Articles | Volume 18, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-151-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-151-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Jan 2025
Research article |
| 13 Jan 2025
| 13 Jan 2025
Direct high-precision radon quantification for interpreting high-frequency greenhouse gas measurements
Dafina Kikaj
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
Edward Chung
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
Alan D. Griffiths
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC NSW 2232, Australia
Scott D. Chambers
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC NSW 2232, Australia
Grant Forster
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Angelina Wenger
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Penelope Pickers
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Chris Rennick
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
Simon O'Doherty
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Joseph Pitt
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Kieran Stanley
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Dickon Young
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Leigh S. Fleming
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
now at: GNS Science, Gracefield, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand
Karina Adcock
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Emmal Safi
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
Tim Arnold
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Related authors
Fabian Maier, Eva Falge, Maksym Gachkivskyi, Stephan Henne, Ute Karstens, Dafina Kikaj, Ingeborg Levin, Alistair Manning, Christian Rödenbeck, and Christoph Gerbig
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-477, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-477, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The radioactive noble gas radon (222Rn) is a suitable natural tracer for atmospheric transport and mixing processes that can be used to validate and calibrate atmospheric transport models. However, this requires accurate estimates of the 222Rn flux from the soil into the atmosphere. In our study, we evaluate the reliability of process-based 222Rn flux maps for Europe using a 222Rn inversion. Our inversion results can give some indications on how to improve the process-based 222Rn flux maps.
Camille Yver-Kwok, Michel Ramonet, Léonard Rivier, Jinghui Lian, Claudia Grossi, Roger Curcoll, Dafina Kikaj, Edward Chung, and Ute Karstens
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3107, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3107, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we use greenhouse gas and radon data from a tall tower in France to estimate their fluxes within the station footprint from January 2017 to December 2022 using the Radon Tracer Method. Using the latest radon exhalation maps and standardized radon measurements, we found the greenhouse gas fluxes to be in agreement with the literature. Compared to inventories, there is a general agreement except for carbon dioxide where we show that the biogenic fluxes are not well represented in the model.
Stefan Röttger, Annette Röttger, Claudia Grossi, Arturo Vargas, Ute Karstens, Giorgia Cinelli, Edward Chung, Dafina Kikaj, Chris Rennick, Florian Mertes, and Ileana Radulescu
Adv. Geosci., 57, 37–47, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-37-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-37-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Radon gas is the largest source of public exposure to naturally occurring radioactivity. Radon can also be used, as a tracer to improve indirectly the estimates of greenhouse gases important for supporting successful GHG mitigation strategies.
Both climate and radiation protection research communities need improved traceable low-level atmospheric radon measurements. The EMPIR project 19ENV01 traceRadon started to provide the necessary measurement infrastructure and transfer standards.
Kirstin Gerrand, Elena Fillola, Alistair J. Manning, Jgor Arduini, Paul B. Krummel, Chris R. Lunder, Jens Mühle, Simon O'Doherty, Sunyoung Park, Ronald G. Prinn, Stefan Reimann, Dickon Young, and Matthew Rigby
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4137, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
Short summary
Short summary
To analyse long-term trends in atmospheric trace gas concentrations, it is important to identify data points minimally affected by local pollution sources or air masses carried from other latitudes or altitudes. Traditional methods for detecting these “baselines” are computationally expensive or lack a basis in physical principles. This paper introduces a machine-learning method that uses meteorological data and offers significantly lower computational costs compared to physics-based techniques.
Xiao Lu, Yiming Liu, Jiayin Su, Xiang Weng, Tabish Ansari, Yuqiang Zhang, Guowen He, Yuqi Zhu, Haolin Wang, Ganquan Zeng, Jingyu Li, Cheng He, Shuai Li, Teerachai Amnuaylojaroen, Tim Butler, Qi Fan, Shaojia Fan, Grant L. Forster, Meng Gao, Jianlin Hu, Yugo Kanaya, Mohd Talib Latif, Keding Lu, Philippe Nédélec, Peer Nowack, Bastien Sauvage, Xiaobin Xu, Lin Zhang, Ke Li, Ja-Ho Koo, and Tatsuya Nagashima
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7991–8028, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7991-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7991-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyzes summertime ozone trends in East and Southeast Asia derived from a comprehensive observational database spanning from 1995 to 2019, incorporating aircraft observations, ozonesonde data, and measurements from 2500 surface sites. Multiple models are applied to attribute to changes in anthropogenic emissions and climate. The results highlight that increases in anthropogenic emissions are the primary driver of ozone increases both in the free troposphere and at the surface.
Luke M. Western, Stephen Bourguet, Molly Crotwell, Lei Hu, Paul B. Krummel, Hélène De Longueville, Alistair J. Mainning, Jens Mühle, Dominique Rust, Isaac Vimont, Martin K. Vollmer, Minde An, Jgor Arduini, Andreas Engel, Paul J. Fraser, Anita L. Ganesan, Christina M. Harth, Chris Lunder, Michela Maione, Stephen A. Montzka, David Nance, Simon O’Doherty, Sunyoung Park, Stefan Reimann, Peter K. Salameh, Roland Schmidt, Kieran M. Stanley, Thomas Wagenhäuser, Dickon Young, Matt Rigby, Ronald G. Prinn, and Ray F. Weiss
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3000, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3000, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
We used atmospheric measurements to estimate emissions of two gases, called HCFC-123 and HCFC-124, that harm the ozone layer. Despite international regulation to stop their production, we found that their emissions have not fallen. This may be linked to how they are used to make other chemicals. Our findings show that some banned substances are still reaching the atmosphere, likely through leaks during chemical production, which could slow the recovery of the ozone layer.
Luke M. Western, Matthew Rigby, Jens Mühle, Paul B. Krummel, Chris R. Lunder, Simon O'Doherty, Stefan Reimann, Martin K. Vollmer, Dickon Young, Ben Adam, Paul J. Fraser, Anita L. Ganesan, Christina M. Harth, Ove Hermansen, Jooil Kim, Ray L. Langenfelds, Zoë M. Loh, Blagoj Mitrevski, Joseph R. Pitt, Peter K. Salameh, Roland Schmidt, Kieran Stanley, Ann R. Stavert, Hsiang-Jui Wang, Ray F. Weiss, and Ronald G. Prinn
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-348, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-348, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
We used global measurements and an atmospheric model to estimate how emissions and abundances of 42 chemically and radiatively important trace gases have changed over time. These gases affect the Earth's radiative balance and the ozone layer. Our data sets help track progress in reducing harmful. This work supports international efforts to protect the environment by providing clear, long-term, consistent data on how these gases are changing in the atmosphere.
Sara M. Defratyka, Julianne M. Fernandez, Getachew A. Adnew, Guannan Dong, Peter M. J. Douglas, Daniel L. Eldridge, Giuseppe Etiope, Thomas Giunta, Mojhgan A. Haghnegahdar, Alexander N. Hristov, Nicole Hultquist, Iñaki Vadillo, Josue Jautzy, Ji-Hyun Kim, Jabrane Labidi, Ellen Lalk, Wil Leavitt, Jiawen Li, Li-Hung Lin, Jiarui Liu, Lucia Ojeda, Shuhei Ono, Jeemin Rhim, Thomas Röckmann, Barbara Sherwood Lollar, Malavika Sivan, Jiayang Sun, Gregory T. Ventura, David T. Wang, Edward D. Young, Naizhong Zhang, and Tim Arnold
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-41, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-41, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
Measurement of methane’s doubly substituted isotopologues at natural abundances holds promise for better constraining the Earth’s atmospheric CH4 budget. We compiled 1475 measurements from field samples and laboratory experiments, conducted since 2014, to facilitate the differentiation of CH4 formation pathways and processes, to identify existing gaps limiting application of Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2, and to develop isotope ratio source signature inputs for global CH4 flux modelling.
