Development of an In-Situ Data Logging System for Multiple Trace Gas Analyzers
A field deployable in-situ data logging system was developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for trace gases including carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides including nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and odd nitrogens (NO/NO2/NOx). On-line data acquisition and calibration are essential to analysis of observables and data integrity. As such, a program was written to control the communication between the data logger and each analyzer in Logger Net, a program used to communicate with the data logger. Analog outputs were collected by a CR-23X Campbell data logger between July 2, 2007 and August 7, 2007 in Richland, Washington, with data being averaged every minute. A dynamic calibrator was used to calibrate the instruments using a gas standard with NIST-certified concentration. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s HYSPLIT model was used to create a backward and forward trajectory of air during an episode of peak O3 to determine pollutant sources and sinks. Data collected through the duration of the sampling period revealed several observations. Concentrations of all trace gases were low, due in part to the scarcity of pollutant sources in the region. The average SO2 reading was less than 0.05 ppb over the period, whereas mixing ratios of 1-20 ppb are more common in rural-suburban environments. NO, NO2, and NOx averaged 0.3, 12.2, and 12.8 ppb, respectively, while the average CO was 228.5 ppb. Typical O3 in similar environments peaks at 80-150 ppb, but the highest mixing ratio of O3 observed was less than 45 ppb. HYSPLIT offered no apparent source for additional pollutants during the high O3 episode, but increased photochemistry due to high temperatures would explain the increase in O3. Both SO2 and NO readings registered near the detection limit of the instruments, and displayed a trend similar to background noise. The development of the data logging and display system for key trace gas species is an essential measurement capability. It will facilitate future field deployment either on the ground or aboard aircraft with minor modifications. The calibration coefficients determined in this study would provide useful references of the instrument performance characteristics. In addition, the continuous data collected could potentially be a unique data set to study atmospheric chemistry of key trace gas species in a non-urban environment.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 993370
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-56583; KL0101000; TRN: US201023%%305
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Undergraduate Research, VIII:215, Vol. 8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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