Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon
A method for real-time profiling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was developed combining the advantages of a tethered balloon as a research platform and of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) as an analytical technique for fast and highly sensitive VOC measurements. A 200 m Tefl...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2009-12-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/773/2009/amt-2-773-2009.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818234559603408896 |
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| author | R. Schnitzhofer A. Wisthaler A. Hansel |
| author_facet | R. Schnitzhofer A. Wisthaler A. Hansel |
| author_sort | R. Schnitzhofer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A method for real-time profiling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was developed combining the advantages of a tethered balloon as a research platform and of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) as an analytical technique for fast and highly sensitive VOC measurements. A 200 m Teflon tube was used to draw sampling air from a tethered aerodynamic balloon to the PTR-MS instrument. Positive and negative artefacts (i.e. formation and loss of VOCs in the tube) were characterised in the laboratory and in the field by a set of 11 atmospherically relevant VOCs including both pure and oxygenated hydrocarbons. The only two compounds that increased or decreased when sampled through the tube were acetone (+7%) and xylene (-6%). The method was successfully deployed during a winter field campaign to determine the small scale spatial and temporal patterns of air pollutants under winter inversion conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:40:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f373eaef11a4188b734a2735c3b1e7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:40:00Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f373eaef11a4188b734a2735c3b1e7d2022-12-22T00:25:34ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482009-12-0122773777Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloonR. SchnitzhoferA. WisthalerA. HanselA method for real-time profiling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was developed combining the advantages of a tethered balloon as a research platform and of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) as an analytical technique for fast and highly sensitive VOC measurements. A 200 m Teflon tube was used to draw sampling air from a tethered aerodynamic balloon to the PTR-MS instrument. Positive and negative artefacts (i.e. formation and loss of VOCs in the tube) were characterised in the laboratory and in the field by a set of 11 atmospherically relevant VOCs including both pure and oxygenated hydrocarbons. The only two compounds that increased or decreased when sampled through the tube were acetone (+7%) and xylene (-6%). The method was successfully deployed during a winter field campaign to determine the small scale spatial and temporal patterns of air pollutants under winter inversion conditions.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/773/2009/amt-2-773-2009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | R. Schnitzhofer A. Wisthaler A. Hansel Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon |
| title_full | Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon |
| title_fullStr | Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon |
| title_short | Real-time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by PTR-MS using a tethered balloon |
| title_sort | real time profiling of organic trace gases in the planetary boundary layer by ptr ms using a tethered balloon |
| url | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/2/773/2009/amt-2-773-2009.pdf |
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