Point measurements of tropospheric trace gases at Tenerife by a laser absorption technique

Field measurements of tropospheric trace gases have been performed at the Izana Observatory, Tenerife. The campaign was primarily orientated towards obtaining tropospheric OH concentrations. These concentrations are very low and generally do not exceed several 106 particles per cm3 due to the high reactivity of OH. The detection method is based upon optical absorption spectroscopy and is therefore a multicomponent device because different tropospheric compounds absorb in the same spectral region which is used to monitor OR The present results show the quality with which measurements of such small concentrations can be carried out in ambient air and give a general proof of the suitability of the Izana Observatory for such measurements.