Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net 1867-8610 2 3 2009 10.5194/amtd-2-1247-2009 http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/2/1247/2009/ http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/2/1247/2009/amtd-2-1247-2009.html http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/2/1247/2009/amtd-2-1247-2009.pdf 1247 1291 2009-05-05 In-situ measurements of oxygen, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases from Ochsenkopf tall tower in Germany R. L. Thompson rthompson@bgc-jena.mpg.de A. C. Manning E. Gloor U. Schultz T. Seifert F. Hänsel A. Jordan M. Heimann Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK University of Leeds, Leeds, UK We present 2.5 years of in-situ measurements of CO₂, O₂, CH₄, CO, N₂O and SF₆ mixing ratios sampled from 23, 90 and 163 m above ground on the Ochsenkopf tower in the Fichtelgebirge range, Germany (50°01´49´´ N, 11°48´30´´ E, 1022 m a.s.l.). In addition to the in-situ measurements, flask samples are taken at Ochsenkopf at approximately weekly intervals and are subsequently analysed for the same species, as well as H₂, and the stable isotopes, δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O in CO₂. The in-situ measurements of CO₂ and O₂ from 23 m show substantial diurnal variations that are modulated by biospheric fluxes, combustion of fossil fuels, and by diurnal changes in the planetary boundary layer height. Measurements from 163 m exhibit only very weak diurnal variability, as this height (1185 m a.s.l.) is generally above the nocturnal boundary layer. CH₄, CO, N₂O and SF₆ show little diurnal variation even at 23 m owing to the absence of any significant diurnal change in the fluxes and the absence of any strong local sources or sinks. From the in-situ record, the seasonal cycles of the gas species have been characterized and the multi-annual trends determined. 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