Timur Cinay, Dickon Young, Nazaret Narváez Jimenez, Cristina Vintimilla-Palacios, Ariel Pila Alonso, Paul B. Krummel, William Vizuete, and Andrew R. Babbin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4703–4718, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4703-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We present the initial 15 months of nitrous oxide measurements from the Galapagos Emissions Monitoring Station. The observed variability in atmospheric mole fractions during this period can be linked to several factors: seasonal variations in trade wind speed and direction across the eastern Pacific, differences in the transport history of air masses sampled, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in regional marine nitrous oxide emissions from the coastal upwelling systems of Peru and Chile.
Martin Vojta, Andreas Plach, Rona L. Thompson, Pallav Purohit, Kieran Stanley, Simon O’Doherty, Dickon Young, Joe Pitt, Xin Lan, and Andreas Stohl
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1095, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1095, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We determine European emissions of the highly potent greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride from 2005 to 2021 – focusing on high-emitting countries and the aggregated EU-27 emissions. Emissions declined in most regions, likely due to EU F-gas regulations. However, our results reveal that most studied countries underestimate their emissions in their national reports. Our sensitivity tests highlight the importance of dense observational networks for reliable inversion-based emission estimates.
Fabian Maier, Eva Falge, Maksym Gachkivskyi, Stephan Henne, Ute Karstens, Dafina Kikaj, Ingeborg Levin, Alistair Manning, Christian Rödenbeck, and Christoph Gerbig
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-477, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-477, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The radioactive noble gas radon (222Rn) is a suitable natural tracer for atmospheric transport and mixing processes that can be used to validate and calibrate atmospheric transport models. However, this requires accurate estimates of the 222Rn flux from the soil into the atmosphere. In our study, we evaluate the reliability of process-based 222Rn flux maps for Europe using a 222Rn inversion. Our inversion results can give some indications on how to improve the process-based 222Rn flux maps.
Ryan Hossaini, David Sherry, Zihao Wang, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Wuhu Feng, David E. Oram, Karina E. Adcock, Stephen A. Montzka, Isobel J. Simpson, Andrea Mazzeo, Amber A. Leeson, Elliot Atlas, and Charles C.-K. Chou
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13457–13475, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13457-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13457-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
DCE (1,2-dichloroethane) is an industrial chemical used to produce PVC (polyvinyl chloride). We analysed DCE production data to estimate global DCE emissions (2002–2020). The emissions were included in an atmospheric model and evaluated by comparing simulated DCE to DCE measurements in the troposphere. We show that DCE contributes ozone-depleting Cl to the stratosphere and that this has increased with increasing DCE emissions. DCE’s impact on stratospheric O3 is currently small but non-zero.
Camille Yver-Kwok, Michel Ramonet, Léonard Rivier, Jinghui Lian, Claudia Grossi, Roger Curcoll, Dafina Kikaj, Edward Chung, and Ute Karstens
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3107, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3107, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we use greenhouse gas and radon data from a tall tower in France to estimate their fluxes within the station footprint from January 2017 to December 2022 using the Radon Tracer Method. Using the latest radon exhalation maps and standardized radon measurements, we found the greenhouse gas fluxes to be in agreement with the literature. Compared to inventories, there is a general agreement except for carbon dioxide where we show that the biogenic fluxes are not well represented in the model.
Hannah Chawner, Eric Saboya, Karina E. Adcock, Tim Arnold, Yuri Artioli, Caroline Dylag, Grant L. Forster, Anita Ganesan, Heather Graven, Gennadi Lessin, Peter Levy, Ingrid T. Luijkx, Alistair Manning, Penelope A. Pickers, Chris Rennick, Christian Rödenbeck, and Matthew Rigby
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4231–4252, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4231-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4231-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The quantity of atmospheric potential oxygen (APO), derived from coincident measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2), has been proposed as a tracer for fossil fuel CO2 emissions. In this model sensitivity study, we examine the use of APO for this purpose in the UK and compare our model to observations. We find that our model simulations are most sensitive to uncertainties relating to ocean fluxes and boundary conditions.
Emily Dowd, Alistair J. Manning, Bryn Orth-Lashley, Marianne Girard, James France, Rebecca E. Fisher, Dave Lowry, Mathias Lanoisellé, Joseph R. Pitt, Kieran M. Stanley, Simon O'Doherty, Dickon Young, Glen Thistlethwaite, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Emanuel Gloor, and Chris Wilson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1599–1615, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1599-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1599-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We provide the first validation of the satellite-derived emission estimates using surface-based mobile greenhouse gas surveys of an active gas leak detected near Cheltenham, UK. GHGSat’s emission estimates broadly agree with the surface-based mobile survey and steps were taken to fix the leak, highlighting the importance of satellite data in identifying emissions and helping to reduce our human impact on climate change.
Rona L. Thompson, Stephen A. Montzka, Martin K. Vollmer, Jgor Arduini, Molly Crotwell, Paul B. Krummel, Chris Lunder, Jens Mühle, Simon O'Doherty, Ronald G. Prinn, Stefan Reimann, Isaac Vimont, Hsiang Wang, Ray F. Weiss, and Dickon Young
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1415–1427, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1415-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1415-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The hydroxyl radical determines the atmospheric lifetimes of numerous species including methane. Since OH is very short-lived, it is not possible to directly measure its concentration on scales relevant for understanding its effect on other species. Here, OH is inferred by looking at changes in hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). We find that OH levels have been fairly stable over our study period (2004 to 2021), suggesting that OH is not the main driver of the recent increase in atmospheric methane.
Christian Rödenbeck, Karina E. Adcock, Markus Eritt, Maksym Gachkivskyi, Christoph Gerbig, Samuel Hammer, Armin Jordan, Ralph F. Keeling, Ingeborg Levin, Fabian Maier, Andrew C. Manning, Heiko Moossen, Saqr Munassar, Penelope A. Pickers, Michael Rothe, Yasunori Tohjima, and Sönke Zaehle
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15767–15782, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15767-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15767-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The carbon dioxide content of the Earth atmosphere is increasing due to human emissions from burning of fossil fuels, causing global climate change. The strength of the fossil-fuel emissions is estimated by inventories based on energy data, but independent validation of these inventories has been recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Here we investigate the potential to validate inventories based on measurements of small changes in the atmospheric oxygen content.
Karina E. Adcock, Penelope A. Pickers, Andrew C. Manning, Grant L. Forster, Leigh S. Fleming, Thomas Barningham, Philip A. Wilson, Elena A. Kozlova, Marica Hewitt, Alex J. Etchells, and Andy J. Macdonald
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5183–5206, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5183-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5183-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a 12-year time series of continuous atmospheric measurements of O2 and CO2 at the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory in the United Kingdom. These measurements are combined into the term atmospheric potential oxygen (APO), a tracer that is not influenced by land biosphere processes. The datasets show a long-term increasing trend in CO2 and decreasing trends in O2 and APO between 2010 and 2021.
Robert Woodward-Massey, Roberto Sommariva, Lisa K. Whalley, Danny R. Cryer, Trevor Ingham, William J. Bloss, Stephen M. Ball, Sam Cox, James D. Lee, Chris P. Reed, Leigh R. Crilley, Louisa J. Kramer, Brian J. Bandy, Grant L. Forster, Claire E. Reeves, Paul S. Monks, and Dwayne E. Heard
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14393–14424, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14393-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14393-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of OH, HO2 and RO2 radicals and also OH reactivity were made at a UK coastal site and compared to calculations from a constrained box model utilising the Master Chemical Mechanism. The model agreement displayed a strong dependence on the NO concentration. An experimental budget analysis for OH, HO2, RO2 and total ROx demonstrated significant imbalances between HO2 and RO2 production rates. Ozone production rates were calculated from measured radicals and compared to modelled values.
