Continuous and high-precision atmospheric concentration measurements of COS, CO₂, CO and H₂O using a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS)

Abstract. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) has been suggested as a useful tracer for gross primary production as it is taken up by plants in a similar way as CO₂. To explore and verify the application of this novel tracer, it is highly desired to develop the ability to perform continuous and high-precision in situ atmospheric measurements of COS and CO₂. In this study we have tested a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS) for its suitability to obtain accurate and high-precision measurements of COS and CO₂. The instrument is capable of simultaneously measuring COS, CO₂, CO and H₂O after including a weak CO absorption line in the extended wavelength range. An optimal background and calibration strategy was developed based on laboratory tests to ensure accurate field measurements. We have derived water vapor correction factors based on a set of laboratory experiments and found that for COS the interference associated with a water absorption line can dominate over the effect of dilution. This interference can be solved mathematically by fitting the COS spectral line separately from the H₂O spectral line. Furthermore, we improved the temperature stability of the QCLS by isolating it in an enclosed box and actively cooling its electronics with the same thermoelectric chiller used to cool the laser. The QCLS was deployed at the Lutjewad atmospheric monitoring station (60 m; 6°21′ E, 53°24′ N; 1 m a.s.l.) in the Netherlands from July 2014 to April 2015. The QCLS measurements of independent working standards while deployed in the field showed a mean difference with the assigned cylinder value within 3.3 ppt COS, 0.05 ppm for CO₂ and 1.7 ppb for CO over a period of 35 days. The different contributions to uncertainty in measurements of COS, CO₂ and CO were summarized and the overall uncertainty was determined to be 7.5 ppt for COS, 0.23 ppm for CO₂ and 3.3 ppb for CO for 1-minute data. A comparison of in situ QCLS measurements with those from concurrently filled flasks that were subsequently measured by the QCLS showed a difference of −9.7 ± 4.6 ppt for COS. Comparison of the QCLS with a cavity ring-down spectrometer showed a difference of 0.12 ± 0.77 ppm for CO₂ and −0.9 ± 3.8 ppb for CO.