NARSTO Measurement Methods Compendium Introduction to the Compendium

Accurate and reliable measurements provide the data essential for the advancement of ozone science. The NARSTO Measurement Methods Compendium serves as a clearinghouse of atmospheric measurement techniques, both standard ones such as those documented as Federal Reference Methods and those still in developmental stages. We believe that offering methods descriptions in this concise compendium format will serve the ozone and aerosol research community and the general public by facilitating discussion and exchange of information, providing signposts to key literature sources and intercomparison results, and identifying pitfalls associated with individual methods.

The techniques presented in the NARSTO compendium include those used for physical and chemical characterizations related to ozone and aerosols. Also included are the meteorological measurement techniques that provide data for understanding the transport, formation, and transformation mechanisms of the pollutants. The compendium is organized into three areas; gas-phase species, atmospheric aerosols, and meteorology.

• The measurement methods for gas-phase species are further divided into oxidants, nitrogen species, volatile organic compounds, and aerosol precursors.

• The aerosol section describes measurement methods specifically related to the physical and chemical characterization of atmospheric particulate matter that is closely linked to ozone. The physical characterization of particles generally includes the number, mass, size, shape, morphology, light scattering and absorptive properties, and refractive index. The chemical analysis typically involves the detection of the amount of chemicals associated with single particles or particles accumulated on filters.

• The meteorological section presents the standard and state-of-the-art measurement techniques currently used in ozone and aerosol research. The Methods Compendium includes sections that describe techniques used to assess wind field, the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere, radiation field, and cloud parameters at the surface, aloft, and in profiles.