Measuring atmospheric trace gases using mass spectrometry

Abstract

Three gases account for 99.93% of Earth's atmosphere: nitrogen, oxygen and argon. The remaining fraction is made up of countless other compounds, each of which exist in concentrations of less than a few hundredths of a percent. Despite their seemingly insignificant quantities, however, many of these trace gases contribute to air pollution, either directly or through the chemical formation of other atmospheric species. Accurate measurement of these trace compounds is therefore essential for monitoring and forecasting air quality. Yet, low atmospheric abundances and inadvertent destruction of highly reactive molecules by many existing analytical methods present challenges to quantification.

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