Civil and Environmental Engineering

David's research currently focuses on the development, deployment and testing of an open path atmospheric ammonia sensor based on quantum cascade (QC) laser absorption spectroscopy and wavelength modulation (2f) detection. Ammonia (NH3) is a poorly measured, yet important trace gas in the atmosphere with important links to aerosol processes and implications for air quality and our understanding of climate change. The open path design minimizes adsorption effects that typically lead to significant biases and challenges for ammonia measurements in the field. A prototype sensor was deployed as part of the CALNEX 2010 field campaign at the Bakersfield, CA ground supersite in June 2010. Measuring ambient ammonia concentrations, fluxes and quantifying uncertain agriculture, urban and vegetation ammonia sources are the major research goals.

Updated: August 1, 2011