Photonic sensing of the atmosphere by absorption spectroscopy

Chemically reactive atmospheric species play a crucial role in tropospheric processes which affect regional air quality and global climate change. Contrary to long-lived species such as greenhouse gases, interference-free accurate and precise concentration assessments of strongly reactive short-lived species represent a real challenge. In this paper, we report on the recent progress in spectroscopic instrumental developments for monitoring of OH, NO3, HONO and NO2 by using modern photonic sources (Quantum Cascade Laser, distributed feedback diode laser, light emitting diode) in conjunction with high-sensitivity spectroscopic measurement techniques such as multi-pass cell based long optical path length absorption spectroscopy, wavelength-modulation enhanced off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy, Faraday rotation spectroscopy, incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy. The main techniques available for routine atmospheric measurements of OH, NO3 and HONO are overviewed, in comparison with the emerging modern photonic spectroscopy techniques.

► Overview of our recent progress in monitoring of atmospheric short-lived species. ► Overview of high-sensitivity spectroscopic techniques (OA-ICOS, FRS, IBBCEAS). ► Overview of modern photonic sources : QCL, DFB laser and LED for gas sensing. ► Recent results on optical detection of HONO, OH and NO3.