A tunable diode laser system for aircraft measurements of trace gases

Journal Article · Wed Jun 20 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD07p10147· OSTI ID:5456919

Schiff, H I; Karecki, D R; Harris, G W; Mackay, G I ^[1]; Hastie, D R ^[2]

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1. Unisearch Associates Inc., Concord, Ontario (Canada)
2. York Univ., North York, Ontario (Canada)

The advantages of tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry (TDLAS) for measuring trace atmospheric gases are universality, positive identification, good sensitivity, and rapid response time. A TDLAS system is described which is capable of making measurements on board an aircraft. The instrument was employed during the Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation (CITE) 2 program to measure NO{sub 2} on 11 flights and HNO{sub 3} on five flights. Detection limits were determined to be 25 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) for NO{sub 2} and 75 pptv for HNO{sub 3} with response times of 3 min. This was sufficient to permit measurements of NO{sub 2} in the free troposphere and HNO{sub 3} in the continental boundary layer a significant fraction of the time.

• OSTI ID: 5456919
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:D7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AIRCRAFT
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
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NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
SENSITIVITY
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