Development of an Airborne Quantum Cascade Laser Spectrometer for Rapid, Accurate, Measurements of Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Methane (CH4) from Light Aircraft

通过大学和私营企业之间的合作，P.I.他的团队将开发一种新的紧凑型仪器，使用量子级联激光器，能够测量一氧化碳和甲烷，具有足够的鲁棒性，灵敏度，准确性，响应和可靠性，以便适用于研究飞机。 在与他的行业合作伙伴一起制造和测试之后，该公司将把该仪器与现有的研究级二氧化碳仪器一起部署，以生成针对对全球碳循环至关重要的痕量气体的全面机载包。 这种大气数据在量化自然和人为排放量以及获得对一些基本但关键的全球地球化学循环的更知情的了解方面具有独特的用途。 该项目的更广泛影响包括针对碳循环和气候变化界的重要和关键研究需求开发的工具。 这项工作可能在未来导致一个商业上可行的工具，将提供给广大社区。 包括对博士后研究人员和一名研究生的支持，这将对一所主要大学的年轻科学家的教育和专业发展作出积极贡献。

Through a collaboration between university and private industry, the P.I. and his team will develop a new compact instrument using quantum cascade lasers capable of measuring carbon monoxide and methane with sufficient robustness, sensitivity, accuracy, response and reliability so as to be suitable for use on research aircraft. After manufacture and testing with his industry partners the P.I. will deploy the instrument alongside an existing research-grade carbon dioxide instrument to generate a comprehensive airborne package targeting trace gases important to the global carbon cycle. Such atmospheric data is of unique use to quantify natural and anthropogenic emissions as well as gaining a more informed understanding of some basic yet critical global biogeochemical cycles. Broader impacts of this project include tools developed that target important and critical research needs within the carbon cycle and climate change communities. This work may in future lead to a commercially viable instrument that would be available to a broad community. Support is included for postdoctoral researcher(s) and a graduate student, which will contribute positively to education and professional development of young scientists at a major university.