Measurements Of Atmospheric Constituents By Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy

The technique of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) offers many advantages in studies relating to the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere. Attributes such as high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response, versatility, absolute and relative response modes, and the potential for high precision have all been used to advantage in such studies. These features and their application to atmospheric measurements will be discussed in the present talk. A brief summary of the fundamentals of the technique will first be given, indicating current limitations and potential future developments. The final and principal part of this talk will focus on an instrument developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) for high precision ground-based and laboratory measurements.