Global warming has become a phenomenon that has raised awareness around the world. Our research group identifies and measures the levels of trace gases in particular areas to determine which gases lead to the production and depletion of ozone. Air samples are shipped back to the laboratory for analyzing through Gas Chromatography, utilizing flame ionization detection to separate Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide in each sample. Mass Spectrometry is the main analytical tool to measure the concentration of each gas present, which is calculated by the peak area of a sample’s methane curve.
Currently, we are measuring concentrations of Methane gas in Mexico City, Mexico and Karachi City, Pakistan, both of which are densely populated urban areas. Two types of air samples, source and city cans are used to compare the levels of Methane. Source cans are taken from automobile gas emissions, while city samples are direct air samples from metropolitan areas. Samples, tested from May to June of 2006, resulted in high concentrations of Methane in both cities. Both Mexico and Pakistan contained about the same levels of Methane from source emissions, however, the city air samples differed. In comparing the average peak areas, Karachi contained at least twice as much concentrations of Methane within its metropolitan city as Mexico City.
Using experiments that measure trace gases among various cities like Mexico City and Karachi, we are able to pinpoint possible contributors to the rapidly changing atmosphere, which eventually may help to find the specific causes for the rapid depletion of ozone.