HR: 12:00h
AN: A12D-07 [Abstracts]
TI: Integration of Ground-Based Solar FT-IR Absorption Spectroscopy and Open-Path Systems for Atmospheric
Analysis
AU: * Steill, J D
EM: jsteill@utk.edu
AF: The University of Tennessee, Department of Chemistry, 552 Beuhler Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996
United States
AU: Hager, J S
EM: shager@utk.edu
AF: The University of Tennessee, Department of Physics, 401 Neilsen Physics Building, KNoxville, TN 37996
United States
AU: Compton, R N
EM: compton@ion.chem.utk.edu
AF: The University of Tennessee, Department of Chemistry, 552 Beuhler Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996
United States
AU: Compton, R N
EM: compton@ion.chem.utk.edu
AF: The University of Tennessee, Department of Physics, 401 Neilsen Physics Building, KNoxville, TN 37996
United States
AB:
Air quality issues in the Knoxville and East Tennessee region are of great concern, particularly as regards the nearby Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. Integration of a Bomem DA8 FT-IR spectrometer with rooftop sun-tracking optics and an
open-path system provides a unique opportunity to analyze the local atmospheric chemical composition. Many trace atmospheric
constituents are open to this analysis, such as O3, CO, CH4, and N2O. Boundary layer concentrations as well as
total column abundances and vertical concentration profiles are derived. Vertical concentration profiles are determined by
fitting solar absorbance lines with the SFIT2 algorithm. Improved fitting of solar spectra has been demonstrated by
incorporating the tropospheric concentrations as determined by open-path measurements. In addition to providing a means to
improve the analysis of solar spectra, the open-path data is useful for elucidation of diurnal trends in the trace gas
concentrations. Anthropogenic influences are of special interest, and seasonal and daily trends in amounts of tropospheric
pollutants such as ozone correlate with other sources such as the EPA. Although obviously limited by weather considerations,
the technique is suited to the regional climate and a body of data of more than two years extent is available for analysis.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005