Data

Air sampling for greenhouse gas concentrations and associated species, 1984-2006

Australian Antarctic Division
Krummel, P., Etheridge, D. and Steele, P. ; ETHERIDGE, DAVID ; STEELE, PAUL ; KRUMMEL, PAUL
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=http://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/SOE_greenhouse_gas&rft.title=Air sampling for greenhouse gas concentrations and associated species, 1984-2006&rft.identifier=http://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/SOE_greenhouse_gas&rft.publisher=Australian Antarctic Data Centre&rft.description=This dataset was originally set up as a State of the Environment indicator - however, that application no longer functions at the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, so the data have been extracted and attached to this original metadata record for the indicator.INDICATOR DEFINITIONMeasurement of air samples for values of the primary greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) and associated species (carbon monoxide, hydrogen and isotopes of carbon dioxide) in the Southern Hemisphere atmosphere.RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTIONOver the last century the concentration of greenhouse gases has risen in the atmosphere. The average rise is about half that expected from human activities, predominantly the burning of fossil fuel. Thus observations of the concentration of these gases provides a measure of anthropogenic greenhouse forcing in the atmosphere, and for example, monitors the effectiveness of oceans and terrestrial biomes in removing the excess CO2.Measurements of long-lived trace gas levels in Antarctic air generally provide an accurate integration of global exchanges between the surface and the atmosphere. The climate-influencing gases of main interest are gases released as a result of human activity, as well as from (climate-driven) physical, chemical and biological processes in both land and oceans. The Antarctic monitoring, in concert with other global network results, exploits trace gas ratios to identify and locate globally significant exchanges.DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAMSpatial Scale: High latitude Southern Hemisphere air samples are collected from AAD sites by BoM personnel at Mawson station, Casey station and Macquarie Island, and by NOAA staff at South Pole. These complement CSIRO supervised sites at Cape Grim, Tasmania and ~7 other globally distributed locations.Frequency: Typical sites collect ~4 flasks of air per month for subsequent analysis at CSIRO.Measurement Technique: Various chemical analysis techniques (Francey et al. 1996).RESEARCH ISSUESFor global trace gas monitoring, improvements are sought in network intercalibration and in increased sampling, e.g. continuous CO2 monitoring, vertical profiles, continental sites. More generally, improved coordination of atmospheric composition modeling, surface flux measurements and atmospheric transport representations are sought to serve new 'multiple-constraint modeling frameworks'.LINKS TO OTHER INDICATORSMonthly averages of daily maximum and minimum temperatures for Australian Antarctic StationsMean sea level Average Summer chlorophyll concentrations in the Southern Ocean, from latitude bands 40-50 deg S, 50-60 deg S, 60 deg S-continentAverage sea surface temperatures in latitude bands 40-50 deg S, 50-60 deg S, 60 deg S-continentAntarctic sea ice extent and concentrationProgress Code: completedStatement: Because all these gases have long lifetimes in the atmosphere, the measurements at mid-to-high southern latitudes are representative of global values (after allowance for seasonal differences and transport between hemispheres). Trends in these gases would be recorded and compared with emission rates. The values should also be compared with pre-industrial levels. CSIRO sites contribute to integrated global networks as part of the WMO Global Atmospheric Watch program. The small differences between sites are used, along with atmospheric transport models and prior (independent) information on regional processes, to monitor regional contributions to the global changes. The southern hemisphere sites in particular need to be reconciled with CO2 partial pressure measurements (from ships) and monitored for possible Southern Ocean circulation changes due to global warming.&rft.creator=Krummel, P., Etheridge, D. and Steele, P. &rft.creator=ETHERIDGE, DAVID &rft.creator=STEELE, PAUL &rft.creator=KRUMMEL, PAUL &rft.date=2001&rft.coverage=westlimit=62; southlimit=-90; eastlimit=159; northlimit=-41&rft.coverage=westlimit=62; southlimit=-90; eastlimit=159; northlimit=-41&rft_rights=These data are publicly available for download from the provided URL.&rft_rights=Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode&rft_rights=This data set conforms to the CCBY Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=SOE_greenhouse_gas when using these data.&rft_rights=This metadata record is publicly available.&rft_subject=climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere&rft_subject=environment&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > NITROGEN COMPOUNDS > NITROUS OXIDE&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > METHANE&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > CARBON MONOXIDE&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > CARBON DIOXIDE&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > TRACE GASES/TRACE SPECIES&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > AIR QUALITY > EMISSIONS&rft_subject=CARBON DIOXIDE&rft_subject=HYDROGEN (H)&rft_subject=GREENHOUSE GAS&rft_subject=CARBON MONOXIDE&rft_subject=METHANE&rft_subject=NITROUS OXIDE&rft_subject=FLASKS&rft_subject=FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS&rft_subject=AMD/AU&rft_subject=CEOS&rft_subject=AMD&rft_subject=OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN&rft_subject=CONTINENT > AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND > AUSTRALIA > Tasmania&rft_subject=CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA&rft_subject=GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR&rft_subject=GEOGRAPHIC REGION > SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
Cite Saved to MyRDA Save to MyRDA

Licence & Rights:

Open Licence view details
CC-BY

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

These data are publicly available for download from the provided URL.

