaging

Abstract. In many investigations of tropospheric chemistry information about the two dimensional distribution of trace gases on a small scale (e.g. tens to hundreds of meters) is highly desirable. An airborne instrument based on imaging Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy has been built to map the 2-D distribution of a series of relevant trace gases including NO2, HCHO, C2H2O2, H2O, O4, SO2, and BrO on a scale of 100 m. Here we report on the first tests of the novel aircraft instrument over the industrialised South African Highveld, where large variations in NO2 column densities in the immediate vicinity of several sources e.g. power plants or steel works, were measured. The observed patterns in the trace gas distribution are interpreted with respect to flux estimates, and it is seen that the fine resolution of the measurements allows separate sources in close proximity to one another to be distinguished.

scholarly journals Detection of O<sub>4</sub> absorption around 328 nm and 419 nm in measured atmospheric absorption spectra

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Lampel ◽  
Johannes Zielcke ◽  
Stefan Schmitt ◽  
Denis Pöhler ◽  
Udo Frieß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Absorption ◽  
Spectral Data ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Absorption Cross ◽  
Peak Absorption ◽  
Spectrally Resolved

Abstract. Retrieving the column of an absorbing trace gas from spectral data requires that all absorbers in the corresponding wavelength range are sufficiently well known. This is especially important for the retrieval of weak absorbers, whose absorptions are often in the 10-4 range. Previous publications on the absorptions of the oxygen dimer O2-O2 (or short: O4) list absorption peaks at 328 nm and 419 nm, for which no spectrally resolved literature cross-sections are available. As these absorptions potentially influence the spectral retrieval of various trace gases, such as HCHO, BrO, OClO and IO, their shape and magnitude needs to be quantified. We assume that the shape of the absorption peaks at 328 nm and 419 nm can be approximated by their respective neighboring absorption peaks. Using this approach we obtain estimates for the wavelength of the absorption and its magnitude. Using Longpath Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) observations and Multi-Axis (MAX)-DOAS observations, we estimate the peak absorption cross-sections of O4 to be (1.7 ± 0.2) x 10-47 cm5 molec-2 and determine the wavelength of its maximum at 328.51 ± 0.15 nm. For the absorption at 419.0 ± 0.4 nm a peak O4 cross-section value is determined as (3.7 ± 2.7) x 10-48 cm5 molec-2.

scholarly journals Trace gas emissions from combustion of peat, crop residue, biofuels, grasses, and other fuels: configuration and FTIR component of the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME-4)

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 10061-10134 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Stockwell ◽  
R. J. Yokelson ◽  
S. M. Kreidenweis ◽  
A. L. Robinson ◽  
P. J. DeMott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Asian Rice ◽  
Gas Measurements

Abstract. During the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME-4, October–November~2012) a~large variety of regionally and globally significant biomass fuels was burned at the US Forest Service Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Montana. The particle emissions were characterized by an extensive suite of instrumentation that measured aerosol chemistry, size distribution, optical properties, and cloud-nucleating properties. The trace gas measurements included high resolution mass spectrometry, one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography, and open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectroscopy. This paper summarizes the overall experimental design for FLAME-4 including the fuel properties, the nature of the burn simulations, the instrumentation employed, and then focuses on the OP-FTIR results. The OP-FTIR was used to measure the initial emissions of 20 trace gases: CO2, CO, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C3H6, HCHO, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH3COOH, glycolaldehyde, furan, H2O, NO, NO2, HONO, NH3, HCN, HCl, and SO2. These species include most of the major trace gases emitted by biomass burning and for several of these compounds it is the first time their emissions are reported for important fuel types. The main fuel types included: African grasses, Asian rice straw, cooking fires (open (3-stone), rocket, and gasifier stoves), Indonesian and extratropical peat, temperate and boreal coniferous canopy fuels, US crop residue, shredded tires, and trash. Comparisons of the OP-FTIR emission factors (EF) and emission ratios (ER) to field measurements of biomass burning verify that the large body of FLAME-4 results can be used to enhance the understanding of global biomass burning and its representation in atmospheric chemistry models.

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