The research of δ13CO2 by use of wavelet de-noising at 2.008 μm based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

Development of optical isotope techniques has provided scientists with a set of powerful tools for investigating the sources and sink of atmospheric CO2. Here we describe a continuous, high precision, compact and portable carbon dioxide isotope ratio laser multi-pass cell spectrometer with a tunable distribute feedback laser at 2.008 μm based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and, the spectrometer has good temperature and pressure stability. In order to deduce the noise, drift effect and background changes associated with low level signals, a superior signal processing technique of wavelet denoising, which possesses multi-level analytical resolutions both in time and frequency-domains, is introduced. After evaluating the method, evaluation ability and applicabilities of several common wavelet functions are analyzed and tested, the wavelet function of Haar is selected as an optimal wavelet basis function. Based on the analysis of the optimal decomposition level of Haa wavelet function, the VISU function is selected as an optimal wavelet threshold function. The denoising effect and measurement precision are evaluated by use of the VISU threshold function in the measurement process of carbon dioxide stable isotope ratio. The measurement results of carbon dioxide stable isotope ratio before and after suppressing the noises are compared in the same experiment conditions and, the inconsistent reasons of the measured results are theoretically analyzed. This technique allows the measurement of the δ-value for carbon dioxide isotopic ratios with a precision of -12.5‰ and and the measuremnt results show that the wavelet denoising measuring results have higher measurement accuracy, and the measurement precise of carbon dioxide isotope ratio is 7.3 times the original measurement results. The application of the wavelet denoising to the carbon dioxide isotope ratio measurement for the first time proves that the capability of the new near-infrared direct absorption technique to measure isotope ratio can permit high-frequency, near-continuous isotope measurement and obtain the high precision and accurate real-time stable isotope data directly in the field. This technique provides an important tool for studying the resource and sink of green house gases in the future.