Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra

We present a retrieval method for ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) total columns from ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observations. Observations from Bremen (53.10° N, 8.85° E), Lauder (45.04° S, 169.68° E), Réunion (20.9° S, 55.50° E) and Jungfraujoch (46.55° N, 7.98° E) were use...

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Main Authors: E. Dammers, C. Vigouroux, M. Palm, E. Mahieu, T. Warneke, D. Smale, B. Langerock, B. Franco, M. Van Damme, M. Schaap, J. Notholt, J. W. Erisman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2015-11-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/12789/2015/acp-15-12789-2015.pdf
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spelling doaj-57c8325f62b34dd59fafef81ddf7d5292020-11-24T21:43:16ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242015-11-011522127891280310.5194/acp-15-12789-2015Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectraE. Dammers0C. Vigouroux1M. Palm2E. Mahieu3T. Warneke4D. Smale5B. Langerock6B. Franco7M. Van Damme8M. Schaap9J. Notholt10J. W. Erisman11Cluster Earth and Climate, Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsBelgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, BelgiumInstitut für Umweltphysik, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyInstitute of Astrophysics and Geophysics, University of Liege, BelgiumInstitut für Umweltphysik, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyNational Institute of Water and Atmosphere, Lauder, New ZealandBelgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of Astrophysics and Geophysics, University of Liege, BelgiumCluster Earth and Climate, Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsTNO Built Environment and Geosciences, Department of Air Quality and Climate, Utrecht, the NetherlandsInstitut für Umweltphysik, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyCluster Earth and Climate, Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsWe present a retrieval method for ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) total columns from ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observations. Observations from Bremen (53.10° N, 8.85° E), Lauder (45.04° S, 169.68° E), Réunion (20.9° S, 55.50° E) and Jungfraujoch (46.55° N, 7.98° E) were used to illustrate the capabilities of the method. NH<sub>3</sub> mean total columns ranging 3 orders of magnitude were obtained, with higher values at Bremen (mean of 13.47 &times; 10<sup>15</sup> molecules cm<sup>−2</sup>) and lower values at Jungfraujoch (mean of 0.18 &times; 10<sup>15</sup> molecules cm<sup>&minus;2</sup>). In conditions with high surface concentrations of ammonia, as in Bremen, it is possible to retrieve information on the vertical gradient, as two layers can be distinguished. The retrieval there is most sensitive to ammonia in the planetary boundary layer, where the trace gas concentration is highest. For conditions with low concentrations, only the total column can be retrieved. Combining the systematic and random errors we have a mean total error of 26 % for all spectra measured at Bremen (number of spectra (<I>N</I>) = 554), 30 % for all spectra from Lauder (<I>N</I> = 2412), 25 % for spectra from Réunion (<I>N</I> = 1262) and 34 % for spectra measured at Jungfraujoch (<I>N</I> = 2702). The error is dominated by the systematic uncertainties in the spectroscopy parameters. Station-specific seasonal cycles were found to be consistent with known seasonal cycles of the dominant ammonia sources in the station surroundings. The developed retrieval methodology from FTIR instruments provides a new way of obtaining highly time-resolved measurements of ammonia burdens. FTIR-NH<sub>3</sub> observations will be useful for understanding the dynamics of ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere and for satellite and model validation. It will also provide additional information to constrain the global ammonia budget.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/12789/2015/acp-15-12789-2015.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author E. Dammers
C. Vigouroux
M. Palm
E. Mahieu
T. Warneke
D. Smale
B. Langerock
B. Franco
M. Van Damme
M. Schaap
J. Notholt
J. W. Erisman
spellingShingle E. Dammers
C. Vigouroux
M. Palm
E. Mahieu
T. Warneke
D. Smale
B. Langerock
B. Franco
M. Van Damme
M. Schaap
J. Notholt
J. W. Erisman
Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
author_facet E. Dammers
C. Vigouroux
M. Palm
E. Mahieu
T. Warneke
D. Smale
B. Langerock
B. Franco
M. Van Damme
M. Schaap
J. Notholt
J. W. Erisman
author_sort E. Dammers
title Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
title_short Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
title_full Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
title_fullStr Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
title_full_unstemmed Retrieval of ammonia from ground-based FTIR solar spectra
title_sort retrieval of ammonia from ground-based ftir solar spectra
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
issn 1680-7316
1680-7324
publishDate 2015-11-01
description We present a retrieval method for ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) total columns from ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observations. Observations from Bremen (53.10° N, 8.85° E), Lauder (45.04° S, 169.68° E), Réunion (20.9° S, 55.50° E) and Jungfraujoch (46.55° N, 7.98° E) were used to illustrate the capabilities of the method. NH<sub>3</sub> mean total columns ranging 3 orders of magnitude were obtained, with higher values at Bremen (mean of 13.47 &times; 10<sup>15</sup> molecules cm<sup>−2</sup>) and lower values at Jungfraujoch (mean of 0.18 &times; 10<sup>15</sup> molecules cm<sup>&minus;2</sup>). In conditions with high surface concentrations of ammonia, as in Bremen, it is possible to retrieve information on the vertical gradient, as two layers can be distinguished. The retrieval there is most sensitive to ammonia in the planetary boundary layer, where the trace gas concentration is highest. For conditions with low concentrations, only the total column can be retrieved. Combining the systematic and random errors we have a mean total error of 26 % for all spectra measured at Bremen (number of spectra (<I>N</I>) = 554), 30 % for all spectra from Lauder (<I>N</I> = 2412), 25 % for spectra from Réunion (<I>N</I> = 1262) and 34 % for spectra measured at Jungfraujoch (<I>N</I> = 2702). The error is dominated by the systematic uncertainties in the spectroscopy parameters. Station-specific seasonal cycles were found to be consistent with known seasonal cycles of the dominant ammonia sources in the station surroundings. The developed retrieval methodology from FTIR instruments provides a new way of obtaining highly time-resolved measurements of ammonia burdens. FTIR-NH<sub>3</sub> observations will be useful for understanding the dynamics of ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere and for satellite and model validation. It will also provide additional information to constrain the global ammonia budget.
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/12789/2015/acp-15-12789-2015.pdf
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