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BARCOS, an automation and remote control system for atmospheric observations with a Bruker interferometer
E Neefs1, M De Mazière, F Scolas
1Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Ringlaan 3, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|April 7, 2007
Summary
A new system called BARCOS automates atmospheric composition monitoring using Bruker spectrometers. This cost-effective solution enables remote, autonomous operation for long-term environmental observation.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Environmental monitoring
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Long-term atmospheric composition monitoring is crucial but can be costly.
- Commercial Bruker Fourier transform spectrometers offer advanced capabilities but require efficient operational systems.
- Remote and autonomous monitoring solutions are needed to reduce costs and increase accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the BARCOS system for cost-effective, long-term atmospheric composition monitoring.
- To describe the hardware and software configurations of the BARCOS system.
- To enable remote and autonomous operation of spectrometric atmospheric observations.
Main Methods:
- Development of the BARCOS system using commercial hardware and software.
- Integration of Bruker's OPUS software and a personal computer environment.
- Inclusion of a meteorological station and support for various observation geometries like solar and lunar absorption spectrometry.
Main Results:
- BARCOS enables remote and autonomous operation of atmospheric monitoring without human presence.
- The system is flexible, allowing manual interventions and utilizing existing commercial components.
- Internet access is the primary requirement for effective BARCOS operation.
Conclusions:
- The BARCOS system provides a cost-effective solution for long-term atmospheric monitoring.
- Remote and autonomous capabilities enhance the efficiency and accessibility of spectrometric observations.
- BARCOS represents a flexible and adaptable platform for environmental research.
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