Using open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (OP-FTIR) we have measured the variations in ambient concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO{sub}2), and nitrous oxide (N{sub}2O) caused by emissions from motor vehicles at a high traffic site in the Denver metropolitan area. Comparison of the OP-FTIR data to average emissions results obtained from on-road exhaust analysis using individual vehicle remote sensing revealed reasonable agreement, with a CO emission ratio (CO/CO{sub}2) of 0.050±0.004 (100±8 g CO/kg fuel) from OP-FTIR and 0.059 (118 g CO/kg fuel) from the on-road measurements. We also report a N{sub}2O emission ratio of (1.87±0.13) ×10{sup}(-4) (0.59±0.04 g N{sub}2O/kg fuel) from OP-FTIR and outline the potential of OP-FTIR for on-road measurements of several important exhaust components.
展开▼