Ioannis Katharopoulos, Dominique Rust, Martin K. Vollmer, Dominik Brunner, Stefan Reimann, Simon J. O'Doherty, Dickon Young, Kieran M. Stanley, Tanja Schuck, Jgor Arduini, Lukas Emmenegger, and Stephan Henne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14159–14186, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14159-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14159-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The effectiveness of climate change mitigation needs to be scrutinized by monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Countries report their emissions to the UN in a bottom-up manner. By combining atmospheric observations and transport models someone can independently validate emission estimates in a top-down fashion. We report Swiss emissions of synthetic GHGs based on kilometer-scale transport and inverse modeling, highlighting the role of appropriate resolution in complex terrain.
Hyeri Park, Jooil Kim, Haklim Choi, Sohyeon Geum, Yeaseul Kim, Rona L. Thompson, Jens Mühle, Peter K. Salameh, Christina M. Harth, Kieran M. Stanley, Simon O'Doherty, Paul J. Fraser, Peter G. Simmonds, Paul B. Krummel, Ray F. Weiss, Ronald G. Prinn, and Sunyoung Park
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9401–9411, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9401-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9401-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Based on atmospheric HFC-23 observations, the first estimate of post-CDM HFC-23 emissions in eastern Asia for 2008–2019 shows that these emissions contribute significantly to the global emissions rise. The observation-derived emissions were much larger than the bottom-up estimates expected to approach zero after 2015 due to national abatement activities. These discrepancies could be attributed to unsuccessful factory-level HFC-23 abatement and inaccurate quantification of emission reductions.
Sara M. Defratyka, James L. France, Rebecca E. Fisher, Dave Lowry, Julianne M. Fernandez, Semra Bakkaloglu, Camille Yver-Kwok, Jean-Daniel Paris, Philippe Bousquet, Tim Arnold, Chris Rennick, Jon Helmore, Nigel Yarrow, and Euan G. Nisbet
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1490, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1490, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We are focused on verification of δ13CH4 measurements in near-source conditions and we have provided an insight into the impact of chosen calculation methods for determined isotopic signatures. Our study offers a step forward for establishing an unified, robust, and reliable analytical technique to determine δ13CH4 of methane sources. Our recommended analytical approach reduces biases and uncertainties coming from measurement conditions, data clustering and various available fitting methods.
Alice Drinkwater, Paul I. Palmer, Liang Feng, Tim Arnold, Xin Lan, Sylvia E. Michel, Robert Parker, and Hartmut Boesch
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8429–8452, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8429-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Changes in atmospheric methane over the last few decades are largely unexplained. Previous studies have proposed different hypotheses to explain short-term changes in atmospheric methane. We interpret observed changes in atmospheric methane and stable isotope source signatures (2004–2020). We argue that changes over this period are part of a large-scale shift from high-northern-latitude thermogenic energy emissions to tropical biogenic emissions, particularly from North Africa and South America.
Alison L. Redington, Alistair J. Manning, Stephan Henne, Francesco Graziosi, Luke M. Western, Jgor Arduini, Anita L. Ganesan, Christina M. Harth, Michela Maione, Jens Mühle, Simon O'Doherty, Joseph Pitt, Stefan Reimann, Matthew Rigby, Peter K. Salameh, Peter G. Simmonds, T. Gerard Spain, Kieran Stanley, Martin K. Vollmer, Ray F. Weiss, and Dickon Young
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7383–7398, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7383-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7383-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used in Europe pre-1990, damaging the stratospheric ozone layer. Legislation has controlled production and use, and global emissions have decreased sharply. The global rate of decline in CFC-11 recently slowed and was partly attributed to illegal emission in eastern China. This study concludes that emissions of CFC-11 in western Europe have not contributed to the unexplained part of the global increase in CFC-11 observed in the last decade.
Claudia Grossi, Daniel Rabago, Scott Chambers, Carlos Sáinz, Roger Curcoll, Peter P. S. Otáhal, Eliška Fialová, Luis Quindos, and Arturo Vargas
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2655–2672, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2655-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2655-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The automatic and low-maintenance radon flux system Autoflux, completed with environmental soil and atmosphere sensors, has been theoretically and experimentally characterized and calibrated under laboratory conditions to be used as transfer standard for in situ measurements. It will offer for the first time long-term measurements to validate radon flux maps used by the climate and the radiation protection communities for assessing the radon gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Elena Fillola, Raul Santos-Rodriguez, Alistair Manning, Simon O'Doherty, and Matt Rigby
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1997–2009, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1997-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1997-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Lagrangian particle dispersion models are used extensively for the estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes using atmospheric observations. However, these models do not scale well as data volumes increase. Here, we develop a proof-of-concept machine learning emulator that can produce outputs similar to those of the dispersion model, but 50 000 times faster, using only meteorological inputs. This works demonstrates the potential of machine learning to accelerate GHG estimations across the globe.
Ruhi S. Humphries, Melita D. Keywood, Jason P. Ward, James Harnwell, Simon P. Alexander, Andrew R. Klekociuk, Keiichiro Hara, Ian M. McRobert, Alain Protat, Joel Alroe, Luke T. Cravigan, Branka Miljevic, Zoran D. Ristovski, Robyn Schofield, Stephen R. Wilson, Connor J. Flynn, Gourihar R. Kulkarni, Gerald G. Mace, Greg M. McFarquhar, Scott D. Chambers, Alastair G. Williams, and Alan D. Griffiths
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3749–3777, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3749-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3749-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Observations of aerosols in pristine regions are rare but are vital to constraining the natural baseline from which climate simulations are calculated. Here we present recent seasonal observations of aerosols from the Southern Ocean and contrast them with measurements from Antarctica, Australia and regionally relevant voyages. Strong seasonal cycles persist, but striking differences occur at different latitudes. This study highlights the need for more long-term observations in remote regions.
Leigh S. Fleming, Andrew C. Manning, Penelope A. Pickers, Grant L. Forster, and Alex J. Etchells
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 387–401, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-387-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-387-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of atmospheric O2 can help constrain the carbon cycle processes and quantify fossil fuel CO2 emissions; however, measurement of atmospheric O2 is very challenging, and existing analysers are complex systems to build and maintain. We have tested a new O2 analyser (Picarro Inc. G2207-i) in the laboratory and at Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory. We have found that the G2207-i does not perform as well as an existing O2 analyser from Sable Systems Inc.
Kim A. P. Faassen, Linh N. T. Nguyen, Eadin R. Broekema, Bert A. M. Kers, Ivan Mammarella, Timo Vesala, Penelope A. Pickers, Andrew C. Manning, Jordi Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, Harro A. J. Meijer, Wouter Peters, and Ingrid T. Luijkx
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 851–876, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-851-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-851-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The exchange ratio (ER) between atmospheric O2 and CO2 provides a useful tracer for separately estimating photosynthesis and respiration processes in the forest carbon balance. This is highly relevant to better understand the expected biosphere sink, which determines future atmospheric CO2 levels. We therefore measured O2, CO2, and their ER above a boreal forest in Finland and investigated their diurnal behaviour for a representative day, and we show the most suitable way to determine the ER.
