Performance of open-path GasFinder3 devices for CH<sub>4</sub> concentration measurements close to ambient levels

Häni, Christoph; Bühler, Marcel; Neftel, Albrecht; Ammann, Christof; Kupper, Thomas (2021). Performance of open-path GasFinder3 devices for CH<sub>4</sub> concentration measurements close to ambient levels Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 14(2), pp. 1733-1741. Copernicus 10.5194/amt-14-1733-2021

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Open-path measurements of methane (CH4) with the use of GasFinder systems (Boreal Laser Inc, Edmonton Canada) have been frequently used for emission estimation with the inverse dispersion method (IDM), particularly from agricultural sources. It is common to many IDM applications that the concentration enhancement related to CH4 sources is small, typically between 0.05 and 0.5 ppm, and accurate measurements of CH4 concentrations are needed at concentrations close to ambient levels. The GasFinder3-OP (GF3) device for open-path CH4 measurements is the latest version of the commercial GasFinder systems by Boreal Laser Inc. We investigated the uncertainty of six GF3 devices from side-by-side intercomparison measurements and comparisons to a closed-path quantum cascade laser device. The comparisons were made at near-ambient levels of CH4 (85 % of measurements below 2.5 ppm) with occasional phases of elevated concentrations (max. 8.3 ppm). Relative biases as high as 8.3 % were found, and a precision for half-hourly data between 2.1 and 10.6 ppm-m (half width of the 95 % confidence interval) was estimated. These results deviate from the respective manufacturer specifications of 2 % and 0.5 ppm-m. Intercalibration of the GF3 devices by linear regression to remove measurement bias was shown to be of limited value due to drifts and step changes in the recorded GF3 concentrations.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture
School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture > Sustainability and Circular Economy

Name:

Häni, Christoph0000-0003-1458-1849;
Bühler, Marcel0000-0001-6433-6257;
Neftel, Albrecht;
Ammann, Christof0000-0002-0783-5444 and
Kupper, Thomas0000-0001-9459-1910

Subjects:

G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering

ISSN:

1867-8548

Publisher:

Copernicus

Language:

English

Submitter:

Christoph Häni

Date Deposited:

07 Apr 2021 11:19

Last Modified:

29 Sep 2021 02:18

Publisher DOI:

10.5194/amt-14-1733-2021

ARBOR DOI:

10.24451/arbor.14474

URI:

https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/14474

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