Summary
The aim of the Tropospheric OPtical Absorption Spectroscopy (TOPAS) subproject ofEUROTRAC was the development of high performance instruments based on Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) in order to measure minor tropospheric constituents using their absorption properties in the ultraviolet, visible and near infrared.
The target molecules detectable by this method are ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and trioxide (NO3). Other tropospheric constituents like HONO, HCHO and CS2 as well as several hydrocarbons (toluene, benzene, xylene and naphthalene) are also measurable by DOAS.
Several DOAS systems were developed in the framework of this subproject. There are generally based on grating spectrometers with different detection systems. The Belgian groups used Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS), adapted for the first time to DOAS measurements.
New absorption long path systems were designed and extensively used, with the new concept of the combined transmitting/receiving telescope offering several advantages with respect to the classical double-ended system. Furthermore, a multipass cell was built and tested during campaigns.
The instruments were improved by using a variety of new type of detectors. Careful characterisation was carried out during the time-frame of this subproject. Several performances were improved e.g. in terms of measurement frequency. Dedicated software for instrument automation and data analysis were developed and improved, taking into account the specific problems imposed by each type of instrument and its associated detector.
Two intercomparison campaigns for DOAS instruments were organised, the first in 1992 in Brussels (Belgium) and the second in 1994 in Weybourne (UK).
The measurements made during the first campaign by eight different instruments were carefully analysed and yielded an absolute accuracy limit for NO2, O3 and SO2 measurements made by the DOAS technique using an absorption path of a few hundred meters in a relatively non-polluted urban troposphere
The second campaign compared seven different instruments through ten days of continuous measurement under field conditions. The comparisons concerned SO2, NO2, O3, NO3, HCHO and HONO. The DOAS were compared with commercial point monitors for NO2, O3 and SO2 and a home-built monitor for HONO. Two other comparisons were also made during the campaign. Firstly the DOAS were tested using cells containing known amounts of NO2 and SO2. Secondly the group’s software was tested using synthetic spectra including NO2, O3 and HCHO.
These two campaigns demonstrated the necessity for quality assurance and quality control procedures in order to obtain reliable tropospheric data relevant for high quality scientific studies of the troposphere.
On the other hand, intensive laboratory measurements were conducted to support the instrument developments and the aforementioned retrieval software.
Finally, scientific studies were performed with several of the TOPAS instruments during other field campaigns and are briefly presented.
One instrument has been fully commercialised, namely the “Système d’ Analyse par Observations Actives” (SANOA) developed by the CNRS (France). For the first time, a Fourier transform spectrometer was used in the UV-visible range for DOAS and its performances demonstrated. This instrument is commercialised by Broker (Germany). Furthermore, Hoffmann Messtechnik (Germany) has also developed an instrument for DOAS in the troposphere.
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Simon, P.C. (2000). TOPAS: Tropospheric Optical Absorption Spectroscopy. In: Borrell, P., Borrell, P.M. (eds) Transport and Chemical Transformation of Pollutants in the Troposphere. Transport and Chemical Transformation of Pollutants in the Troposphere, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59718-3_22
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