HTabsOverview Nikira Labs' Optical Extinction Analyzer provides Fast, Accurate Measurements of Visibility (MOR) with No Calibration and No Consumables Aerosol Optical Extinction Made Simple. Nikira Labs’ Open-Path Optical Extinction Analyzer (OEA) is a next generation instrument for accurate measurements of visibility, meteorological optical range (MOR), and aerosol optical extinction. The OEA uses open-path cavity ringdown spectroscopy to measure the total optical extinction of aerosols from first principles. By periodically closing the cavity and purging it with filtered air, the OEA measures the optical loss with and without aerosols. Subtracting these measurements provides the absolute optical extinction due to ambient aerosols from first-principles with no calibration (or self-calibration, if you prefer). Due to its high data rate (up to 10 Hz), the analyzer can be used for both routine monitoring and eddy covariance studies. How Does the OEA work? Ambient air is pulled through a duct by fans at a speed of ~1 m/s. Open-path cavity ringdown spectroscopy is used to make a direct measurement of the optical extinction coefficient (beta) in the sample. The duct is periodically closed and the cell is purged with filtered air to a background measurement. The difference between the open and closed duct values provides a direct, calibration-free measurement of the aerosol optical extinction. What does the OEA Measure? The OEA measures total optical extinction due to aerosols at a specific wavelength without sample handling losses or calibration. Total optical extinction is directly related to the meteorological optical range (MOR) or visibility, and the OEA measured both quantities with high-accuracy. The OEA can be used to estimate PM2.5 or PM10 for air quality monitoring. What is Optical Extinction? Meteorological Optical Range? Visibility? Optical extinction is the amount of light lost over a given distance. The OEA directly measures the optical extinction coefficient (beta in the equation below) in Mm-1. The Meteorological Optical Range (MOR) is related to beta and is how far a person can actually see (called the image visual range). Visibility is the same at MOR, but is a more commonly used term. OEA_BROCHURE.pdf SpecificationMeasurement Parameter: Total Optical ExtinctionAerosolsPM2.5PM10Specification: Further InfoDocuments: OEA_BROCHURE.pdf
