SWITZERLAND

CiGAS-CH provides remote access for the support of users of the @VOC@ tool, used for VOC data quality assessment.

Measurement and calibration for N2O isotopes.

Measurement and calibration for VOCs/halocarbons.

PACS-C2 provides the possibility of testing new instrumentation and to perform (inter)calibrations or intercomparisons. 
Existing standard operation procedures can be used for comparison of new with established analytical techniques/instruments with the user.  

The service consists of:
- Provision of data from simulation chamber experiments,
- possibility to perform 6hr experiments in the simulation chamber, 
- technical service to use own instruments,
- training for planning, evaluation and interpretation of experiments. 
- Hands-on training sessions with state of the art instrumentation connected to PACS-C2 
- Training on how to perform chamber experiments by experienced scientists.

PSI has a full suite of state of the art instrumentation. Depending on the objectives of the campaign, the chambers can be equipped with the following instruments for gas phase characterization: a proton-transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS), a chemical ionization atmospheric pressure interface time of flight MS (CI-APi-TOF), as well as the standard NOx and ozone monitors; for NO there is also a high sensitivity instrument (detection limit 5 ppt) available, important for experiments a low NOx conditions. For the characterization of the particle phase the following instrumentation is available: condensation particle counters with different lower cut-off sizes (3 and 10 nm), a particle size magnifier (PSM for even smaller particles, scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) for the size distribution (two different size ranges available with a nano and a standard SMPS), a high resolution time of flight aerosol mass spectrometer (TOF-AMS), extractive electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EESI-ToF), an instrument for on-line determination or reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxides. For black carbon measurements, a single particle soot photometer (SP2) and an aethalometer are available. 

PACS-C2 also focuses on studies on primary emissions and has many sources of primary emissions available (e.g residential wood burning, coal combustion, open burning emissions, vehicular idle emissions). 

CiGas evaluates the NF labeling application and the conformity of the NF with respect to the MGs and SOPs.The NFs are visited by the units for audits with the objective to check the performance of the NF according to the MGs and SOP provided by the audit unit. Deviations from data quality objectives (DQOs) deserve special attention. During an audit, the following will be evaluated: (1) The sampling and instrument set-up, (2) the calibration and zero gas systems, (3) the QA/QC procedures implemented, (4) the training and instructions sessions, (5) data from calibration, zero gas, target gas, and standard addition, (6) the data delivery, (7) the results from intercomparison exercises, (8) the uncertainty evaluation, (9) the logbooks (instrument, measurements, station), (10) the scientific use of the data and (11) the overall equipment of the station.

CiGas is involved in improving, testing and developing new instrumentation for assessing the ACTRIS chemical target variables in air. Specifically, the suitability of new instruments for long-term monitoring within ACTRIS and the conformity with the data quality objectives is tested and characterized.

CiGas provides support to the NFs and users for achieving traceability of measurements, quality assurance and quality control of the measurements and the data before submission to public databases. Therefore, data quality and compatibility of ACTRIS trace gas measurements as defined in the MG are ensured by station performance tests as parallel offline measurements, side-by-side intercomparisons, on-site reference measurements, round robins, and by reviewing the data. CiGas provides working standards and target gas to NFs and users, links the measurement of ACTRIS reactive trace gases to primary standards and ensures the state-of-the-art traceability international scales.

CiGas develops measurement Guidelines (MGs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for biogenic NMHCs, OVOCs and condensable vapours and updates the existing ones for anthropogenic NMHCs and NOx), based on proven procedures and methodologies in close cooperation with international bodies (e.g. Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), National Metrological Institutes (NMIs), AQUILA, EMEP, CEN, ISO), NFs, and users.

Transfer of the necessary expertise to operators of an ACTRIS labeled NF and external users (businesses, researchers, monitoring agencies, etc.) to improve their competencies for conducting measurements, data acquisition, data evaluation, and QA/QC measures while covering up to date guidelines and SOPs for anthropogenic NMHCS, biogenic NMHCs, OVOCs, condensables, and NOx. The consultancy shall be provided to stakeholders, users and private companies upon request.