Trace gases detection by photoacoustic technique based on a lineal chirp excitation scheme

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio

Detección de gases traza por técnica fotoacústica basada en un esquema de excitación chirp lineal

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio.En este trabajo se presenta un nuevo esquema de medición para espectroscopía fotoacústica de gases traza basado en un esquema de excitación up-chirp. Esta forma combina las ventajas de los esquemas resonante y pulsado. Para mostrar el potencial de esta técnica se la comparó con un esquema de excitación resonante sobre la medición de muestras de dióxido de nitrógeno en aire contenidas en una resonador acústico de alumnio. Los resultados mostraron que la técnica chirp permite realizar mediciones de corta duración con muy buena relación señal a ruido

Trace gases detection by photoacoustic technique based on a lineal chirp excitation scheme

En este trabajo se presenta un nuevo esquema de medición para espectroscopía fotoacústica de gases traza basado en un esquema de excitación up-chirp. Esta forma combina las ventajas de los esquemas resonante y pulsado. Para mostrar el potencial de esta técnica se la comparó con un esquema de excitación resonante sobre la medición de muestras de dióxido de nitrógeno en aire contenidas en una resonador acústico de alumnio. Los resultados mostraron que la técnica chirp permite realizar mediciones de corta duración con muy buena relación señal a ruido.We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio.Fil: Carreño Romano, Carlos Germán. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Perez Fogwill, German A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Santiago, G. D.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: González, Martín Germán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentin

Investigation of new particle formation mechanisms and aerosol processes at Marambio Station, Antarctic Peninsula

Understanding chemical processes leading to the formation of atmospheric aerosol particles is crucial to improve our capabilities in predicting the future climate. However, those mechanisms are still inadequately characterized, especially in polar regions. In this study, we report observations of neutral and charged aerosol precursor molecules and chemical cluster composition (qualitatively and quantitatively), as well as air ions and aerosol particle number concentrations and size distributions from the Marambio research station (64 degrees 15' S, 56 degrees 38' W), located north of the Antarctic Peninsula. We conducted measurements during the austral summer, between 15 January and 25 February 2018. The scope of this study is to characterize new particle formation (NPF) event parameters and connect our observations of gas-phase compounds with the formation of secondary aerosols to resolve the nucleation mechanisms at the molecular scale. NPF occurred on 40% of measurement days. All NPF events were observed during days with high solar radiation, mostly with above-freezing temperatures and with low relative humidity. The averaged formation rate for 3 nm particles (J(3)) was 0.686 cm(-3) s(-1), and the average particle growth rate (GR(3.8-12 nm)) was 4.2 nm h(-1). Analysis of neutral aerosol precursor molecules showed measurable concentrations of iodic acid (IA), sulfuric acid (SA), and methane sulfonic acid (MSA) throughout the entire measurement period with significant increase in MSA and SA concentrations during NPF events. We highlight SA as a key contributor to NPF processes, while IA and MSA likely only contribute to particle growth. Mechanistically, anion clusters containing ammonia and/or dimethylamine (DMA) and SA were identified, suggesting significant concentration of ammonia and DMA as well. Those species are likely contributing to NPF events since SA alone is not sufficient to explain observed nucleation rates. Here, we provide evidence of the marine origin of the measured chemical precursors and discuss their potential contribution to the aerosol phase.Peer reviewe

Detección de gases traza por técnica fotoacústica basada en un esquema de excitación chirp lineal

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio.En este trabajo se presenta un nuevo esquema de medición para espectroscopía fotoacústica de gases traza basado en un esquema de excitación up-chirp. Esta forma combina las ventajas de los esquemas resonante y pulsado. Para mostrar el potencial de esta técnica se la comparó con un esquema de excitación resonante sobre la medición de muestras de dióxido de nitrógeno en aire contenidas en una resonador acústico de alumnio. Los resultados mostraron que la técnica chirp permite realizar mediciones de corta duración con muy buena relación señal a ruido

Detección de gases traza por técnica fotoacústica basada en un esquema de excitación chirp lineal

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio.En este trabajo se presenta un nuevo esquema de medición para espectroscopía fotoacústica de gases traza basado en un esquema de excitación up-chirp. Esta forma combina las ventajas de los esquemas resonante y pulsado. Para mostrar el potencial de esta técnica se la comparó con un esquema de excitación resonante sobre la medición de muestras de dióxido de nitrógeno en aire contenidas en una resonador acústico de alumnio. Los resultados mostraron que la técnica chirp permite realizar mediciones de corta duración con muy buena relación señal a ruido

Primary sources control the variability of aerosol optical properties in the Antarctic Peninsula

Aerosol particle optical properties were measured continuously between years 2013-2015 at the Marambio station in the Antarctic Peninsula. Annual cycles of particle scattering and absorption were studied and explained using measured particle chemical composition and the analysis of air mass transport patterns. The particle scattering was found elevated during the winter but the absorption did not show any clear annual cycle. The aerosol single scattering albedo at lambda = 637 nm was on average 0.96 +/- 0.10, with a median of 0.99. Aerosol scattering Angstrom exponent increased during summer, indicating an increasing fraction of fine mode particles. The aerosol was mainly composed of sea salt, sulphate and crustal soil minerals, and most of the particle mass were in the coarse mode. Both the particle absorption and scattering were increased during high wind speeds. This was explained by the dominance of the primary marine sea-spray and wind-blown soil dust sources. In contrast, the back-trajectory analysis suggested that long-range transport has only a minor role as a source of absorbing aerosol at the peninsula.Peer reviewe