Development and application of a new mobile LOPAP instrument for the measurement of HONO altitude profiles in the planetary boundary layer

Abstract. The LOPAP (long path absorption) technique has been shown to be very sensitive for the detection of nitrous acid (HONO) in the atmosphere. However, current instruments were mainly built for ground based applications. Therefore, we designed a new LOPAP instrument to be more versatile for mobile measurements and to meet the requirements for airborne application. The detection limit of the new instrument is below 1 ppt at a time resolution of 5 to 7 min. As a first test, the instrument was successfully employed during the ZEPTER-1 campaign in July 2007 on board of the Zeppelin NT airship. During 15 flights on six days we measured HONO concentration profiles over southwest Germany, predominantly in the range between 100 m and 650 m above ground level. On average, a mixing ratio of 34 ppt was observed, almost independently of height. Within a econd campaign, ZEPTER-2 in fall 2008, higher HONO mixing ratios were observed in the Lake Constance area.