WS-CRDS for Atmospheric Research
Carbon Dioxide. Carbon dioxide levels continue to rise worldwide driven by human activity, namely increased consumption of fossil fuels. Climate researchers and modelers have a need to continuously monitor CO2 levels in both pristine (i.e., remote) and heavily populated (i.e., accessible) locations. And as national and international agreements are reached on quotas and targets, there will be an ever growing need for monitoring for compliance verification measurements. With exceptionally high stability, ppb detection limits and over five orders of magnitude of dynamic range, Picarro WS-CRDS analyzers are the state-of-the-art solution for these applications.
Carbon Dioxide: δ13C Carbon Isotope Ratio. Every process that generates CO2, from burning fossil fuels to plant respiration, has a characteristic carbon isotope ratio, δ13C. Field measurements of this ratio enable the probable source of increased CO2 levels to be identified. Because Picarro WS-CRDS analyzers can measure both δ12C and δ13C isotopes to ppb levels, they can generate very accurate carbon isotope ratio data. And their ability to provide continuous data enables Keeling Plots to be used on ambient air to reliably extrapolate unmixed ratios.
Methane. It is estimated that 60% of global methane emissions are due to human-related activities. Major sources are landfills, natural gas and farming, followed by coalmining and wastewater management. Tracking and quantifying methane thus requires a robust versatile analyzer capable of working in a wide range of operating conditions. Picarro WS-CRDS analyzers meet this need head on while providing sub-ppb sensitivity and drift free operation.