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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 563-569, 2004
www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/
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Measuring atmospheric naphthalene with laser-induced fluorescence

M. Martinez1,2, H. Harder1,2, X. Ren1, R. L. Lesher1, and W. H. Brune1
1Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
2now at: Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz, Germany

Abstract. A new method for measuring gas-phase naphthalene in the atmosphere is based on laser-induced fluorescence at low pressure. The fluorescence spectrum of naphthalene near 308 nm was identified. Naphthalene fluorescence quenching by N$_{2}$, O$_{2}$ and H$_{2}$O was investigated in the laboratory. No significant quenching was found for H$_{2}$O with mixing ratio up to 2.5%. The quenching rate of naphthalene fluorescence is (1.98$pm$0.18) $times$10$^{-11}$cm$^{3}$molecule$^{-1}$s$^{-1}$ for N$_{2}$, and (2.48$pm$0.08)$times$10$^{-10}$cm$^{3}$molecule$^{-1}$s$^{-1}$ for O$_{2}$ at 297 K. Instrument calibrations were performed with a range of naphthalene mixing ratios between 5 and 80 parts per billion by volume (ppbv, 10$^{-9})$. In the current instrument configuration, the detection limit is estimated to be about 20 parts per trillion by volume (pptv, 10$^{-12})$ with 2$sigma $ confidence and a 1-min integration time. Measurements of atmospheric naphthalene in three cities, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, and New York City, NY, are presented. Good correlation between naphthalene and major anthropogenic pollutants is found.

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Citation: Martinez, M., Harder, H., Ren, X., Lesher, R. L., and Brune, W. H.: Measuring atmospheric naphthalene with laser-induced fluorescence, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 563-569, 2004.   Bibtex   EndNote   Reference Manager