Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurement

About this book

All of the breakthroughs in understanding the atmosphere have been initiated by field observations, using a range of instrumental techniques. Correctly, the results of these observations receive the most attention in the literature, with little consideration given to the instrument. A thorough understanding of the chemical and spectroscopic principles on which these measurements depend is, however, essential when deploying or developing these instruments.

Written as an authoritative guide to the techniques of instrumental measurement for the atmospheric scientist, research student or undergraduate, this book focuses on the instruments used to make real time measurements of atmospheric composition: how they work, their strengths and weaknesses for a particular task, the platforms on which they have been deployed and how they are calibrated. It will explain the fundamental principles upon which the instrumental techniques are based (ie what property of a molecule can be exploited to enable its detection), what limits instrumental sensitivity and accuracy, and the information that can be gained from their use.

Contents

Preface. Acknowledgements. Contributors. 1. Field Measurements of Atmospheric Composition (Dwayne E. Heard) 2. Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (Alan Fried and Dirk Richter) 3. UV-Visible Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) (John M.C. Plane and Alfonso Saiz-Lopez) 4. Fluorescence Methods (Ezra C. Wood and Ronald C. Cohen) 5. Mass Spectrometric Methods for Atmospheric Trace Gases (Jonathan Williams) 6. Mass Spectrometric Methods for Aerosol Composition Measurements (Hugh Coe and James D. Allan) 7. Chemical Methods: Chemiluminescence, Chemical Amplification, Electrochemistry, and Derivatization (Andrew J. Weinheimer) 8. Chromatographic Methods (Jacqueline F. Hamilton and Alastair C. Lewis) 9. Measurement of Photolysis Frequencies in the Atmosphere (Andreas Hofzumahaus) References. Index.

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Biography

Dwayne Heard is Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry in the School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. Contributors: Dr. Alan Fried Dr Dirk Richter Professor John Plane Dr Alfonso Saiz-Lopez Professor Ronald C Cohen Dr Ezra C. Wood Dr Jonathan Williams Dr. Hugh Coe Dr James Alan Dr. Andrew Weinheimer Dr Alistair Lewis Dr Jacqui Hamilton Dr. Andreas Hofzumahaus