TY - JOUR

T1 - The Aerodynamic Gradient Method: Implications of Non-Simultaneous Measurements at Alternating Heights

AU - Kamp, Jesper Nørlem

AU - Häni, Christoph

AU - Nyord, Tavs

AU - Feilberg, Anders

AU - Sørensen, Lise Lotte

PY - 2020/10

Y1 - 2020/10

N2 - Flux measurements with the aerodynamic gradient method (AGM) performed with a single analyzer measuring non‐simultaneously at two heights have routinely been conducted. This study investigates the effect of this practice with calculations of single analyzer derived fluxes compared to fluxes derived from simultaneous concentration measurements at two heights for NH3. The results show a mean relative difference of less than 7% for the half‐hour averaging intervals, whereas the relative difference in the cumulative loss of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) is less than 4%. Scatter plots and linear regression show linear behavior with slope and intercept close to one and zero, respectively. The regression coefficients were between 0.913 and 0.966 for the simulations, but with large deviations for the single half‐hour measurement interval. Changes in the starting height and averaging duration at each height for the single analyzer calculations yield small differences, but the effect is minimal compared to the general uncertainty of flux determination with AGM.

AB - Flux measurements with the aerodynamic gradient method (AGM) performed with a single analyzer measuring non‐simultaneously at two heights have routinely been conducted. This study investigates the effect of this practice with calculations of single analyzer derived fluxes compared to fluxes derived from simultaneous concentration measurements at two heights for NH3. The results show a mean relative difference of less than 7% for the half‐hour averaging intervals, whereas the relative difference in the cumulative loss of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) is less than 4%. Scatter plots and linear regression show linear behavior with slope and intercept close to one and zero, respectively. The regression coefficients were between 0.913 and 0.966 for the simulations, but with large deviations for the single half‐hour measurement interval. Changes in the starting height and averaging duration at each height for the single analyzer calculations yield small differences, but the effect is minimal compared to the general uncertainty of flux determination with AGM.

KW - AGM

KW - Ammonia

KW - Ammonia flux

KW - Cavity ring‐down spectroscopy

KW - Gradient flux

KW - NH3

U2 - 10.3390/atmos11101067

DO - 10.3390/atmos11101067

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

JO - Atmosphere

JF - Atmosphere

SN - 2073-4433

IS - 10

M1 - 1067

ER -