Spectroscopic sensing of NH3 emissions from flame retardants

A Fourier transform spectrometer system housed in a four-wheel drive vehicle has been developed by the Army Research Laboratory, and recently was used to observe the smoke plume from a large brush fire in the Organ Mountains of south central New Mexico. The spectrometer was approximately 8 km from the fire during data acquisition. After processing, it was apparent that emission spectra from the plume contained ammonia emission lines. Ammonia is believed to have been released by the thermal decomposition of flame retardant chemicals that were being used to contain the fire.