Gasmet manufactures portable and powerful gas analyzers for greenhouse gas flux measurements. All key gas compounds can be measured in seconds: N2O, CH4, CO2, H2O, CO and NH3.

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases

Biological and abiological processes in soil represent a major source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The measurement of GHGs from soil therefore represents an important part of climate change research. GHGs, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), released from soils into the atmosphere are primarily biogenic by origin.

Soil Flux Measurement Methods

Generally, there are two different ways to measure GHG soil flux: either the samples are collected by syringe for laboratory analysis or measurements may be undertaken onsite in order to avoid the delays, costs and sample transport errors that this entails. The development of portable, robust, battery-powered soil flux analyzers by Gasmet Technologies has enabled the reliable onsite analysis of GHGs.

Gasmet gas analyzers can be integrated with the Eosense multiplexer and soil flux chambers. You can download the simplified setup instructions below.

Integration Instructions – Gasmet X Eosense

This application note provides simplified setup instructions for using the eosMX multiplexer and eosAC soil flux chambers with Gasmets’ portable FTIR gas analyzers. This combined system allows the user to collect multi-species soil gas flux measurements from up to 12 locations at once.

Download integration report

How to Do a Flux Measurement?

Soil flux can be measured using an open-bottom soil chamber which is placed on the ground. The soil chamber is integrated with a Gasmet analyzer, forming a closed-loop system. The gas sample is circulated through the analyzer back to the chamber, and the concentration changes per chambers footprint area are measured over time.

 

Soil flux measurement with portable gas analyzer

Soil flux measurement with portable gas analyzer

FTIR for Greenhouse Gases

Gasmet’s solution to GHG flux measurements is based on FTIR technology. FTIR works by scanning and analyzing the entire infrared spectrum in order to measure all the infrared absorbing gases in the sample simultaneously. Most molecules have a characteristic absorption spectrum that can be used to identify gases and accurately measure their concentration.

The FTIR technology is well-suited for measurements of greenhouse gases over wide ranges, and is ideal for different soil types, such as terrestrial ecosystems, agricultural soils and aquatic environments, with varying GHG emissions. Gasmet soil flux analyzers provide the users with the ability to follow concentration changes in real-time and to study and analyze the results as soon as they are collected.

Portable Gas Analyzers

Gasmet provides two field-deployable non-destructive FTIR based soil flux analyzers for continuous multicomponent gas analyses: GT5000 Terra and DX4015. These robust gas analyzers enable the measurement of up to 50 different gas compounds simultaneously. Both soil flux analyzers are ideal for fieldwork and capable of taking samples from several chambers automatically.

These analyzers do not require span calibrations; measuring the background spectrum with nitrogen gas is all that is necessary. As a result, field operations are quick and simple, and their small footprint makes them attractive in the laboratory environment.

Data Handling

The analyzers are operated with the versatile Calcmet software that offers online viewing of results and powerful tools for subsequent analysis of past measurements. Results are exported in a simple spreadsheet format to allow users to easily access the data for further data handling like calculating fluxes from measured concentrations within excel is simplicity itself.

Can new gases be added to the analysis?

Yes! Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a very versatile technology. The number of measurable gases is unparalleled, and the system is easily configurable to measure new compounds without the need for hardware changes. As all compounds are measured from the same spectral data it is even possible to look back at previous measurements to investigate the presence of new compounds of interest.

 


GT5000 Terra – our solution for soil flux measurements

GT5000 Terra is the worlds smallest portable and splashproof multigas FTIR analyzer. It can measure up to 50 gases simultaneously, making it possible for you to detect the unexpected. Equipped with wireless communication, you can get your GHG soil flux measurement results in real-time on your laptop or tablet.

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