Peter Bergamaschi, Arjo Segers, Dominik Brunner, Jean-Matthieu Haussaire, Stephan Henne, Michel Ramonet, Tim Arnold, Tobias Biermann, Huilin Chen, Sebastien Conil, Marc Delmotte, Grant Forster, Arnoud Frumau, Dagmar Kubistin, Xin Lan, Markus Leuenberger, Matthias Lindauer, Morgan Lopez, Giovanni Manca, Jennifer Müller-Williams, Simon O'Doherty, Bert Scheeren, Martin Steinbacher, Pamela Trisolino, Gabriela Vítková, and Camille Yver Kwok
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13243–13268, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13243-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13243-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a novel high-resolution inverse modelling system, "FLEXVAR", and its application for the inverse modelling of European CH4 emissions in 2018. The new system combines a high spatial resolution of 7 km x 7 km with a variational data assimilation technique, which allows CH4 emissions to be optimized from individual model grid cells. The high resolution allows the observations to be better reproduced, while the derived emissions show overall good consistency with two existing models.
Angharad C. Stell, Michael Bertolacci, Andrew Zammit-Mangion, Matthew Rigby, Paul J. Fraser, Christina M. Harth, Paul B. Krummel, Xin Lan, Manfredi Manizza, Jens Mühle, Simon O'Doherty, Ronald G. Prinn, Ray F. Weiss, Dickon Young, and Anita L. Ganesan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12945–12960, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12945-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12945-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance, whose atmospheric abundance has risen throughout the contemporary record. In this work, we carry out the first global hierarchical Bayesian inversion to solve for nitrous oxide emissions. We derive increasing global nitrous oxide emissions over 2011–2020, which are mainly driven by emissions between 0° and 30°N, with the highest emissions recorded in 2020.
Luke M. Western, Alison L. Redington, Alistair J. Manning, Cathy M. Trudinger, Lei Hu, Stephan Henne, Xuekun Fang, Lambert J. M. Kuijpers, Christina Theodoridi, David S. Godwin, Jgor Arduini, Bronwyn Dunse, Andreas Engel, Paul J. Fraser, Christina M. Harth, Paul B. Krummel, Michela Maione, Jens Mühle, Simon O'Doherty, Hyeri Park, Sunyoung Park, Stefan Reimann, Peter K. Salameh, Daniel Say, Roland Schmidt, Tanja Schuck, Carolina Siso, Kieran M. Stanley, Isaac Vimont, Martin K. Vollmer, Dickon Young, Ronald G. Prinn, Ray F. Weiss, Stephen A. Montzka, and Matthew Rigby
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9601–9616, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9601-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9601-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The production of ozone-destroying gases is being phased out. Even though production of one of the main ozone-depleting gases, called HCFC-141b, has been declining for many years, the amount that is being released to the atmosphere has been increasing since 2017. We do not know for sure why this is. A possible explanation is that HCFC-141b that was used to make insulating foams many years ago is only now escaping to the atmosphere, or a large part of its production is not being reported.
Xiang Weng, Grant L. Forster, and Peer Nowack
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 8385–8402, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8385-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8385-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We use machine learning to quantify the meteorological drivers behind surface ozone variations in China between 2015 and 2019. Our novel approaches show improved performance when compared to previous analysis methods. We highlight that nonlinearity in driver relationships and the impacts of large-scale meteorological phenomena are key to understanding ozone pollution. Moreover, we find that almost half of the observed ozone trend between 2015 and 2019 might have been driven by meteorology.
Scott D. Chambers, Alan D. Griffiths, Alastair G. Williams, Ot Sisoutham, Viacheslav Morosh, Stefan Röttger, Florian Mertes, and Annette Röttger
Adv. Geosci., 57, 63–80, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-63-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-63-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
There is a growing need in health and climate research for high-quality radon observations. A variety of radon monitors, with different uncertainties, operate across global networks. Better compatibility between the measurements is required. Here we describe a novel, portable two-filter radon monitor with a calibration traceable to the International System of Units, and demonstrate the transfer of a traceable calibration from this instrument to a separate monitor under field conditions.
Guus J. M. Velders, John S. Daniel, Stephen A. Montzka, Isaac Vimont, Matthew Rigby, Paul B. Krummel, Jens Muhle, Simon O'Doherty, Ronald G. Prinn, Ray F. Weiss, and Dickon Young
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6087–6101, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6087-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6087-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have increased significantly in the past as a result of the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances. Observations indicate that HFCs are used much less in certain refrigeration applications than previously projected. Current policies are projected to reduce emissions and the surface temperature contribution of HFCs from 0.28–0.44 °C to 0.14–0.31 °C in 2100. The Kigali Amendment is projected to reduce the contributions further to 0.04 °C in 2100.
Haklim Choi, Mi-Kyung Park, Paul J. Fraser, Hyeri Park, Sohyeon Geum, Jens Mühle, Jooil Kim, Ian Porter, Peter K. Salameh, Christina M. Harth, Bronwyn L. Dunse, Paul B. Krummel, Ray F. Weiss, Simon O'Doherty, Dickon Young, and Sunyoung Park
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5157–5173, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5157-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5157-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We observed 12-year continuous CH3Br pollution signals at Gosan and estimated anthropogenic CH3Br emissions in eastern China. The analysis revealed a significant discrepancy between top-down estimates and the bottom-up emissions from the fumigation usage reported to the United Nations Environment Programme, likely due to unreported or inaccurately reported fumigation usage. This result provides information to monitor international compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
Robert Woodward-Massey, Roberto Sommariva, Lisa K. Whalley, Danny R. Cryer, Trevor Ingham, William J1 Bloss, Sam Cox, James D. Lee, Chris P. Reed, Leigh R. Crilley, Louisa J. Kramer, Brian J. Bandy, Grant L. Forster, Claire E. Reeves, Paul S. Monks, and Dwayne E. Heard
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-207, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-207, 2022
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
We measured radicals (OH, HO2, RO2) and OH reactivity at a UK coastal site and compared our observations to the predictions of an MCMv3.3.1 box model. We find variable agreement between measured and modelled radical concentrations and OH reactivity, where the levels of agreement for individual species display strong dependences on NO concentrations. The most substantial disagreement is found for RO2 at high NO (> 1 ppbv), when RO2 levels are underpredicted by a factor of ~10–30.
Amy Foulds, Grant Allen, Jacob T. Shaw, Prudence Bateson, Patrick A. Barker, Langwen Huang, Joseph R. Pitt, James D. Lee, Shona E. Wilde, Pamela Dominutti, Ruth M. Purvis, David Lowry, James L. France, Rebecca E. Fisher, Alina Fiehn, Magdalena Pühl, Stéphane J. B. Bauguitte, Stephen A. Conley, Mackenzie L. Smith, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Ignacio Pisso, and Stefan Schwietzke
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4303–4322, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4303-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4303-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We measured CH4 emissions from 21 offshore oil and gas facilities in the Norwegian Sea in 2019. Measurements compared well with operator-reported emissions but were greatly underestimated when compared with a 2016 global fossil fuel inventory. This study demonstrates the need for up-to-date and accurate inventories for use in research and policy and the important benefits of best-practice reporting methods by operators. Airborne measurements are an effective tool to validate such inventories.
Alice E. Ramsden, Anita L. Ganesan, Luke M. Western, Matthew Rigby, Alistair J. Manning, Amy Foulds, James L. France, Patrick Barker, Peter Levy, Daniel Say, Adam Wisher, Tim Arnold, Chris Rennick, Kieran M. Stanley, Dickon Young, and Simon O'Doherty
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3911–3929, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3911-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3911-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Quantifying methane emissions from different sources is a key focus of current research. We present a method for estimating sectoral methane emissions that uses ethane as a tracer for fossil fuel methane. By incorporating variable ethane : methane emission ratios into this model, we produce emissions estimates with improved uncertainty characterisation. This method will be particularly useful for studying methane emissions in areas with complex distributions of sources.
