Water-Vapor Isotope Analyzer (H²O, δ²H, δ¹⁷O, δ¹⁸O)

Now you can accurately measure δ17O, δ18O and δ2H in ambient water vapor (to over 60,000 ppm) rapidly with high precision in a measurement time of less than 0.5 seconds. Our Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer requires only 180 watts of power and does not require any sample preparation or user intervention, which enables long-term studies of water-vapor isotopes with unprecedented performance. In addition, the  Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer provides simultaneous measurements of water vapor mole fraction [H2O] with ppm-level precision. For measurements of liquid water as well as water vapor in one instrument, please refer to LGR's new Isotopic Water Analyzer.

LGR's  Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer works seamlessly with LGR's Water Vapor Isotope Standard Source (WVISS), which provides a controllable flow of humid air with known isotope values for  δ17O, δ18O and δ2H over a continuous range of H2O mole fractions (not just at a couple of concentrations).  The  Water Vapor Isotope Standard Source automatically and comprehensively characterizes the operation of the Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer (WVIA) in real time and without user intervention. Together, the WVIA and WVISS provide reliable, real-time, dual-inlet, absolute measurements of δ17O, δ18O and δ2H in ambient water vapor - no other combination provides comparable accuracy, precision and dynamic range.  The rugged, field-portable packaging makes this instrument ideally suited for a myriad of hydrological, atmospheric science, medical, and industrial monitoring applications.

LGR’s new “Enhanced Performance" series incorporates proprietary internal thermal control for ultra-stable measurements  with unsurpassed precision, accuracy and low drift.  Moreover, only LGR’s analyzers provide reliable measurements (with guaranteed specs) at concentrations well above 60,000 ppm H2O in air.  The Analyzer uses LGR’s patented Off-axis ICOS technology, a fourth-generation cavity enhanced absorption technique. Off-axis ICOS has many advantages over conventional cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) techniques such as being alignment insensitive, having a much shorter measurement time, and not requiring expensive and power consuming auxiliary components.

In response to many customer requests, the WVIA is now available in LGR’s “ultraportable” package (U-WVIA) which is compact, crushproof and travels anywhere. Small enough to be carried on-board aircraft (TSA approved), the U-WVIA offers opportunities to measure isotopic water vapor (δ18O and δ2H) anywhere.

The  Analyzer has an internal computer (Linux OS) that can store data practically indefinitely on its hard disk drive and send real time data to a data logger via the digital (RS232) or Ethernet outputs.  Furthermore, as with all LGR analyzers, the WVIA may be fully controlled remotely via the Internet. This capability allows the user to operate the analyzer using a web browser practically anywhere Internet access is available. This remote access allows bios-level control of the instrument and provides the opportunity to obtain and share data and to diagnose the instrument operation without being on site.