Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards

Standard reference samples of water vapor suitable for in situ calibration of atmospheric hygrometers are not currently widespread, leading to difficulties in unifying the calibrations of these hygrometers and potentially contributing to observed measurement discrepancies. We describe and evaluate a...

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Main Authors: D. W. Fahey, R.-S. Gao, B. D. Hall, T. D. Thornberry, A. W. Rollins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-10-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/4/2059/2011/amt-4-2059-2011.pdf
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author D. W. Fahey
R.-S. Gao
B. D. Hall
T. D. Thornberry
A. W. Rollins
author_facet D. W. Fahey
R.-S. Gao
B. D. Hall
T. D. Thornberry
A. W. Rollins
author_sort D. W. Fahey
collection DOAJ
description Standard reference samples of water vapor suitable for in situ calibration of atmospheric hygrometers are not currently widespread, leading to difficulties in unifying the calibrations of these hygrometers and potentially contributing to observed measurement discrepancies. We describe and evaluate a system for reliably and quantitatively converting mixtures of H<sub>2</sub> in air to H<sub>2</sub>O on a heated platinum surface, providing a compact, portable, adjustable source of water vapor. The technique is shown to be accurate and can be used to easily and reliably produce a wide range of water vapor concentrations (≈1 ppm −2%) on demand. The result is a H<sub>2</sub>O standard that is expected to be suitable for in situ calibration of aircraft hygrometers, with an accuracy nearly that of the available H<sub>2</sub> standards (≈&plusmn;2%).
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spelling doaj.art-b1d0bcb0847f46c3913ccaa1081381f02022-12-21T18:53:02ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482011-10-014102059206410.5194/amt-4-2059-2011Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standardsD. W. FaheyR.-S. GaoB. D. HallT. D. ThornberryA. W. RollinsStandard reference samples of water vapor suitable for in situ calibration of atmospheric hygrometers are not currently widespread, leading to difficulties in unifying the calibrations of these hygrometers and potentially contributing to observed measurement discrepancies. We describe and evaluate a system for reliably and quantitatively converting mixtures of H<sub>2</sub> in air to H<sub>2</sub>O on a heated platinum surface, providing a compact, portable, adjustable source of water vapor. The technique is shown to be accurate and can be used to easily and reliably produce a wide range of water vapor concentrations (≈1 ppm −2%) on demand. The result is a H<sub>2</sub>O standard that is expected to be suitable for in situ calibration of aircraft hygrometers, with an accuracy nearly that of the available H<sub>2</sub> standards (≈&plusmn;2%).http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/4/2059/2011/amt-4-2059-2011.pdf
spellingShingle D. W. Fahey
R.-S. Gao
B. D. Hall
T. D. Thornberry
A. W. Rollins
Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
title_full Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
title_fullStr Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
title_full_unstemmed Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
title_short Catalytic oxidation of H<sub>2</sub> on platinum: a robust method for generating low mixing ratio H<sub>2</sub>O standards
title_sort catalytic oxidation of h sub 2 sub on platinum a robust method for generating low mixing ratio h sub 2 sub o standards
url http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/4/2059/2011/amt-4-2059-2011.pdf
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