Differential optical absorption spectroscopy measurement of CO2 using a nanosecond white light continuum.

We built a differential optical absorption spectroscopy system to measure near-surface CO2 absorption in the atmosphere using a nanosecond white light continuum. The white light laser can cover wavelengths ranging from 420 to 2400 nm, where the CO2 and H2O absorption lines are located. At an optical path length of 568 m, it was possible to evaluate atmospheric CO2 concentration from absorption bands of CO2 and H2O in the vicinity of 2000 nm detected by broadband white light simultaneously.