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www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/2/915/2009/
doi:10.5194/amtd-2-915-2009
© Author(s) 2009. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Greenhouse gas analysis of air samples collected onboard the CARIBIC passenger aircraft
1Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie (MPI), Air Chemistry Division, Mainz, Germany
2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (CNRS), CEA Saclay Orme des Merisiers, Gif sur Yvette, France
3Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK), Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
Abstract. CARIBIC (Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the Atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container) is a long-term atmospheric measurement program based on the use of a comprehensive scientific instrument package aboard a passenger aircraft. In addition to real time measurements, whole air sampling is performed regularly at cruising altitude in the upper troposphere and the extra-tropical UT/LS region. Air samples are analysed for greenhouse gases, NMHCs, halocarbons, and isotopic composition. The routinely performed greenhouse gas analysis comprises gas chromatography measurements of CO2, CH4, N2O and SF6.
The sampling procedure, the GC system used for greenhouse gas analysis and its performance are described. Comparisons with other laboratories have shown good agreement of results as has a comparison with results from a CO2 in-situ analyser that is also part of the CARIBIC instrumentation.
The timeseries of CO2 obtained from the collection of 684 samples at latitudes between 30° N and 56° N on 21 roundtrips out of Germany to different destinations in Asia between November 2005 and October 2008 is shown. A timeshift in the seasonal cyle of about one month was observed between the upper troposphere and the tropopause region.
For two sets of return flights from Germany to the Philippines the relations between the four greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, N2O and SF6 are discussed in more detail. Distinct seasonal changes in the correlation between CH4 and CO2 are observed.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 838 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 4 Comments) Final Revised Paper (AMT)
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Schuck, T. J., Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M., Slemr, F., Xueref-Remy, I., and Zahn, A.: Greenhouse gas analysis of air samples collected onboard the CARIBIC passenger aircraft, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 2, 915-950, doi:10.5194/amtd-2-915-2009, 2009. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
