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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
09:46
Production and Measurement of Organic Particulate Matter in the Harvard Environmental Chamber
Published on: November 18, 2018
Real-time atmospheric chemistry field instrumentation
Delphine K Farmer1, Jose L Jimenez
1Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado-Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Delphine.Farmer@colorado.edu
Analytical Chemistry
|August 21, 2010
Summary
Accurately measuring atmospheric gases and particles is difficult. Recent advances in instrumentation allow for continuous, fast analysis of these complex mixtures during field studies.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric chemistry
- Environmental science
- Analytical chemistry
Background:
- Atmospheric trace species analysis is crucial for understanding air quality and climate.
- Complex gas and particle mixtures present significant analytical challenges.
- Existing methods often lack the time resolution needed for dynamic atmospheric processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of recent advancements in instrumentation for atmospheric analysis.
- To highlight instruments enabling continuous and fast-time-resolution measurements.
- To discuss the application of these instruments in field campaigns.
Main Methods:
- Review of cutting-edge analytical instrumentation.
- Focus on techniques for simultaneous gas and particle phase analysis.
- Emphasis on instruments suitable for in-situ, real-time measurements.
Main Results:
- Emerging technologies offer improved sensitivity and selectivity.
- Fast time-resolution instruments capture rapid atmospheric variations.
- Continuous monitoring provides comprehensive datasets for complex environments.
Conclusions:
- Recent instrumentation advances are improving the quantification of trace atmospheric species.
- Fast, continuous analysis is essential for studying dynamic atmospheric processes.
- These tools enhance our ability to monitor air quality and climate-relevant compounds.
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