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10.5194/acpd-8-9435-2008
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/9435/2008/
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http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/9435/2008/acpd-8-9435-2008.pdf
9435
9475
2008-05-23
Technical Note: Quantitative long-term measurements of VOC concentrations by PTR-MS – measurement, calibration, and volume mixing ratio calculation methods
R. Taipale
risto.taipale@helsinki.fi
T. M. Ruuskanen
J. Rinne
M. K. Kajos
H. Hakola
T. Pohja
M. Kulmala
University of Helsinki, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 68, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality Research, P.O. Box 503, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
University of Helsinki, Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station, Hyytiäläntie 124, 35500 Korkeakoski, Finland
Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a technique for
online measurements of atmospheric concentrations, or volume mixing ratios,
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this paper is to give a
detailed description of our measurement, calibration, and volume mixing
ratio calculation methods, which have been designed for long-term
stand-alone field measurements by PTR-MS. We also show how the information
obtained from a calibration can be used to determine the instrument
specific relative transmission curve, which enables quantitative mixing
ratio calculation for VOCs which are not present in a calibration gas
standard. To illustrate the functionality of our measurement, calibration,
and calculation methods, we present a one-month period of ambient mixing
ratio data measured in a boreal forest ecosystem at the SMEAR II station in
southern Finland. During the measurement period 27 March–26 April 2007,
the hourly averages of mixing ratios were 0.1–0.5 ppbv for formaldehyde,
0.2–3.0 ppbv for methanol, 0.04–0.39 ppbv for benzene, and 0.03–1.25 ppbv for monoterpenes.
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