Frequency Response Evaluation of a Low-power Closed-path Eddy Covariance System for Measuring Nitrous Oxide Fluxes

The eddy covariance (EC) method has been widely used to capture the temporal and spatial patterns of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from a wide variety of agricultural ecosystems. Technological advancements in the recent years have brought new tunable infrared laser-based closed-path gas analyzers suitable for EC measurements. To achieve high sensitivity and low measurement noise, these analyzers use multi-pass optical cells with long sensing path. A drawback of these cells is the relatively large internal volume requiring high-flow rate, high-power pumps to attain fast response to changes in gas concentration. Additionally, these cells are prone to contamination and require in-line filters. In this study we evaluate the frequency response of a novel, low-power, field deployable N2O closed-path EC system consisting of: (1) a gas analyzer with a small volume single-pass optical cell, (2) a 3 m sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene ionomer intake tube acting as water vapor permeable membrane to dry the air sample, (3) a cyclone type, non-barrier inertial particle separator (IPS) to mitigate the effects of particulates contamination of the optical sample cell, and (4) a small, low-power pump module with an automatic pressure and flow control. The performance of the new N2O EC system is evaluated in-situ 3 m above a fertilized agricultural wheat field and compared to a co-located fast-response H2O and CO2 open-path gas analyzer and sonic anemometer (IRGASON). Tube delays, determined by cross-covariance of N2O with vertical wind, were consistent over time and varied between 0.2 and 0.5 s. Spectral and co-spectral analysis of vertical wind, temperature, H2O, CO2 and N2O showed good agreement. Ogive functions demonstrated that the new system has adequate frequency response to capture >90% of the N2O fluxes for a wide range of wind speeds and atmospheric stabilities and is suitable for deployment in remote areas.