TCCON

Mobile- Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer (FTS) EM27/SUN to Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) Comparison

31 August 2015 - 11 September 2015

Lead Scientist: Harrison Parker

Observatory: SGP (Southern Great Plains)

The analysis of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane sources and sinks is crucial to the understanding of global climate change. A network of ground based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers part of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) collect solar spectra and from which total column averages of many greenhouse gases (GHG) are retrieved. More recently, a smaller commercial spectrometer (Bruker EM27/SUN) was developed that makes comparable measurements, but is much more mobile and less expensive. To ensure valid data collection by the portable spectrometers, side by side measurements were collected with the well-characterized and aircraft-validated TCCON spectrometers. Comparisons were planned with four TCCON sites in the U.S. including the one at the SGP ARM site. Validated and reliable column GHG measurements from these portable spectrometers helped characterize the global cycle and regional fluxes.