Peter Sperlich, Gordon W. Brailsford, Rowena C. Moss, John McGregor, Ross J. Martin, Sylvia Nichol, Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, Beata Bukosa, Magda Mandic, C. Ian Schipper, Paul Krummel, and Alan D. Griffiths
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1631–1656, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1631-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1631-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We tested an in situ analyser for carbon and oxygen isotopes in atmospheric CO2 at Baring Head, New Zealand’s observatory for Southern Ocean baseline air. The analyser was able to resolve regional signals of the terrestrial carbon cycle, although the analysis of small events was limited by analytical uncertainty. Further improvement of the instrument performance would be desirable for the robust analysis of distant signals and to resolve the small variability in Southern Ocean baseline air.
Jens Mühle, Lambert J. M. Kuijpers, Kieran M. Stanley, Matthew Rigby, Luke M. Western, Jooil Kim, Sunyoung Park, Christina M. Harth, Paul B. Krummel, Paul J. Fraser, Simon O'Doherty, Peter K. Salameh, Roland Schmidt, Dickon Young, Ronald G. Prinn, Ray H. J. Wang, and Ray F. Weiss
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3371–3378, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3371-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3371-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Emissions of the strong greenhouse gas perfluorocyclobutane (c-C4F8) into the atmosphere have been increasing sharply since the early 2000s. These c-C4F8 emissions are highly correlated with the amount of hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 produced to synthesize polytetrafluoroethylene (known for its non-stick properties) and related chemicals. From this process, c-C4F8 by-product is vented to the atmosphere. Avoiding these unnecessary c-C4F8 emissions could reduce the climate impact of this industry.
Stefan Röttger, Annette Röttger, Claudia Grossi, Arturo Vargas, Ute Karstens, Giorgia Cinelli, Edward Chung, Dafina Kikaj, Chris Rennick, Florian Mertes, and Ileana Radulescu
Adv. Geosci., 57, 37–47, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-37-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-37-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Radon gas is the largest source of public exposure to naturally occurring radioactivity. Radon can also be used, as a tracer to improve indirectly the estimates of greenhouse gases important for supporting successful GHG mitigation strategies.
Both climate and radiation protection research communities need improved traceable low-level atmospheric radon measurements. The EMPIR project 19ENV01 traceRadon started to provide the necessary measurement infrastructure and transfer standards.
Zhenyi Chen, Robyn Schofield, Melita Keywood, Sam Cleland, Alastair G. Williams, Alan Griffiths, Stephen Wilson, Peter Rayner, and Xiaowen Shu
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-104, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-104, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
This study studied the marine boundary layer (MBL) process and aerosol properties in the Southern Ocean using miniMPL, ceilometer and sodar. Compared to the gradient method, the Image Edge Detection Algorithm provides more reliable boundary layer height estimations, especially when a convective MBL with stratification existed. The diurnal characteristic of BLH with the veering of the wind vector was also observed. Under the continental sources, the MBL maintained a well-mixed layer of 0.3 km.
Linh N. T. Nguyen, Harro A. J. Meijer, Charlotte van Leeuwen, Bert A. M. Kers, Hubertus A. Scheeren, Anna E. Jones, Neil Brough, Thomas Barningham, Penelope A. Pickers, Andrew C. Manning, and Ingrid T. Luijkx
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 991–1014, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-991-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-991-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present 20-year flask sample records of atmospheric CO2, O2, and APO from the stations Lutjewad (the Netherlands), Mace Head (Ireland), and Halley (Antarctica). Data from Lutjewad and Mace Head show similar long-term trends and seasonal cycles, agreeing with measurements from another station (Weybourne, UK). Measurements from Halley agree partly with those conducted by other institutes. From our 2002–2018 Lutjewad and Mace Head records, we find good agreement for global ocean carbon uptake.
Dominique Rust, Ioannis Katharopoulos, Martin K. Vollmer, Stephan Henne, Simon O'Doherty, Daniel Say, Lukas Emmenegger, Renato Zenobi, and Stefan Reimann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2447–2466, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2447-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2447-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Artificial halocarbons contribute to ozone layer depletion and to global warming. We measured the atmospheric concentrations of halocarbons at the Beromünster tower, modelled the Swiss emissions, and compared the results to the internationally reported Swiss emissions inventory. For most of the halocarbons, we found good agreement, whereas one refrigerant might be overestimated in the inventory. In addition, we present first emission estimates of the newest types of halocarbons.
Sonya L. Fiddes, Matthew T. Woodhouse, Steve Utembe, Robyn Schofield, Simon P. Alexander, Joel Alroe, Scott D. Chambers, Zhenyi Chen, Luke Cravigan, Erin Dunne, Ruhi S. Humphries, Graham Johnson, Melita D. Keywood, Todd P. Lane, Branka Miljevic, Yuko Omori, Alain Protat, Zoran Ristovski, Paul Selleck, Hilton B. Swan, Hiroshi Tanimoto, Jason P. Ward, and Alastair G. Williams
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2419–2445, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2419-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2419-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Coral reefs have been found to produce the climatically relevant chemical compound dimethyl sulfide (DMS). It has been suggested that corals can modify their environment via the production of DMS. We use an atmospheric chemistry model to test this theory at a regional scale for the first time. We find that it is unlikely that coral-reef-derived DMS has an influence over local climate, in part due to the proximity to terrestrial and anthropogenic aerosol sources.
Mark F. Lunt, Alistair J. Manning, Grant Allen, Tim Arnold, Stéphane J.-B. Bauguitte, Hartmut Boesch, Anita L. Ganesan, Aoife Grant, Carole Helfter, Eiko Nemitz, Simon J. O'Doherty, Paul I. Palmer, Joseph R. Pitt, Chris Rennick, Daniel Say, Kieran M. Stanley, Ann R. Stavert, Dickon Young, and Matt Rigby
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 16257–16276, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16257-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16257-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present an evaluation of the UK's methane emissions between 2013 and 2020 using a network of tall tower measurement sites. We find emissions that are consistent in both magnitude and trend with the UK's reported emissions, with a declining trend driven by a decrease in emissions from England. The impact of various components of the modelling set-up on these findings are explored through a number of sensitivity studies.
Alistair J. Manning, Alison L. Redington, Daniel Say, Simon O'Doherty, Dickon Young, Peter G. Simmonds, Martin K. Vollmer, Jens Mühle, Jgor Arduini, Gerard Spain, Adam Wisher, Michela Maione, Tanja J. Schuck, Kieran Stanley, Stefan Reimann, Andreas Engel, Paul B. Krummel, Paul J. Fraser, Christina M. Harth, Peter K. Salameh, Ray F. Weiss, Ray Gluckman, Peter N. Brown, John D. Watterson, and Tim Arnold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 12739–12755, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12739-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12739-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper estimates UK emissions of important greenhouse gases (hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) using high-quality atmospheric observations and atmospheric modelling. We compare these estimates with those submitted by the UK to the United Nations. We conclude that global concentrations of these gases are still increasing. Our estimates for the UK are 73 % of those reported and that the UK emissions are now falling, demonstrating an impact of UK government policy.
Ruth E. Hill-Pearce, Aimee Hillier, Eric Mussell Webber, Kanokrat Charoenpornpukdee, Simon O'Doherty, Joachim Mohn, Christoph Zellweger, David R. Worton, and Paul J. Brewer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 5447–5458, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-5447-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-5447-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
There is currently a need for gas reference materials with well-characterised delta values for monitoring N2O amount fractions. We present work towards the preparation of gas reference materials for calibration of in-field monitoring equipment, which target the WMO-GAW data quality objectives for comparability of amount fraction and demonstrate the stability of δ15Nα, δ15Nβ and δ18O values with pressure and effects of cylinder passivation.
