Replacing the AMOR with the miniDOAS in the ammonia monitoring network in the Netherlands

In this paper we present the continued development of the miniDOAS, an active differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument used to measure ammonia concentrations in ambient air. The miniDOAS has been adapted for use in the Dutch National Air Quality Monitoring Network. The miniDOAS...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric measurement techniques 2017-11, Vol.10 (11), p.4099-4120
Main Authors: Berkhout, Augustinus J. C, Swart, Daan P. J, Volten, Hester, Gast, Lou F. L, Haaima, Marty, Verboom, Hans, Stefess, Guus, Hafkenscheid, Theo, Hoogerbrugge, Ronald
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectroscopy
Air monitoring
Air quality
Air quality assessments
Ammonia
Analysis
Analytical methods
Chemical properties
Continuous flow
Cost reduction
Emissions
Environmental monitoring
Instruments
Intercomparison
Light
Measuring instruments
Monitoring
Monitoring instruments
Monitoring systems
Sensors
Spectroscopy
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Summary:In this paper we present the continued development of the miniDOAS, an active differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument used to measure ammonia concentrations in ambient air. The miniDOAS has been adapted for use in the Dutch National Air Quality Monitoring Network. The miniDOAS replaces the life-expired continuous-flow denuder ammonia monitor (AMOR). From September 2014 to December 2015, both instruments measured in parallel before the change from AMOR to miniDOAS was made. The instruments were deployed at six monitoring stations throughout the Netherlands. We report on the results of this intercomparison. Both instruments show a good uptime of ca. 90 %, adequate for an automatic monitoring network. Although both instruments produce 1 min values of ammonia concentrations, a direct comparison on short timescales such as minutes or hours does not give meaningful results because the AMOR response to changing ammonia concentrations is slow. Comparisons between daily and monthly values show good agreement. For monthly averages, we find a small average offset of 0.65 ± 0.28 µg m−3 and a slope of 1.034 ± 0.028, with the miniDOAS measuring slightly higher than the AMOR. The fast time resolution of the miniDOAS makes the instrument suitable not only for monitoring but also for process studies.
ISSN:1867-8548
1867-1381
1867-8548
DOI:10.5194/amt-10-4099-2017