High Precision, Airborne Analyzers

70747S02-II Instrumentation is needed to quantify all significant sources and sinks of man-made carbon dioxide. The information generated would, in turn, enable accurate predictions of the impact of carbon dioxide on the Earth¿s climate. This project will integrate an existing carbon dioxide analyzer into a functional detection system. In Phase I, the previously developed carbon dioxide analyzer was adapted to an airborne platform to profile carbon dioxide above a research site in Northern Colorado. The observations were verified by flask samples acquired and analyzed by NOAA/CMDL, and were shown to meet DOE measurement criteria. Phase II will demonstrate the scientific abilities of the instrument within a full detection system. An intense battery of observations and laboratory tests will be conducted to prove the system¿s scientific credentials and commercial utility. The system will be brought to the replicable product phase by the end of Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The detection system should be capable of monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide to levels sufficient for the quantification of important sinks and sources.