GAWTEC & YESS Webinar Series Reactive Gases: Robert Wegener - Measurement of nitrogen oxides

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), the sum of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), play a central role in atmospheric chemistry. Nitrogen oxides form in the atmosphere during lightning strikes or during microbial processes in soils. The main part, however, is anthropogenic during combustion processes, with traffic being the main cause of nitrogen oxides. Although NO2 concentrations are decreasing, it is a still hazardous air pollutant in many parts of the world.

Consequently, there is a need to monitor nitrogen oxides. This is acknowledged in the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmospheric Watch Program.

In this lecture I will give an overview on the diurnal and seasonal cycles of nitrogen oxides an on the factors the govern the observed mixing ratios. In the second part measurements techniques of nitrogen oxides will be introduced.