An Automated Analyzer to Measure Surface-Atmosphere Exchange Fluxes of Water Soluble Inorganic Aerosol Compounds and Reactive Trace Gases

Thomas, Rick; Trebs, Ivonne; Otjes, R.P.; Jongejan, P. A. C.; Brink, H.M. ten; Phillips, G. J.; Kortner, Michael; Meixner, Franz X.; Nemitz, Eiko

doi:10.1021/es8019403

Cited by 87 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…many observation networks use passive samplers with a sampling time of 2 or 4 weeks (Thijsse et al, 1998;Puchalski et al, 2011)), whereas emission and deposition dynamics affect concentrations on the scale of hours to days. Systems with higher sampling frequency such as the AMANDA, MARGA and (denuder) filter packs are available, but the number of measurement networks using these instruments is limited as they are often costly to operate (Erisman et al, 2001;Thomas et al, 2009;Mount et al, 2002;Hansen et al, 2003). Moreover, measuring NH 3 is challenging and existing in situ measurement techniques are often prone to sampling artefacts (von Bobrutzki et al, 2010).…”

Section: E Dammers Et Al: Retrieval Of Ammonia From Ground-based Ftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra

et al. 2015

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Abstract. We present a retrieval method for ammonia (NH 3 ) total columns from ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observations. Observations from Bremen (53.10 15 molecules cm −2 ). In conditions with high surface concentrations of ammonia, as in Bremen, it is possible to retrieve information on the vertical gradient, as two layers can be distinguished. The retrieval there is most sensitive to ammonia in the planetary boundary layer, where the trace gas concentration is highest. For conditions with low concentrations, only the total column can be retrieved. Combining the systematic and random errors we have a mean total error of 26 % for all spectra measured at Bremen (number of spectra (N) = 554), 30 % for all spectra from Lauder (N = 2412), 25 % for spectra from Réunion (N = 1262) and 34 % for spectra measured at Jungfraujoch (N = 2702). The error is dominated by the systematic uncertainties in the spectroscopy parameters. Station-specific seasonal cycles were found to be consistent with known seasonal cycles of the dominant ammonia sources in the station surroundings. The developed retrieval methodology from FTIR instruments provides a new way of obtaining highly timeresolved measurements of ammonia burdens. FTIR-NH 3 observations will be useful for understanding the dynamics of ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere and for satellite and model validation. It will also provide additional information to constrain the global ammonia budget.

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Section: E Dammers Et Al: Retrieval Of Ammonia From Ground-based Ftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra

et al. 2015

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“…Concentration measurements are frequently performed by denuder or filter-pack sampling in combination with on-or offline analysis by ionchromatography and/or flow injection analysis, e.g. for NH 3 in the AMANDA system (Wyers et al, 1993), or for HNO 3 and aerosol particles in the GRAEGOR system (Thomas et al, 2009;Twigg et al, 2011). However, this method has proved to be relatively labour and cost intensive, often shows limited time resolution and brings along method-linked limitations.…”

Section: Exchange Measurements Of Reactive Nitrogen Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During this study NO and NO 2 were measured by a TEI chemiluminescence analyser in combination with a BLC were measured using the GRadient of AErosol and Gases Online Registrator (GRAEGOR, Thomas et al, 2009) -a wet chemical instrument, sampling with a wet annular denudersteam jet aerosol collector combination, coupled to online analysis by ion-chromatography (HNO 3 , HONO, NO − 3 ) and flow injection analysis (NH 3 , NH + 4 ). Furthermore, NH 3 was measured additionally by a wet chemical AiRRmonia instrument (Erisman et al, 2001;Spirig et al, 2010; (Table 1).…”

Section: Field Test With Ambient N R Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TRANC – a novel fast-response converter to measure total reactive atmospheric nitrogen

Marx¹,

Brümmer

Ammann

et al. 2012

Atmos. Meas. Tech.

