Calibration of an airborne HO<sub><i>x</i></sub> instrument using the All Pressure Altitude-based Calibrator for HO<sub><i>x</i></sub> Experimentation (APACHE)

Abstract. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a widely used technique for both laboratory-based and ambient atmospheric chemistry measurements. However, LIF instruments require calibrations in order to translate instrument response into concentrations of chemical species. Calibration of LIF instruments measuring OH and HO2 ( HOx ) typically involves the photolysis of water vapor by 184.9 nm light, thereby producing quantitative amounts of OH and HO2 . For ground-based HOx instruments, this method of calibration is done at one pressure (typically ambient pressure) at the instrument inlet. However, airborne HOx instruments can experience varying cell pressures, internal residence times, tempe…