Development of a New Multi-Isotope Technique for Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide Studies

9510665 蒂蒙斯 目前，大气中一氧化碳收支的特征很差。特别是，似乎有些来源被低估或未被认识。 一氧化碳是与低层大气的氧化能力有关的一种中心物质。需要新的技术来解决大气中一氧化碳的来源和转化机制。最近对稳定同位素17O和18O丰度的测量表明，大气中一氧化碳的同位素组成存在异常，这可能表明大气过程改变了同位素组成。以前对臭氧、二氧化碳和一氧化二氮的研究揭示了导致这些分子中同位素异常的大气过程的本质。 在该项目中，将建造一个收集装置，测量大气中一氧化碳的碳和氧同位素组成，目的是获得关于其全球大气收支的新信息。常规测量将与正在进行的二氧化碳、一氧化二氮和臭氧的同位素分析方案一起开始，包括测量所有物种的浓度。今后的活动将包括分析气球和火箭仪器采集的样品。

9510665 Thiemens The atmospheric carbon monoxide budget is poorly characterized at present. In particular, it appears that there are sources which are either underestimated or unrecognized. Carbon monoxide is a central species related to the oxidizing capacity of the lower atmosphere. New techniques for resolving the sources and transformation mechanisms of atmospheric carbon monoxide are needed. Recent measurements of the abundances of the stable isotopes 17O and 18O indicate anomalies in the isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon monoxide, which likely indicates a signature of atmospheric processes which alter the isotopic composition. Previous work on ozone, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide revealed the nature of the atmospheric processes causing such isotopic anomalies in these molecules. In this project, a collection apparatus will be constructed to measure the isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen in atmospheric carbon monoxide, with the goal of obtaining new information on its global atmospheric budget. Routine measurements will be initiated in conjunction with the ongoing isotopic analysis programs for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and ozone, including measurements of the concentrations of all species. Future activities will include the analysis of samples taken by balloon and rocket instruments.