Observation of tropospheric NO_2 by airborne multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy in the Pearl River Delta region,south China

An airborne multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopic （AMAX-DOAS） instrument was developed and applied to measure tropospheric NO2 in the Pearl River Delta region in the south of China. By combining the measurements in nadir and zenith directions and analyzing the UV and visible spectral region using the DOAS method, information about tropospheric NO2 vertical columns was obtained. Strong tropospheric NO2 signals were detected when flying over heavilly polluted regions and point sources like plants. The AMAX-DOAS results were compared with ground-based MAX-DOAS observations in the southwest of Zhuhai city using the same parameters for radiative transport calculations. The difference in vertical column data between the two instruments is about 8%. Our data were also compared with those from OMI and fair agreement was obtained with a correlation coefficient R of 0.61. The difference between the two instruments can be attributed to the different spatial resolution and the temporal mismatch during the measurements.

Intercomparison of NO_x, SO_2, O_3, and Aromatic Hydrocarbons Measured by a Commercial DOAS System and Traditional Point Monitoring Techniques

A field-based Intercomparison study of a commercial Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument (OPSIS AB, Sweden) and different point-sample monitoring techniques (PM, based on an air monitoring station, an air monitoring vehicle, and various chemical methods) was conducted in Beijing from October 1999 to January 2000. The mixing ratios of six trace gases including NO, NO2, SO2, O3, benzene, and toluene were monitored continuously during the four months. A good agreement between the DOAS and PM data was found for NO2 and SO2. However, the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and NO obtained by DOAS were significantly lower than those measured by the point monitors. The ozone levels monitored by the DOAS were generally higher than those measured by point monitors. These results may be attributed to a strong vertical gradient of the NO-O3-NO2 system and of the aromatics at the measurement site. Since the exact data evaluation algorithm is not revealed by the manufacturer of the DOAS system, the error in the DOAS analysis can also not be excluded.

Observation of the nighttime nitrate radical in Hefei, China

Observation of nighttime nitrate radical （NO3） was performed by using long path differential optical absorption spectroscopy （LP- DOAS）, on the outskirts of Hefei, China. The time series of NO3 and supporting parameters were simultaneously measured for a week （31 May-7 June 2006）. The results indicated that the average concentration of NO3 was 15.6 pptv with an average lifetimes of 96 s, whereas, NO3 production rates varied from 8×10^2/（cm^3·s） to 2.98×10^7/（cm^3·s）. Furthermore, the calculated N2O5 concentration averaged at 380 pptv. Analysis of data indicated that direct sinks were probably dominating the NO3 loss process during this campaign. The results were compared with other campaigns in the boundary layer.

Effect of spectral resolution on the measurement of monoaromatic hydrocarbons by DOAS

The excellent response characteristics and detection sensitivity with much lower operational cost and the capability to discriminate between the isomer of some monoaromatic hydrocarbons （MAHCs） make differential optical absorption spectroscopy （DOAS） a powerful tool to trace concentration variation of MAHCs. But due to the similarity in chemical structure, those MAHCs have the similar overlapped characteristic absorption structures, which make the selection of instrumental parameter critical to the accurate detection of MAHCs. Firstly, the spectral resolution used in DOAS system determines the nonlinear absorption of O2 and the mass dependence of characteristic absorption structure; thereby it determines the effect of elimination error of O2 absorption in the atmospheric spectra for the detection of MAHCs. Secondly, spectral resolution determines the differential absorption characteristics of twelve MAHCs representing major constituents in technical solvents used in the automobile industry and the interference of spectral overlapping. Thirdly, the spectral resolution determines the sensitivity, time resolution and linear range. So the spectral resolution range with the best ratio of signal to noise is used to determine the most suitable spectral resolution range, as well as the spectral resolution range that ensure the characteristic absorption structure of MAHCs and the minimization of O2 absorption interference. Finally, 0.15-0.16 nm （FWHM： full width at half maximum） is assumed to be closest to the optimum spectral resolution and it is confirmed by the results of practical measurement of MAHCs by DOAS.

Research of NO_(2) vertical profiles with look-up table method based on MAX-DOAS

Obtaining the vertical distribution profile of trace gas is of great significance for studying the diffusion procedure of air pollution.In this article,a look-up table method based on multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy(MAX-DOAS)technology is established for retrieving the tropospheric NO_(2) vertical distribution profiles.This method retrieves the aerosol extinction profiles with minimum cost function.Then,the aerosol extinction profiles and the atmospheric radiation transfer model(RTM)are employed to establish the look-up table for retrieving the NO_(2) vertical column densities(VCDs)and profiles.The measured NO_(2) differential slant column densities(DSCDs)are compared with the NO_(2) DSCDs simulated by the atmospheric RTM,and the NO_(2) VCDs,the weight factor of NO_(2) in the boundary layer,and the boundary layer height are obtained by the minimization process.The look-up table is established to retrieve NO_(2) VCDs based on MAX-DOAS measurements in Huaibei area,and the results are compared with the data from Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service(CAMS)model.It is found that there are nearly consistent and the correlation coefficient R2 is more than 0.86.The results show that this technology provides a more convenient and accurate retrieval method for the stereoscopic monitoring of atmospheric environment.

Determination of aerosol extinction coefficient and mass extinction efficiency by DOAS with a flashlight source

With the method of differential optical absorption spectroscopy （DOAS）, average concentrations of aerosol particles along light path were measured with a flashlight source in Chiba area during the period of one month. The optical thickness at 550 nm is compared with the concentration of ground-measured suspended particulate matter （SPM）. Good correlations are found between the DOAS and SPM data, leading to the determination of the aerosol mass extinction efficiency （MEE） to be possible in the lower troposphere. The average MEE value is about 7.6m^2.g^-1 , and the parameter exhibits a good correlation with the particle size as determined from the wavelength dependence of the DOAS signal intensity.