Jack B. Simmons, Ruhi S. Humphries, Stephen R. Wilson, Scott D. Chambers, Alastair G. Williams, Alan D. Griffiths, Ian M. McRobert, Jason P. Ward, Melita D. Keywood, and Sean Gribben
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 9497–9513, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9497-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9497-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosols have a climate forcing effect in the Earth's atmosphere. Few measurements exist of aerosols in the Southern Ocean, a region key to our understanding of this effect. In this study, aerosol measurements from a summer 2017 campaign in the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone are examined. Higher concentrations of aerosols were found in dry air with origins from above the Antarctic continent compared to other periods of the voyage.
Fides Lefrancois, Markus Jesswein, Markus Thoma, Andreas Engel, Kieran Stanley, and Tanja Schuck
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 4669–4687, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-4669-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-4669-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Synthetic halocarbons can contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion or to climate change. In many applications they have been replaced over the last years. The presented non-target analysis shows an application approach to quantify those replacements retrospectively, using recorded data of air measurements with gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We focus on the retrospective analysis of the fourth-generation halocarbons, detected at Taunus Observatory in Germany.
Daniel Say, Alistair J. Manning, Luke M. Western, Dickon Young, Adam Wisher, Matthew Rigby, Stefan Reimann, Martin K. Vollmer, Michela Maione, Jgor Arduini, Paul B. Krummel, Jens Mühle, Christina M. Harth, Brendan Evans, Ray F. Weiss, Ronald G. Prinn, and Simon O'Doherty
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 2149–2164, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2149-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2149-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are potent greenhouse gases with exceedingly long lifetimes. We used atmospheric measurements from a global monitoring network to track the accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere. In the case of the two most abundant PFCs, recent measurements indicate that global emissions are increasing. In Europe, we used a model to estimate regional PFC emissions. Our results show that there was no significant decline in northwest European PFC emissions between 2010 and 2019.
Bo Zhang, Hongyu Liu, James H. Crawford, Gao Chen, T. Duncan Fairlie, Scott Chambers, Chang-Hee Kang, Alastair G. Williams, Kai Zhang, David B. Considine, Melissa P. Sulprizio, and Robert M. Yantosca
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1861–1887, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1861-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1861-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We simulate atmospheric 222Rn using the GEOS-Chem model to improve understanding of 222Rn emissions and characterize convective transport in the model. We demonstrate the potential of a customized global 222Rn emission scenario to improve simulated surface 222Rn concentrations and seasonality. We assess convective transport using observed 222Rn vertical profiles. Results have important implications for using chemical transport models to interpret the transport of trace gases and aerosols.
James L. France, Prudence Bateson, Pamela Dominutti, Grant Allen, Stephen Andrews, Stephane Bauguitte, Max Coleman, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Rebecca E. Fisher, Langwen Huang, Anna E. Jones, James Lee, David Lowry, Joseph Pitt, Ruth Purvis, John Pyle, Jacob Shaw, Nicola Warwick, Alexandra Weiss, Shona Wilde, Jonathan Witherstone, and Stuart Young
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 71–88, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-71-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-71-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Measuring emission rates of methane from installations is tricky, and it is even more so when those installations are located offshore. Here, we show the aircraft set-up and demonstrate an effective methodology for surveying emissions from UK and Dutch offshore oil and gas installations. We present example data collected from two campaigns to demonstrate the challenges and solutions encountered during these surveys.
Patrick A. Barker, Grant Allen, Martin Gallagher, Joseph R. Pitt, Rebecca E. Fisher, Thomas Bannan, Euan G. Nisbet, Stéphane J.-B. Bauguitte, Dominika Pasternak, Samuel Cliff, Marina B. Schimpf, Archit Mehra, Keith N. Bower, James D. Lee, Hugh Coe, and Carl J. Percival
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 15443–15459, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15443-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15443-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Africa is estimated to account for approximately 52 % of global biomass burning (BB) carbon emissions. Despite this, there has been little previous in situ study of African BB emissions. This work presents BB emission factors for various atmospheric trace gases sampled from an aircraft in two distinct areas of Africa (Senegal and Uganda). Intracontinental variability in biomass burning methane emission is identified, which is attributed to difference in the specific fuel mixtures burnt.
Rachel L. Tunnicliffe, Anita L. Ganesan, Robert J. Parker, Hartmut Boesch, Nicola Gedney, Benjamin Poulter, Zhen Zhang, Jošt V. Lavrič, David Walter, Matthew Rigby, Stephan Henne, Dickon Young, and Simon O'Doherty
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 13041–13067, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13041-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13041-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study quantifies Brazil’s emissions of a potent atmospheric greenhouse gas, methane. This is in the field of atmospheric modelling and uses remotely sensed data and surface measurements of methane concentrations as well as an atmospheric transport model to interpret the data. Because of Brazil’s large emissions from wetlands, agriculture and biomass burning, these emissions affect global methane concentrations and thus are of global significance.
Huihui Wu, Jonathan W. Taylor, Kate Szpek, Justin M. Langridge, Paul I. Williams, Michael Flynn, James D. Allan, Steven J. Abel, Joseph Pitt, Michael I. Cotterell, Cathryn Fox, Nicholas W. Davies, Jim Haywood, and Hugh Coe
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 12697–12719, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-12697-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-12697-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Airborne measurements of highly aged biomass burning aerosols (BBAs) over the remote southeast Atlantic provide unique aerosol parameters for climate models. Our observations demonstrate the persistence of strongly absorbing BBAs across wide regions of the South Atlantic. We also found significant vertical variation in the single-scattering albedo of these BBAs, as a function of relative chemical composition and size. Aerosol properties in the marine BL are suggested to be separated from the FT.
