Automated AIR sampling

VSI AS-100 Air Sampler. Measuring the gas composition and/or isotopic signature of air reveals crucial information about water use, carbon balance and greenhouse gas emissions of natural or managed ecosystems. For example, photosynthesis and respiration impart distinct isotopic signatures to the atmosphere that are used to constrain global carbon source/sink estimates and partition ecosystem fluxes.

To support these and similar measurements, we developed the VSI AS-100 Air Sampler to automatically sample ambient air into evacuated / vacuum tubes, vials, exetainers. The air sampler is both lab (220V) and field operable (12V) for highest versatility in a large range of experimental settings. Automatic sampling can be triggered according to a predefined time schedule for 24/7 measurements, or sampling can be triggered remotely - avoiding e.g. contamination by exhaled human breath. With the systems, air samples are stored in pre-evacuated, vacuum vials for later routine analyses of gas composition (with a gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer). Sample collection from the immediate vicinity occurs via needle puncture thru a septum.

 

An automatic vial evacuator (VSI EV-101) to evacuate/reuse vials (incl. helium flushing and a strong vacuum pump) is available as option, allowing to easily prepare "fresh" vacuum tubes both in the lab (220V) and the field (12V).

 

The products originate from ongoing research projects ("Iso-Drone") with academic partners. The suitability of the sampling system to measure isotopic signatures at relevant concentration of CO2 in ambient air samples has been confirmed by initial tests.

VSI AS-100 (Air Sampler)

Product features - VSI AS-100 Air Sampler

  • Mountable on (eddy flux) towers, in tree canopies and on the ground
  • Air sample is stored in pre-evacuated glass vials, easy replacement of standard vials; sampling is conducted by needle insertion thru septa, minimising contamination
  • Sample collection triggered at preset times, allowing for time series measurements (e.g. for automatic soil efflux measurements (in closed chambers)), or via trigger 
  • Battery 12V (for field use) and power line 110-220V operated

 

Optional:

  • VSI EV-101 Vial Evacuator to prepare evacuated vials ("vacuum tubes") for air sampling, optional helium flushing

Selected Readings

  • Colborn, T., K. Schultz, L. Herrick, and C. Kwiatkowski. 2014. An exploratory study of air quality near natural gas operations. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 20:86-105.
  • Farquhar, G.D., Lloyd, J., Taylor, J.A., Flanagan, L.B., Syvertsen, J.P., Hubick, K.T., et al. 1993. Vegetation Effects on the Isotope Composition of Oxygen in Atmospheric CO2. Nature 363:439.
  • Pataki, D. E., J. R. Ehleringer, L. B. Flanagan, D. Yakir, D. R. Bowling, C. J. Still, N. Buchmann, J. O. Kaplan, and J. A. Berry. 2003. The application and interpretation of Keeling plots in terrestrial carbon cycle research. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17
  • Sordi, A., J. Dieckow, C. Bayer, M. A. Alburquerque, J. T. Piva, J. A. Zanatta, M. Tomazi, C. M. da Rosa, and A. de Moraes. 2014. Nitrous oxide emission factors for urine and dung patches in a subtropical Brazilian pastureland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 190:94-103.