Intercomparison of two tunable diode laser spectrometers used for eddy correlation measurements of methane flux

David P. Billesbach; Frank G. Ullman; Shashi B. Verma

doi:10.1117/12.255324

21 October 1996 Intercomparison of two tunable diode laser spectrometers used for eddy correlation measurements of methane flux

David P. Billesbach, Frank G. Ullman, Shashi B. Verma

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2834, Application of Tunable Diode and Other Infrared Sources for Atmospheric Studies and Industrial Process Monitoring; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255324
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy has, in the last few years, become an important technique for the measurement of atmospheric trace gases and pollutants. This technique is useful not only for concentration monitoring of a particular species, but can be used to measure the flux of trace gas species released or absorbed by an area. At the present time, mainly tow types of instruments are being manufactured and used. In the summer of 1993, the Center for Laser Analytical Studies of Trace Gas Dynamics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln made an intercomparison of these two types of tunable diode laser spectrometers as used to measure the flux and concentration of naturally produced methane. Fluxes were measured using the eddy correlation method. This method requires both a high sensitivity to the species being measured, and a fast instrument response and so was deemed a stringent test of instrument performance. The study was conducted at a prairie wetland site near Valentine, Nebraska in late July and early August, 1993. The two instruments compared were built by Unisearch Associates Inc. of Concord, Ontario, and by Campbell Scientific Inc. of Logan, Utah and were representative of the two main types in general use. The study showed that both instruments exhibited similar detectabilities, and had almost identical noise characteristics when measuring both fluxes and concentrations. The study also brought out the need for careful calibration procedures and precise thermal management of the instruments to achieve optimal performance.

Citation Download Citation

David P. Billesbach, Frank G. Ullman, and Shashi B. Verma "Intercomparison of two tunable diode laser spectrometers used for eddy correlation measurements of methane flux", Proc. SPIE 2834, Application of Tunable Diode and Other Infrared Sources for Atmospheric Studies and Industrial Process Monitoring, (21 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255324

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