Cited articles
Adcock, K. E., Pickers, P. A., Manning, A. C., Forster, G. L., Fleming, L. S., Barningham, T., Wilson, P. A., Kozlova, E. A., Hewitt, M., Etchells, A. J., and Macdonald, A. J.: 12 years of continuous atmospheric O2, CO2 and APO data from Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory in the United Kingdom, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5183–5206, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5183-2023, 2023. a, b
Alduchov, O. A. and Eskridge, R. E.: Improved Magnus form approximation of saturation vapor pressure, J. Appl. Meteorol., 35, 601–609, 1996. a
Arnold, T., Manning, A. J., Kim, J., Li, S., Webster, H., Thomson, D., Mühle, J., Weiss, R. F., Park, S., and O'Doherty, S.: Inverse modelling of CF4 and NF3 emissions in East Asia, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 13305–13320, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13305-2018, 2018. a
Baker, D. F., Law, R. M., Gurney, K. R., Rayner, P., Peylin, P., Denning, A. S., Bousquet, P., Bruhwiler, L., Chen, Y.-H., Ciais, P., Fung, I. Y., Heimann, M., John, J., Maki, T., Maksyutov, S., Masarie, K., Prather, M., Pak, B., Taguchi, S., and Zhu, Z.: TransCom 3 inversion intercomparison: Impact of transport model errors on the interannual variability of regional CO2 fluxes, 1988–2003, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 20, GB1002, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GB002439, 2006. a
Bergamaschi, P., Corazza, M., Karstens, U., Athanassiadou, M., Thompson, R. L., Pison, I., Manning, A. J., Bousquet, P., Segers, A., Vermeulen, A. T., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Schmidt, M., Ramonet, M., Meinhardt, F., Aalto, T., Haszpra, L., Moncrieff, J., Popa, M. E., Lowry, D., Steinbacher, M., Jordan, A., O'Doherty, S., Piacentino, S., and Dlugokencky, E.: Top-down estimates of European CH4 and N2O emissions based on four different inverse models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 715–736, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-715-2015, 2015. a
Bergamaschi, P., Karstens, U., Manning, A. J., Saunois, M., Tsuruta, A., Berchet, A., Vermeulen, A. T., Arnold, T., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Hammer, S., Levin, I., Schmidt, M., Ramonet, M., Lopez, M., Lavric, J., Aalto, T., Chen, H., Feist, D. G., Gerbig, C., Haszpra, L., Hermansen, O., Manca, G., Moncrieff, J., Meinhardt, F., Necki, J., Galkowski, M., O'Doherty, S., Paramonova, N., Scheeren, H. A., Steinbacher, M., and Dlugokencky, E.: Inverse modelling of European CH4 emissions during 2006–2012 using different inverse models and reassessed atmospheric observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 901–920, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-901-2018, 2018. a
Biraud, S., Ciais, P., Ramonet, M., Simmonds, P., Kazan, V., Monfray, P., O'Doherty, S., Spain, T. G., and Jennings, S. G.: European greenhouse gas emissions estimated from continuous atmospheric measurements and radon 222 at Mace Head, Ireland, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 105, 1351–1366, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JD900821, 2000. a, b, c, d, e
Brown, P., Cardenas, L., Del Vento, S., Karagianni, E., MacCarthy, J., Mullen, P., Passant, N., Richmond, B., Thistlethwaite, G., Thomson, A., Wakeling, D., and Willis, D.: UK greenhouse gas inventory, 1990 to 2021: annual report for submission under the Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ricardo Energy & Environment, ISBN 9780993397592, 601 pp., https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/reports/uk-greenhouse-gas-inventory-1990-2022-annual-report-submission-under-framework-convention (last access: 12 January 2025), 2024. a
Chambers, S., Williams, A. G., Zahorowski, W., Griffiths, A., and Crawford, J.: Separating remote fetch and local mixing influences on vertical radon measurements in the lower atmosphere, Tellus B, 63, 843–859, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.2011.00565.x, 2011. a
Chambers, S. D., Williams, A. G., Crawford, J., and Griffiths, A. D.: On the use of radon for quantifying the effects of atmospheric stability on urban emissions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 1175–1190, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1175-2015, 2015. a
Chambers, S. D., Williams, A. G., Conen, F., Griffiths, A. D., Reimann, S., Steinbacher, M., Krummel, P. B., Steele, L. P., Schoot, M. V. V. D., Galbally, I. E., Molloy, S. B., and Barnes, J. E.: Towards a Universal “Baseline” Characterisation of Air Masses for High- and Low-Altitude Observing Stations Using Radon-222, Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 16, 885–899, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2015.06.0391, 2016. a
Chambers, S. D., Guérette, E.-A., Monk, K., Griffiths, A. D., Zhang, Y., Duc, H., Cope, M., Emmerson, K. M., Chang, L. T., Silver, J. D., Utembe, S., Crawford, J., Williams, A. G., and Keywood, M.: Skill-Testing Chemical Transport Models across Contrasting Atmospheric Mixing States Using Radon-222, Atmosphere, 10, 25, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10010025, 2019a. a
Chambers, S. D., Podstawczyńska, A., Pawlak, W., Fortuniak, K., Williams, A. G., and Griffiths, A. D.: Characterizing the State of the Urban Surface Layer Using Radon-222, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 770–788, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029507, 2019b. a, b
Chambers, S. D., Griffiths, A. D., Williams, A. G., Sisoutham, O., Morosh, V., Röttger, S., Mertes, F., and Röttger, A.: Portable two-filter dual-flow-loop 222Rn detector: stand-alone monitor and calibration transfer device, Adv. Geosci., 57, 63–80, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-57-63-2022, 2022. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i
Chevillard, A., Ciais, P., Karstens, U., Heimann, M., Schmidt, M., Levin, I., Jacob, D., Podzun, R., Kazan, V., Sartorius, H., and Weingartner, E.: Transport of 222Rn using the regional model REMO: a detailed comparison with measurements over Europe, Tellus B, 54, 850–871, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v54i5.16735, 2002. a
Ciais, P., Dolman, A. J., Bombelli, A., Duren, R., Peregon, A., Rayner, P. J., Miller, C., Gobron, N., Kinderman, G., Marland, G., Gruber, N., Chevallier, F., Andres, R. J., Balsamo, G., Bopp, L., Bréon, F.-M., Broquet, G., Dargaville, R., Battin, T. J., Borges, A., Bovensmann, H., Buchwitz, M., Butler, J., Canadell, J. G., Cook, R. B., DeFries, R., Engelen, R., Gurney, K. R., Heinze, C., Heimann, M., Held, A., Henry, M., Law, B., Luyssaert, S., Miller, J., Moriyama, T., Moulin, C., Myneni, R. B., Nussli, C., Obersteiner, M., Ojima, D., Pan, Y., Paris, J.-D., Piao, S. L., Poulter, B., Plummer, S., Quegan, S., Raymond, P., Reichstein, M., Rivier, L., Sabine, C., Schimel, D., Tarasova, O., Valentini, R., Wang, R., van der Werf, G., Wickland, D., Williams, M., and Zehner, C.: Current systematic carbon-cycle observations and the need for implementing a policy-relevant carbon observing system, Biogeosciences, 11, 3547–3602, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-3547-2014, 2014. a
Crotwell, A., Steinbacher, M., World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and 19th WMO/IAEA Meeting on Carbon Dioxide: 19th WMO/IAEA Meeting on Carbon Dioxide, Other Greenhouse Gases and Related Measurement Techniques (GGMT-2017), Dübendorf, Switzerland, 27–31 August 2017, Tech. rep., WMO, https://library.wmo.int/records/item/37000-19th-wmo-iaea-meeting-on-carbon-dioxide-other-greenhouse-gases-and-related-measurement-techniques-ggmt-2017#.Xmdl6Oko9rk (last access: 20 December 2024), 2017. a
Dentener, F., Feichter, J., and Jeuken, A.: Simulation of the transport of 222Rn using on-line and off-line global models at different horizontal resolutions: a detailed comparison with measurements, Tellus B, 51, 573–602, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v51i3.16440, 1999. a, b
Eve, A.: LI. On the amount of radium emanation in the atmosphere near the earth's surface, London Edinburgh Philos. Mag. & J. Sci., 16, 622–632, https://doi.org/10.1080/14786441008636540, 1908. a
Fleming, Z. L., Monks, P. S., and Manning, A. J.: Review: Untangling the influence of air-mass history in interpreting observed atmospheric composition, Atmos. Res., 104–105, 1–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.09.009, 2012. a
Forster, G.: Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory, NERC EDS Centre for Environmental Data Analysis [data set], https://data.ceda.ac.uk/badc/ncas-wao/data/ncas-ftir-1/20170801_longterm/v3.0 (last access: 13 January 2025), 2024. a
Forster, G. L., Sturges, W. T., Fleming, Z. L., Bandy, B. J., and Emeis, S.: A year of H2 measurements at Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory, UK, Tellus B, 64, 17771, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v64i0.17771, 2012. a
