Simple, Real-Time Measurement of Stable Isotope Ratios in H2O and CO2

Simple, Real-Time Measurement of Stable Isotope Ratios in H₂O and CO₂

Picarro WS-CRDS-based analyzers are the first instruments to provide simple, turnkey access to stable isotope ratios with sensitivity and precision better than or equal to the IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometer) systems traditionally used in stable isotope labs. This in-depth whitepaper explains how and why WS-CRDS technology opens the door for widespread exploitation of stable isotope studies in fields such as carbon/water cycle research, GHG (greenhouse gas) monitoring, animal migration, total organic carbon measurements, and human metabolism. Performance data (δ¹⁸O, δD, and δ¹³C) are discussed for applications involving CO₂ and H₂O (both liquid and vapor-phase direct sampling).