In the subject paper [1] the calculated figures of merit are incorrect. Using the peak absorption cross section of a Voigt profile at room temperature and 250 mbar pressure for the 1572.018 nm CO₂ line the noise equivalent figures of merit are: minimum detectable optical density 2.7 × 10^-7 and minimum normalized sensitivity 4.6 × 10^-9 cm^-1WHz^-1/2. The pressure broadening has been estimated by using the pressure broadening coefficients from the HITRAN database.

The three rotational lines listed on page 2455 of the subject paper [1] should be R(20), R(18) and R(16) at 1571.708 nm, 1572.018 nm, and 1572.335 nm, respectively. The correct value of the current tuning parameter in Table I [1] is 0.0076 nm/mA.