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Abstract. The input and loss of plant available nitrogen (reactive nitrogen: N r ) from/to the atmosphere can be an important factor for the productivity of ecosystems and thus for its carbon and greenhouse gas exchange. We present a novel converter for reactive nitrogen (TRANC: Total Reactive Atmospheric Nitrogen Converter), which offers the opportunity to quantify the sum of all airborne reactive nitrogen compounds ( N r ) in high time resolution. The basic concept of the TRANC is the full conversion of all N r to nitrogen monoxide (NO) within two reaction steps. Initially, reduced N r compounds are being oxidised, and oxidised N r compounds are thermally converted to lower oxidation states. Particulate N r is being sublimated and oxidised or reduced afterwards. In a second step, remaining higher nitrogen oxides or those generated in the first step are catalytically converted to NO with carbon monoxide used as reduction gas. The converter is combined with a fast response chemiluminescence detector (CLD) for NO analysis and its performance was tested for the most relevant gaseous and particulate N r species under both laboratory and field conditions. Recovery rates during laboratory tests for NH 3 and NO 2 were found to be 95 and 99 %, respectively, and 97 % when the two gases were combined. In-field longterm stability over an 11-month period was approved by a value of 91 % for NO 2 . Effective conversion was also found for ammonium and nitrate containing particles. The recovery rate of total ambient N r was tested against the sum of individual measurements of NH 3 , HNO 3 , HONO, NH + 4 , NO − 3 , and NO x using a combination of different well-established devices. The results show that the TRANC-CLD system precisely captures fluctuations in N r concentrations and also matches the sum of all individual N r compounds measured by the different single techniques. The TRANC features a specific design with very short distance between the sample air inlet and the place where the thermal and catalytic conversions to NO occur. This assures a short residence time of the sample air inside the instrument, and minimises wall sorption problems of water soluble compounds. The fast response time (e-folding times of 0.30 to 0.35 s were found during concentration step changes) and high accuracy in capturing the dominant N r species enables the converter to be used in an eddy covariance setup. Although a source attribution of specific N r compounds is not possible, the TRANC is a new reliable tool for permanent measurements of the net N r flux between ecosystem and atmosphere at a relatively low maintenance and reasonable cost level allowing for diurnal, seasonal and annual investigations.

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“…Uncertainties in the background and calibration measurements also need to be addressed for the accurate detection of NH 3 . Different measurement techniques have been developed, including citric acid denuder/ion chromatography (Ferm et al, 1988;Fehsenfeld et al, 2002), molybdenum-oxide converter-difference (Langford et al, 1989), tungsten oxide denuder (Lebel et al, 1985), photofragmentation/laser induced fluorescence (van Dijk et al, 1989), and filterpack/colorimetry (Quinn and Bates, 1989). The citric acid denuder/ion chromatography technique is the most commonly used method, as this technique has a high accuracy (within 10%), a simple system, a low cost as well as a low detection limit for the chromatographic system (as low as 25 pptv) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While most of these instruments have a low detection limit (<200 pptv) with 1 min integration time, some of the instruments also have a slow response time. More recent methods include Quantum Cascade Tunable Infrared Laser Differential Absorption Spectrometer or QC-TILDAS , Gradient of Aerosol and Gases Online Registrator (GRAEGOR) (Thomas et al, 2009) and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer Spectrometer or IASI Spectrometer (Clarisse et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer for ambient measurements of Ammonia

et al. 2010

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Abstract. This study presents a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) for fast response, in-situ measurements of gas phase ammonia (NH 3 ). The NH 3 background level detected with the CIMS ranged between 0.3-1 ppbv, with an uncertainty of 30 pptv under optimized conditions. The instrument sensitivity varied from 4-25 Hz/pptv for >1 MHz of reagent ion signals (protonated ethanol ions), with a 30% uncertainty estimated based on variability in calibration signals. The CIMS detection limit for NH 3 was ∼60 pptv at a 1 min integration time (3 sigma). The CIMS time response was <30 s. This new NH 3 -CIMS has been used for ambient measurements in Kent, Ohio, for several weeks throughout three seasons. The measured NH 3 mixing ratios were usually at the sub-ppbv level and higher in spring (200 ± 120 pptv) than in winter (60 ± 75 pptv) and fall (150 ± 80 pptv). High emissions of SO 2 from power plants in this region, and thus possible high acidity of aerosol particles, may explain these low NH 3 mixing ratios in general.

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An Automated Analyzer to Measure Surface-Atmosphere Exchange Fluxes of Water Soluble Inorganic Aerosol Compounds and Reactive Trace Gases

Cited by 87 publications

References 36 publications

Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra

Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra

TRANC – a novel fast-response converter to measure total reactive atmospheric nitrogen

A Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer for ambient measurements of Ammonia

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