Inter-comparison of 2 μm Heterodyne Differential Absorption Lidar, Laser Diode Spectrometer, LICOR NDIR analyzer and flasks measurements of near-ground atmospheric CO2 mixing ratio

Remote sensing and in situ instruments are presented and compared in the same location for accurate CO2 mixing ratio measurements in the atmosphere: (1) a 2.064 μm Heterodyne DIfferential Absorption Lidar (HDIAL), (2) a field deployable infrared Laser Diode Spectrometer (LDS) using new commercial diode laser technology at 2.68 μm, (3) LICOR NDIR analyzer and (4) flasks. LDS, LICOR and flasks measurements were made in the same location, LICOR and flasks being taken as reference. Horizontal HDIAL measurements of CO2 absorption using aerosol backscatter signal are reported. Using new spectroscopic data in the 2 μm band and meteorological sensor measurements, a mean CO2 mixing ratio is inferred by the HDIAL in a 1 km long path above the 15 m height location of the CO2 in situ sensors. We compare HDIAL and LDS measurements with the LICOR data for 30 min of time averaging. The mean standard deviation of the HDIAL and the LDS CO2 mixing ratio results are 3.3 ppm and 0.89 ppm, respectively. The bias of the HDIAL and the LDS measurements are −0.54 ppm and −0.99 ppm, respectively.