Remote measurement of gaseous pollutant concentrations using a mobile Fourier transform interferometer system

A commercial Fourier transform interferometer system with telescopic optics has been installed in a van and used to make long-path absorption and single-ended emission measurements of gaseous pollutant concentrations at a number of geographical locations. The system covers the IR spectra region from 650 cm(-1) to 6000 cm(-1) at a maximum resolution of 0.06 cm(-1). For many pollutants, concentrations in the 1-10-ppb range can be detected over a 1-km path length. To date, measurements have been made in the absorption mode across fertilizer plant gypsum ponds, an oil refinery, and jet engine plumes; industrial stacks, waste gas flares, and jet engine plumes have been studied in the emission mode.