The Flask and Calibration Laboratory
The Flask and Calibration Laboratory (FCL) is one of the Central Analytical Laboratories of ICOS.
It's hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena.
Mass spectrometer
Flask conditioning oven
Compressor
Gas mixture device
FTIR spectrometer
Calibration using laser-optical instruments
Tasks of the FCL
Flask samples
-
analysis of the following parameters in air samples from the ICOS stations
- trace gas concentrations (CO2, CH4, N2O, H2, CO, SF6)
- stable isotopes of CO2 (δ13C and δ18O)
- O2 level
- initial conditioning of air sample containers (flasks) to achieve long-term stability of the CO2-δ18O signature
- routine leak test of flasks
- sampler development and production
Standard gases
- production of real air reference gases for ICOS stations
- initial conditioning of high pressure cylinders
- calibration of reference gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CO) relative to the established WMO scales (maintained by the Central Calibration Laboratory at NOAA-ESRL)
- provision of standard gases as temporary replacement sets for stations and for round robin intercomparisons
Quality control
- maintenance of comprehensive internal quality assurance procedures
- active maintenance of the link to WMO scales by regular re-calibration of ICOS lab standards by the WMO Central Calibration Laboratory
- organisation of an ongoing international comparison program