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Measuring Dissolved Methane in Aquatic Ecosystems Using An Optical Spectroscopy Gas Analyzer

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Atmospheric methane measurement instrument using a Zeeman-split He-Ne laser.

J B McManus, P L Kebabian, C E Kolb

|June 18, 2010

Summary

A new atmospheric methane measurement instrument uses a Zeeman-split infrared He-Ne laser to detect fluctuations. This instrument achieved ~20-ppb precision in field experiments, with interference fringes as the main noise source.

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Published on: February 14, 2014

Area of Science:

Atmospheric science
Laser spectroscopy
Environmental monitoring

Background:

Accurate measurement of atmospheric methane (CH4) is crucial for understanding climate change.
Existing measurement techniques face challenges in precision and real-time atmospheric monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

To report the development and field testing of an innovative atmospheric methane measurement instrument.
To assess the instrument's performance and precision in detecting ambient methane fluctuations.

Main Methods:

Construction of a measurement instrument utilizing a Zeeman-split infrared (IR) Helium-Neon (He-Ne) laser.
The laser operates at frequencies tuned to a methane absorption line, enabling differential absorption measurements.
Atmospheric CH4 measurements were conducted using two multi-pass absorption cells with varying response times (0.75-s and 5-s).

Main Results:

The instrument successfully detected ambient CH4 fluctuations with a precision of approximately 20 parts per billion (ppb) on a 1-second averaging basis.
Interference fringe effects were identified as the primary source of noise limiting the instrument's precision.
The instrument was deployed and operated during a field experiment (NASA GTE/ABLE-3A) in Alaska.

Conclusions:

The developed Zeeman-split laser-based instrument offers a promising method for high-precision atmospheric methane monitoring.
Further refinement to mitigate interference fringe effects could enhance the instrument's detection limits.
Successful field deployment demonstrates the instrument's capability for real-world environmental research.