Advanced Laser Technology for Atmospheric Research
ALTAiR
We develop and employ new and advanced optical technologies, including spectroscopic instruments for trace gas detection, and advanced algorithms for the next generation of ground-based and airborne atmospheric measurements. Working with atmospheric modelers, the ALTAiR group uses the high-quality data thus obtained to further advance our understanding of atmospheric processes and chemical transformations.
Alan Fried
Co-Director
Dirk Richter
Co-Director
Petter Weibring
Research scientist
James Walega
Research staff
Contact
Alan Fried Phone: 303 492-7559 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
In the news
Hunting for emissions thousands of feet up (CU Boulder Today) ↪
Scientific flights above the Front Range will help scientists and policymakers cut unnecessary emissions, reduce greenhouse gases and help local residents breathe better.
Research
A major focus is the development of ever more sensitive, selective, lighter, and autonomous instruments. Although ALTAiR instruments have centered on measuring the trace gas formaldehyde, our approach can be adapted to detect many other trace atmospheric gases. For example, our CAMS instrument is being upgraded for simultaneous fast measurements of formaldehyde with ethane, the most abundant nonmethane hydrocarbon in the atmosphere and the second most abundant constituent of natural gas. Other trace gases are also under consideration for study.
Measuring the trace gas formaldehyde
In 2006, we developed and successfully deployed the world’s first infrared absorption spectrometer employing non-linear optical mixing, known as difference frequency generation (DFG), on airborne platforms for ultrasensitive measurements of the trace gas formaldehyde. Using this and older technologies, ALTAiR group members have acquired measurements of this important ozone and hydrogen radical precursor from the arctic boundary layer, to lower and upper atmospheric regions of China, Japan, remote Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Alaska, and various locations over the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Working in close collaboration with atmospheric modelers, the ALTAiR group further analyze their high quality data thus acquired to advance the understanding of atmospheric hydrocarbon oxidation processes, chemical transformations, and ozone production rates throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere.
Petter Weibring operates CAMS, a sensitive DFG spectrometer, during a flight on a NCAR/NSF Gulfstream-V aircraft to study formaldehyde transported from low altitudes to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
In 2012, the ALTAiR group developed a new lighter and even more sensitive DFG spectrometer for the NCAR/NSF Gulfstream-V aircraft to study formaldehyde transported from low altitudes to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT/LS) during the 2012 Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) Study. Such transport affects hydrogen radicals and ozone formation in the UT/LS. The ALTAiR group also deployed their older DFG instrument on the NASA DC-8 aircraft during the DC3 study.
A publication describing the new DFG infrared absorption spectrometer (Compact Atmospheric Multispecies Spectrometer, CAMS) on the GV aircraft and new multipass sampling cell is forthcoming.
Schematic of DC3 Study showing various airborne sampling platforms and ground-based instruments deployed in 2012. Click to zoom.
NASA’s DC-8 aircraft taken from the GV aircraft during the DC3 Study. The ALTAiR group deployed DFG spectrometers on both aircraft.
Flight tracks from November 2013.
Left: The new CAMS spectrometer optical system, including the multipass absorption cell, shown right. Right: The cell shows spots from a trace laser depicting each multipass cell traversal.
A DFG instrument employed during the 2009 Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack (OASIS) Study to measure formaldehyde fluxes from the arctic snowpack, using sonic anemometers on two sampling towers. Barrow, Alaska
The ALTAiR group deployed their older DFG instrument during the 2009 Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack (OASIS) Study to measure formaldehyde fluxes from the arctic snowpack. During the arctic spring, boundary layer ozone is often completely or mostly depleted by reactions involving chlorine and bromine compounds. As formaldehyde is intimately involved in these reactions, quantifying formaldehyde snow emissions is important for a comprehensive understanding of the chemical processes involved. The gradient flux method, using sonic anemometers on two sampling towers, was employed.
Publications
In addition to more than 120 journal publications discussing their results and new instrument developments, the ALTAiR group published a book chapter detailing both theoretical and practical aspects of infrared absorption measurements. The chapter is in Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurement.
Publications for Richter and Weibring are shown below. Many were co-authored by Fried. His publications can be seen with Google Scholar search results for author:"Alan Fried". Then click on "any time" to see his older publications.