Backpack Mass Spectrometer for Air and Water Quality - SubAntartic Region

Purpose:
The purpose of this trip was to test a new system designed by Dr. Ken Wright and Jaime Winfield at Inficon, and outfitted with GPS Positioning and a novel Membrane Inlet for analysis of aromatic hydrocarbon. Since the airstream in this region does not directly mix with high industrialized areas, we can get a true base line for these chemistries.

This is a collaborative effort with Inficon, Syracuse, NY, which generously granted the quadrupole mass spectrometer and pumping system, within a very compact and poratble platform.

Problems addressed:

The map below shows the regions that were analyzed. 2 regions were known to have human impact, as they sat within the low lying areas of the local township in Puerto Williams, Chile. The others were up the mountain from the town, seperated from any yet industrialized and vehicle emitting roads, 700-925 meters up.

Below: Map of Air Quality Sites in Navarino Island, Cape Horn (Video English or Spanish)