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One long-standing technical problem affecting the accuracy of eddy correlation air–sea CO2 flux estimates has been motion contamination of the CO2 mixing-ratio measurement. This sensor-related problem is well known but its source remains unresolved. This report details an attempt to identify and reduce motion-induced error and to improve the infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) design. The key finding is that a large fraction of the motion sensitivity is associated with the detection approach common to most closed- and open-path IRGA employed today for CO2 and H2O measurements. A new prototype sensor was developed to both investigate and remedy the issue. Results in laboratory and deep-water tank tests show marked improvement. The prototype shows a factor of 4–10 reduction in CO2 error under typical at-sea buoy pitch and roll tilts in comparison with an off-the-shelf IRGA system. A similar noise reduction factor of 2–8 is observed in water vapor measurements. The range of platform tilt motion testing also helps to document motion-induced error characteristics of standard analyzers. Study implications are discussed including findings relevant to past field measurements and the promise for improved future flux measurements using similarly modified IRGA on moving ocean observing and aircraft platforms.
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Field Evaluation of an Autonomous, Low-Power Eddy Covariance CO2 Flux System for the Marine Environment
Abstract Eddy covariance (EC) air–sea CO2flux measurements have been developed for large research vessels, but have yet to be demonstrated for smaller platforms. Our goal was to design and build a complete EC CO2flux package suitable for unattended operation on a buoy. Published state-of-the-art techniques that have proven effective on research vessels, such as airstream drying and liquid water rejection, were adapted for a 2-m discus buoy with limited power. Fast-response atmospheric CO2concentration was measured using both an off-the-shelf (“stock”) gas analyzer (EC155, Campbell Scientific, Inc.) and a prototype gas analyzer (“proto”) with reduced motion-induced error that was designed and built in collaboration with an instrument manufacturer. The system was tested on the University of New Hampshire (UNH) air–sea interaction buoy for 18 days in the Gulf of Maine in October 2020. The data demonstrate the overall robustness of the system. Empirical postprocessing techniques previously used on ship-based measurements to address motion sensitivity of CO2analyzers were generally not effective for the stock sensor. The proto analyzer markedly outperformed the stock unit and did not require ad hoc motion corrections, yet revealed some remaining artifacts to be addressed in future designs. Additional system refinements to further reduce power demands and increase unattended deployment duration are described.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2319150
- PAR ID:
- 10496865
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Meteorological Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
- Volume:
- 41
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0739-0572
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 279-293
- Size(s):
- p. 279-293
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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