Open AccessThe Effects of Variations in Buffer Gas Mixing Ratios on Commercial Carbon Dioxide Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy Sensors
Author(s) -
David A. Long,
Lyn Gameson,
Gar-Wing Truong,
Katarzyna Bielska,
A. Cygan,
Joseph T. Hodges,
J. R. Whetstone,
Roger D. van Zee
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.774
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1520-0426
pISSN - 0739-0572
DOI - 10.1175/jtech-d-13-00039.1
Subject(s) - cavity ring down spectroscopy , argon , spectroscopy , carbon dioxide , mixing ratio , materials science , mixing (physics) , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental science , atomic physics , chemistry , atmospheric sciences , physics , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Primary gas standards, gas chromatography, and frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy measurements have been used to assess the effect of variations in the argon mixing ratio on the CO2 mixing ratios reported by commercial cavity ring-down spectroscopy sensors. Supporting calculations demonstrate that the use of argon-free, synthetic air standards can lead to a bias of ≈0.7 μmol mol−1 at atmospheric concentration levels of CO2 as a result of pressure-broadening effects. This bias is an order of magnitude greater than the precision of the best commercial sensors and significantly exceeds the World Meteorological Organization's target compatibility goal.D. A. Long, L. Gameson, G.-W. Truong, K. Bielska, A. Cygan, J. T. Hodges, J. R. Whetstone and R. D. van Ze