Gasmet manufactures portable and powerful gas analyzers for greenhouse gas flux measurements. All key gas compounds can be measured in seconds: N2O, CH4, CO2, H2O, CO and NH3.
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases
Biological and abiological processes in soil represent a major source of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). The measurement of GHGs from soil therefore represents an important part of climate change research. GHGs, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), released from soils into the atmosphere are primarily biogenic by origin.
Soil Flux Measurement Methods
Generally there are two different ways to measure GHG soil flux: either the samples are collected by syringe for laboratory analysis or measurements may be undertaken onsite in order to avoid the delays, costs and sample transport errors that this entails. The development of portable, robust, battery-powered soil flux analyzers by Gasmet Technologies has enabled the reliable onsite analysis of GHGs.
Gasmet gas analyzers can be integrated with the Eosense multiplexer and soil flux chambers. You can download the simplified setup instructions for using eosMX multiplexer and eosAC soil flux chambers with the Gasmet DX4040 and DX4015 Portable FTIR Gas Analyzers here.
Soil flux measurement with portable gas analyzer
How to Do a Flux Measurement?
Soil flux can be measured using an open-bottom soil chamber which is placed on the ground. The soil chamber is integrated with a Gasmet analyzer, forming a closed-loop system. The gas sample is circulated through the analyzer back to the chamber, and the concentration changes per chambers footprint area are measured over time.
FTIR for Greenhouse Gases
Gasmet’s solution to GHG flux measurements is based on FTIR technology. FTIR works by scanning and analyzing the entire infrared spectrum in order to measure all the infrared absorbing gases in the sample simultaneously. Most molecules have a characteristic absorption spectrum that can be used to identify gases and accurately measure their concentration.
The FTIR technology is well-suited for measurements of greenhouse gases over wide ranges, and is ideal for different soil types, such as terrestrial ecosystems, agricultural soils and aquatic environments, with varying GHG emissions. Gasmet soil flux analyzers provide the users with the ability to follow concentration changes in real-time, and to study and analyze the results as soon as they are collected.
“the FTIR technology is well-suited for measurements of greenhouse gases over wide ranges”
Portable Gas Analyzers
Gasmet provides two field-deployable non-destructive FTIR based soil flux analyzers for continuous multicomponent gas analyses: GT5000 Terraand DX4015. These robust gas analyzers enable the measurement up to 50 different gas compounds simultaneously. Both soil flux analyzers are ideal for field work and capable of taking samples from several chambers automatically.
These analyzers do not require span calibrations; zero calibration with nitrogen gas or ambient air is all that is necessary. As a result, field operations are quick and simple, and their small footprint makes them attractive in the laboratory environment.
Data Handling
The analyzers are operated with the versatile Calcmet™ software that offers online viewing of results and powerful tools for subsequent analysis of past measurements. Results are exported in a simple spreadsheet format to allow users to easily access the data for further data handling like calculating fluxes from measured concentrations within excel is simplicity itself.
Can new gases be added to the analysis?
Yes! Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a very versatile technology. The number of measurable gases is unparalleled, and the system is easily configurable to measure new compounds without need for hardware changes. As all compounds are measured from the same spectral data it is even possible to look back at previous measurements to investigate the presence of new compounds of interest.