STI's Dr. Martin Buhr built a high sensitivity nitric oxide detector for Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) for deployment at the South Pole, Antarctica, from 1998 to 2003 where ongoing studies of natural NO emission from snow are conducted. Dr. Buhr is participating in this study with scientists from Georgia Tech, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and several other universities. This study resulted in the discovery of active photochemistry driven largely by the high levels of NO emanating from the surface snow layer in a region of the world previously thought to be photochemically quiescent.
Dr. Martin Buhr with the Georgia Institute of Technology NO instrument deployed on the ice at the South Pole.
STI scientists designed and fabricated a high-sensitivity NO/NO2 instrument for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The instrument features high sensitivity and speed (~10 part per trillion detection limit for a 1-second integration) coupled with rugged construction suitable for remote deployment. The instrument was used in conjunction with snow chamber experiments in England, and was permanently deployed to BAS Halley Station, Antarctica, in 2003.
The NO2 converter portion of the NO/NO2 instrument.