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Argus: a new instrument for the measurement of the stratospheric dynamical tracers, N2O and CH4We describe here a new instrument for the simultaneous, in situ measurement of the stratospheric tracer molecules, nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Argus is unique in its small size making it well suited for limited payload atmospheric research platforms. Argus employs second harmonic spectroscopy using tunable lead-salt diode lasers emitting in the mid-infrared. We first explain the Argus design philosophy followed by detailed descriptions of the instrument's optical, mechanical, and thermal sub-systems. Argus employs an in-flight calibration system providing real time calibrations and tightly constrained uncertainty estimates of the returned data. Data analysis is carried out using non-linear least-squares model fits to the acquired second harmonic spectra. A sampling of Argus data acquired on a recent stratospheric research campaign in the Arctic winter is presented.
Document ID
20040088092
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Loewenstein, Max
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field CA United States)
Jost, H.
Grose, J.
Eilers, J.
Lynch, D.
Jensen, S.
Marmie, J.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
Volume: 58
Issue: 11
ISSN: 1386-1425
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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