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Source Tracking of Nitrous Oxide using A Quantum Cascade Laser System in the Field and Laboratory Environments
Citation:
Williams, D., P. Deshmukh, F. Birgand, B. Maxwell, Johnt Walker, AND H. Chen. Source Tracking of Nitrous Oxide using A Quantum Cascade Laser System in the Field and Laboratory Environments. 59th Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, January 19 - 20, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
The task demonstrated that QCL spectroscopy can measure the flux of nitrous oxide at ambient and well as elevated concentrations in real time. The fractionation of the nitrous oxide produced by microbial processing of nitrate can be measured and characterized as isotopic signatures related to the nitrifying or denitrifying state of the microbial communities. This has important implications for monitoring trace gases in the atmosphere. The data produced by this system will provide clients including the air quality and climate change communities with needed information on the sources and strengths of N2O emissions for modeling and research into mitigation strategies to reduce overall GHG emissions in agricultural systems.
Description:
Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance. Nitrification and denitrification are two major biological pathways that are responsible for soil emissions of N2O. However, source tracking of in-situ or laboratory N2O production is still challenging to soil scientists. The objective of this study was to introduce the use of a new technology, quantum cascade laser (QCL) spectroscopy, which allows for significantly improved accuracy and precision to continuously measure real-time N2O for source tracking. This data provides important emission inventory information to air quality and atmospheric chemistry models.
