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Project title

Innovative sensitive detection of atmospheric trace gas isotopologues

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Environmental Protection Agency

Lead Organisation

University College Cork (UCC)

Lead Applicant

Jarni Braal

Project Abstract

Understanding our environment requires understanding of one of its most significant parts, our atmosphere. The composition of atmospheric gases provides a valuable indicator for the sources and sinks of species, and potentially also of lifetimes and dynamical aspects of the sampled air and by inference then, informs us regarding the changes in our atmosphere due to different influencing factors. Understanding the elemental molecular composition (isotope ratios) of constituents of the atmosphere is central to this study. The commonly used high-precision measurement methods are powerful and flexible tools for the detection of trace gas isotope ratios, but they typically do not allow for real-time measurements and are experimentally complex and expensive. In recent years, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which provides an identifying fingerprint for molecules, has been shown to enable the highly sensitive detection of isotopologues of atmospheric trace species. The suggested PhD project envisages the development of a new ultra-sensitive methodology to measure high-resolution spectra of trace gases, which should not only enable the measurement of concentrations, but also the establishment of isotope ratios. The method is based on the idea to combine the generation of very long optical pathlengths (a longer pathlength allows for better detection limits of the target molecule) for very sensitive absorption measurements, with highly selective Fourier transform spectroscopy. The key to this innovation is the use of optical cavities, which can be used to serve both purposes. The new approach is to be applied to water vapour isotopologue measurements initially for test purposes, followed by investigations of isotope ratios of ammonia, one of the most important pollutants in agricultural but also in industrial settings. The project will provide a deep insight into a variety of cutting-edge technologies with applications not only in environmental science, but also potential commercialization of the technology for other areas.

Grant Approved

�110,000.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/12/2021

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/11/2025