Assessment of the greenhouse gases content in the atmosphere using a dynamic Fourier spectrometer

Authors: Budnikov A.A.
Published in issue: #6(83)/2023
DOI: 10.18698/2541-8009-2023-6-905
Category: Physics | Chapter: Instrumentation and Methods of Experimental Physics
Keywords: infrared absorption spectra, carbon dioxide, methane, infrared spectrometry, dynamic Fourier spectrometer, spectral transmittance, integral concentration, volumetric concentration
Published: 19.06.2023

The Earth atmosphere consists of various gases and aerosol particles. Without water vapor, which content is up to 4 %, the atmosphere consists by 99.9 % of oxygen, nitrogen and argon. However, the greenhouse gases contained in the 0.1 % residue are significantly influencing the atmospheric processes such as weather, climate and interaction between the Earth surface and the solar radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb the Earth own thermal radiation and increase the average air temperature. Excessive concentration of the greenhouse gases poses a threat to stability of the Earth climatic conditions and leads to global warming, which is currently the main ecological problem for the humanity. The article presents results of monitoring the greenhouse gases content in the open atmosphere. The work was carried out using a prototype based on the dynamic Fourier spectrometer, which is capable of registering the infrared absorption spectra in the wavelength range from 1.0 to 2.2 m with a spectral resolution of 10 cm^–1. The values of the atmospheric transmittance were registered in the urban infrastructure conditions. Based on the results of the processed data, information was obtained on alterations in the volumetric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄).

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