The measurement of tropospheric trace gases at Fritz Peak Observatory, Colorado, by long-path absorption: OH and ancillary gases

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052<3342:TMOTTG>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:220222

Mount, G H; Harder, J W ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States)

The determination of the concentration of the hydroxyl radical in the troposphere is of fundamental importance to an understanding of the chemistry of the lower atmosphere. Described here are experiments located at Fritz Peak Observatory, Colorado, that measure of OH concentration to a sensitivity limit of about 5 X 10{sup 5} cm{sup {minus}3} (0.025 pptv) with absolute error approximately {+-}30% and, simultaneously, measure the concentrations of H{sub 2}O, SO{sub 2}, CH{sub 2}O, NO{sub 2}, NO{sub 3}, HONO, O{sub 3}, and other trace gases in the troposphere that affect OH concentration to provide a test of photochemical theories of OH formation and destruction. An informal OH intercomparison campaign that occurred at Fritz Peak in 1991 and the 1993 Tropospheric OH Photochemistry Experiment are discussed. 33 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 220222
• Journal Information: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 52; ISSN 0022-4928; ISSN JAHSAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLORADO
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROXYL RADICALS
NITRATES
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
OZONE
SULFUR DIOXIDE
TROPOSPHERE
WATER VAPOR