Accurate measurements of optical extinction coefficients and scattering parameters for atmospheric aerosols are needed in order to quantify the effects aerosols have on climate change. Although this field was once dominated by Fluorescence FAGE and long-path absorption spectroscopy DOAS, cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) has emerged as a cost-effective, accurate alternative technique that has numerous advantages. CRDS is an optical absorption technique based on Beer’s Law that allows for the characterization of extremely low concentration target samples by using two highly reflective mirrors to create an optical cavity with a pathlength thousands of times longer than its meter long laboratory footprint. System ring-down information has been monitored and collected using a LabView based program written in-house to collect, analyze, and store the relevant data. Polystyrene spheres were used to model scattering aerosols of various sizes so that the instrument could be characterized before its use in other aerosol measurements.

Design and characterization of a pulsed laser cavity ring-down spectrometer for use in the measurement of aerosol optical properties

249th National Meeting (2015)

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