Ammonia is an important gas in the lower atmosphere. It plays a crucial role in the formation of particles and it is a neuturalizing agent of acids. Ammonia is also an important species in the cycling of fixed nitrogen, which is a vital nutrient for life, through the atmosphere and biosphere. However, reliable measurements of ammonia have proven difficult to obtain because of its affinity for acids, water, and surfaces. The goal of this project is the field deployment of the Georgia Tech Vacuum UV/Photofragmentation Laser-Induced Fluorescence (VUV/PF-LIF) ammonia sensor for the Winter 1989 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Intercomparison Program. This intercomparison effort is currently scheduled for Winter 1989 near Boulder, Colorado. The primary purpose of this intercomparison is to test and evaluate the performance characteristics of instruments capable of measuring ambient ammonia concentrations near background continental levels.
