Recipient Organization
SOUTHWEST SCIENCES, INC.
1570 PACHECO ST., STE E11
SANTA FE,NM 87505
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Concentrations of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide are rapidly increasing, and agricultural activities are the dominant source of nitrous oxide. This project will develop instrumentation to measure nitrous oxide levels in agricultural areas in order to better assess the impact of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Southwest Sciences proposes a nitrous oxide flux instrument that is fast (10 Hz), accurate (5%), and precise (0.01%). Agricultural activities are the dominant source of the atmospheric nitrous oxide, an important greenhouse gas whose atmospheric concentration continues to increase with agricultural demands. Unfortunately, agricultural nitrous oxide emissions are poorly characterized in space and time.
Project Methods
The instrument will be based upon a continuous wave, quantum cascade laser suitable for wavelength modulation spectroscopy. Phase I studies will evaluate two promising optical sources for a nitrous oxide flux monitor: an interband cascade laser near 4470 nm or a quantum cascade laser near 7845 nm. The characteristics of each laser source, the tuning capabilities for other trace gas detection, and the feasibility for high precision and sensitivity detection of nitrous oxide will be examined for both optical sources. Based on the Phase I results, the most promising optical source will be chosen and a prototype flux instrument will be developed and tested in the field during Phase II.