This data set conforms to the CCBY Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=SOE_greenhouse_gas when using these data.

This metadata record is publicly available.

Access:

Other

Full description

This dataset was originally set up as a "State of the Environment" indicator - however, that application no longer functions at the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, so the data have been extracted and attached to this original metadata record for the indicator.

INDICATOR DEFINITION
Measurement of air samples for values of the primary greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) and associated species (carbon monoxide, hydrogen and isotopes of carbon dioxide) in the Southern Hemisphere atmosphere.

RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTION
Over the last century the concentration of greenhouse gases has risen in the atmosphere. The average rise is about half that expected from human activities, predominantly the burning of fossil fuel. Thus observations of the concentration of these gases provides a measure of anthropogenic greenhouse forcing in the atmosphere, and for example, monitors the effectiveness of oceans and terrestrial biomes in removing the excess CO2.

Measurements of long-lived trace gas levels in Antarctic air generally provide an accurate integration of global exchanges between the surface and the atmosphere. The climate-influencing gases of main interest are gases released as a result of human activity, as well as from (climate-driven) physical, chemical and biological processes in both land and oceans. The Antarctic monitoring, in concert with other global network results, exploits trace gas ratios to identify and locate globally significant exchanges.

DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM
Spatial Scale: High latitude Southern Hemisphere air samples are collected from AAD sites by BoM personnel at Mawson station, Casey station and Macquarie Island, and by NOAA staff at South Pole. These complement CSIRO supervised sites at Cape Grim, Tasmania and ~7 other globally distributed locations.

Frequency: Typical sites collect ~4 flasks of air per month for subsequent analysis at CSIRO.

Measurement Technique: Various chemical analysis techniques (Francey et al. 1996).

RESEARCH ISSUES
For global trace gas monitoring, improvements are sought in network intercalibration and in increased sampling, e.g. continuous CO2 monitoring, vertical profiles, continental sites. More generally, improved coordination of atmospheric composition modeling, surface flux measurements and atmospheric transport representations are sought to serve new 'multiple-constraint modeling frameworks'.

LINKS TO OTHER INDICATORS
Monthly averages of daily maximum and minimum temperatures for Australian Antarctic Stations
Mean sea level Average Summer chlorophyll concentrations in the Southern Ocean, from latitude bands 40-50 deg S, 50-60 deg S, 60 deg S-continent
Average sea surface temperatures in latitude bands 40-50 deg S, 50-60 deg S, 60 deg S-continent
Antarctic sea ice extent and concentration

Lineage

Progress Code: completed
Statement: Because all these gases have long lifetimes in the atmosphere, the measurements at mid-to-high southern latitudes are representative of global values (after allowance for seasonal differences and transport between hemispheres). Trends in these gases would be recorded and compared with emission rates. The values should also be compared with pre-industrial levels. CSIRO sites contribute to integrated global networks as part of the WMO Global Atmospheric Watch program. The small differences between sites are used, along with atmospheric transport models and prior (independent) information on regional processes, to monitor regional contributions to the global changes. The southern hemisphere sites in particular need to be reconciled with CO2 partial pressure measurements (from ships) and monitored for possible Southern Ocean circulation changes due to global warming.

Data time period: 1984-11-01 to 2006-12-31

This dataset is part of a larger collection

Click to explore relationships graph
Help

Related People

159,-41 159,-86 62,-86 62,-41 159,-41

110.5,-65.5

text: westlimit=62; southlimit=-90; eastlimit=159; northlimit=-41

Subjects
AMD | AMD/AU | CARBON DIOXIDE | CARBON MONOXIDE | CEOS | CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA | CONTINENT > AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND > AUSTRALIA > Tasmania | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > AIR QUALITY > EMISSIONS | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > CARBON DIOXIDE | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > CARBON MONOXIDE | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > CARBON AND HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS > METHANE | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > NITROGEN COMPOUNDS > NITROUS OXIDE | EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > TRACE GASES/TRACE SPECIES | FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS | FLASKS | GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR | GEOGRAPHIC REGION > SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE | GREENHOUSE GAS | HYDROGEN (H) | METHANE | NITROUS OXIDE | OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN | climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere | environment |

User Contributed Tags    

Login to tag this record with meaningful keywords to make it easier to discover

Other Information
See the related metadata record for the CSIRO GASLAB data (EXTENDED METADATA)

uri : http://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/CSIRO_AR_GASLAB

Download the dataset (GET DATA > DIRECT DOWNLOAD)

uri : https://data.aad.gov.au/eds/5426/download

Citation reference for this metadata record and dataset (VIEW RELATED INFORMATION)

uri : http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=SOE_greenhouse_gas

Identifiers
  • global : SOE_greenhouse_gas