Advances in the production of traceable amount fraction and isotope ratio gas reference materials to underpin climate monitoring

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Authors: Ruth Pearce, Emily Hopkinson, Aimee Hillier, Sarah Channell, Freya Wilson, Isabell von Rein, Christoph Nehrbass‐Ahles, Tom Gardiner, Paul J. Brewer
Cited by: 0
References: 20

Abstract

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom provides traceable gas reference materials for calibration of atmospheric gas analysers where low uncertainty measurements of the amount fraction and/or stable isotope ratio of atmospheric components are required. Primary gas Reference Materials (PRMs) are available for amount fraction traceable to the SI and, for CO 2 amount fractions between 380 and 800 μmol mol -1 , can be linked to the WMO-CO 2 -X2019 scale via the BIPM.QM-P5 comparison. Traceable stable isotope ratio PRMs for the most potent anthropogenic greenhouse gases and climate relevant species including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and carbon monoxide (CO) are available and are traceable to current globally recognised isotope reference scales including VPDB for δ 13 C-CO 2 , δ 18 O-CO 2 and δ 13 C-CH 4 , VSMOW/SLAP for δ 2 H-CH 4 and δ 18 O-N 2 O and Air N 2 for δ 15 N-N 2 O. This paper details recent advances in the production of PRMs at NPL and outlines the PRMs and services currently being developed.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics Calibration and Measurement Techniques

Publication details

Journal / source
EPJ Web of Conferences
Volume
352
Pages
03002–03002
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN