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An experimental assessment of the O 3 /H 2 O interference problem in the detection of natural levels of OH via laser induced fluorescence
Author(s) -
Davis D. D.,
Rodgers M. O.,
Fischer S. D.,
Asai K.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl008i001p00069
Subject(s) - troposphere , interference (communication) , laser , boundary layer , planetary boundary layer , laser induced fluorescence , analytical chemistry (journal) , energy (signal processing) , aerosol , field (mathematics) , fluorescence , environmental science , optics , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , chemistry , physics , environmental chemistry , thermodynamics , telecommunications , mathematics , channel (broadcasting) , quantum mechanics , computer science , pure mathematics
Using simulated tropospheric conditions in a laboratory study as well as OH field measurement data from project GAMETAG (Global Atmospheric Measurements Experiment on Tropospheric Aerosol and Gases), an experimental assessment has been completed of the O 3 /H 2 O/OH laser induced interference problem. These results indicate that, for the tropical marine boundary layer, the OH interference level averaged ∼38% during the GAMETAG field measurements program. The average “useable” UV laser energy employed in these boundary layer OH measurements was 165 µJ. OH interference estimates in the case of the free troposhere were substantially lower, being ∼13% for an average “useable” UV laser energy of 250 µJ. Modelling calculations suggest that the existing O 3 /H 2 O/OH interference problem could be reduced still further, by factors of five to six, through the use of very narrow UV laser pulses (i.e., .5 to 1 ns vs. 7 ns).