Argus: a new instrument for the measurement of the stratospheric dynamical tracers, N 2O and CH 4

Abstract

We describe here a new instrument for the simultaneous, in situ measurement of the stratospheric tracer molecules, nitrous oxide (N 2O) and methane (CH 4). Argus is unique in its small size making it well suited for limited payload atmospheric research platforms. Argus employs second harmonic spectroscopy using tunable lead–salt diode lasers emitting in the mid-infrared. We first explain the Argus design philosophy followed by detailed descriptions of the instrument's optical, mechanical, and thermal sub-systems. Argus employs an in-flight calibration system providing real time calibrations and tightly constrained uncertainty estimates of the returned data. Data analysis is carried out using non-linear least-squares model fits to the acquired second harmonic spectra. A sampling of Argus data acquired on a recent stratospheric research campaign in the Arctic winter is presented.