Forster, G., Chung, E., and Kikaj, D.: Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory, NERC EDS Centre for Environmental Data Analysis [data set], https://data.ceda.ac.uk/badc/ncas-wao/data/uea-radon-1/20180321_longterm/v1.0 (last access: 13 January 2025), 2024. a
Galmarini, S.: One year of 222Rn concentration in the atmospheric surface layer, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 2865–2886, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-2865-2006, 2006. a
Ganesan, A. L., Manning, A. J., Grant, A., Young, D., Oram, D. E., Sturges, W. T., Moncrieff, J. B., and O'Doherty, S.: Quantifying methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the UK and Ireland using a national-scale monitoring network, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 6393–6406, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6393-2015, 2015. a
Geels, C., Gloor, M., Ciais, P., Bousquet, P., Peylin, P., Vermeulen, A. T., Dargaville, R., Aalto, T., Brandt, J., Christensen, J. H., Frohn, L. M., Haszpra, L., Karstens, U., Rödenbeck, C., Ramonet, M., Carboni, G., and Santaguida, R.: Comparing atmospheric transport models for future regional inversions over Europe – Part 1: mapping the atmospheric CO2 signals, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 3461–3479, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-3461-2007, 2007. a
Gerbig, C., Körner, S., and Lin, J. C.: Vertical mixing in atmospheric tracer transport models: error characterization and propagation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 591–602, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-591-2008, 2008. a
Griffiths, A.: anstoradonlab/radcalsim: Radon detector calibration simulator, Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14504261, 2024a. a, b
Griffiths, A.: anstoradonlab/radon-monitor: RDM 10.17.2, Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14504311, 2024b. a, b
Griffiths, A.: anstoradonlab/rdfix: v0.4.1, Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14503937, 2024c. a
Griffiths, A. D., Chambers, S. D., Williams, A. G., and Werczynski, S.: Increasing the accuracy and temporal resolution of two-filter radon–222 measurements by correcting for the instrument response, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2689–2707, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2689-2016, 2016. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
Grossi, C., Arnold, D., Adame, J. A., López-Coto, I., Bolívar, J. P., de la Morena, B. A., and Vargas, A.: Atmospheric 222Rn concentration and source term at El Arenosillo 100 m meteorological tower in southwest Spain, Radiat. Meas., 47, 149–162, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2011.11.006, 2012. a, b
Grossi, C., Vogel, F. R., Curcoll, R., Àgueda, A., Vargas, A., Rodó, X., and Morguí, J.-A.: Study of the daily and seasonal atmospheric CH4 mixing ratio variability in a rural Spanish region using 222Rn tracer, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 5847–5860, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5847-2018, 2018. a, b
Grossi, C., Chambers, S. D., Llido, O., Vogel, F. R., Kazan, V., Capuana, A., Werczynski, S., Curcoll, R., Delmotte, M., Vargas, A., Morguí, J.-A., Levin, I., and Ramonet, M.: Intercomparison study of atmospheric 222Rn and 222Rn progeny monitors, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 2241–2255, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2241-2020, 2020. a, b
Gurney, K. R., Huang, J., and Coltin, K.: Bias present in US federal agency power plant CO2 emissions data and implications for the US clean power plan, Environ. Res. Lett., 11, 064005, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/6/064005, 2016. a
Hammer, S., Griffith, D. W. T., Konrad, G., Vardag, S., Caldow, C., and Levin, I.: Assessment of a multi-species in situ FTIR for precise atmospheric greenhouse gas observations, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 1153–1170, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-1153-2013, 2013. a
Hirao, S., Yamazawa, H., Moriizumi, J., Yoshioka, K., and Iida, T.: Development and verification of long-range atmospheric Radon-222 transport model, J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 45, 166–172, https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2008.10876001, 2008. a
Hirsch, A. I.: On using radon-222 and CO2 to calculate regional-scale CO2 fluxes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 3737–3747, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-3737-2007, 2007. a
Israël, H., Horbert, M., and Israël, G. W.: Results of continuous measurements of radon and its decay products in the lower atmosphere, Tellus, 18, 639–642, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v18i2-3.9204, 1966. a
Jacob, D. J., Prather, M. J., Rasch, P. J., Shia, R.-L., Balkanski, Y. J., Beagley, S. R., Bergmann, D. J., Blackshear, W. T., Brown, M., Chiba, M., Chipperfield, M. P., de Grandpré, J., Dignon, J. E., Feichter, J., Genthon, C., Grose, W. L., Kasibhatla, P. S., Köhler, I., Kritz, M. A., Law, K., Penner, J. E., Ramonet, M., Reeves, C. E., Rotman, D. A., Stockwell, D. Z., Van Velthoven, P. F. J., Verver, G., Wild, O., Yang, H., and Zimmermann, P.: Evaluation and intercomparison of global atmospheric transport models using 222Rn and other short-lived tracers, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 102, 5953–5970, https://doi.org/10.1029/96JD02955, 1997. a, b
Kikaj, D., Vaupotič, J., and Chambers, S. D.: Identifying persistent temperature inversion events in a subalpine basin using radon-222, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 4455–4477, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4455-2019, 2019. a
Kikaj, D., Chambers, S. D., Crawford, J., Kobal, M., Gregorič, A., and Vaupotič, J.: Investigating the vertical and spatial extent of radon-based classification of the atmospheric mixing state and impacts on seasonal urban air quality, Sci. Total Environ., 872, 162126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162126, 2023. a
Lambert, G., Polian, G., Taupin, D., and Lambert, R.: Existence of periodicity in radon concentrations and in the large-scale circulation at lower altitudes' between 40° and 70° South, J. Geophys. Res., 75, 2341–2345, https://doi.org/10.1029/JC075i012p02341, 1970. a
Levin, I.: Atmospheric CO2 in continental Europe – an alternative approach to clean air CO2 data, Tellus B, 39B, 21–28, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.1987.tb00267.x, 1987. a, b, c, d
Levin, I., Born, M., Cuntz, M., Langendörfer, U., Mantsch, S., Naegler, T., Schmidt, M., Varlagin, A., Verclas, S., and Wagenbach, D.: Observations of atmospheric variability and soil exhalation rate of radon-222 at a Russian forest site. Technical approach and deployment for boundary layer studies, Tellus B, 54, 462–475, https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0889.2002.01346.x, 2002. a, b
Levin, I., Karstens, U., Hammer, S., DellaColetta, J., Maier, F., and Gachkivskyi, M.: Limitations of the radon tracer method (RTM) to estimate regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – a case study for methane in Heidelberg, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17907–17926, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17907-2021, 2021. a, b, c
Liu, J., Fung, I., Kalnay, E., and Kang, J.-S.: CO2 transport uncertainties from the uncertainties in meteorological fields, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L12808, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL047213, 2011. a
Lunt, M. F., Manning, A. J., Allen, G., Arnold, T., Bauguitte, S. J.-B., Boesch, H., Ganesan, A. L., Grant, A., Helfter, C., Nemitz, E., O'Doherty, S. J., Palmer, P. I., Pitt, J. R., Rennick, C., Say, D., Stanley, K. M., Stavert, A. R., Young, D., and Rigby, M.: Atmospheric observations consistent with reported decline in the UK's methane emissions (2013–2020), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 16257–16276, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16257-2021, 2021. a
Mahowald, N. M., Rasch, P. J., and Prinn, R. G.: Cumulus parameterizations in chemical transport models, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 100, 26173–26189, https://doi.org/10.1029/95JD02606, 1995. a
Manning, A. J., O'Doherty, S., Jones, A. R., Simmonds, P. G., and Derwent, R. G.: Estimating UK methane and nitrous oxide emissions from 1990 to 2007 using an inversion modeling approach, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 116, D02305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014763, 2011. a
Manning, A. J., Redington, A. L., Say, D., O'Doherty, S., Young, D., Simmonds, P. G., Vollmer, M. K., Mühle, J., Arduini, J., Spain, G., Wisher, A., Maione, M., Schuck, T. J., Stanley, K., Reimann, S., Engel, A., Krummel, P. B., Fraser, P. J., Harth, C. M., Salameh, P. K., Weiss, R. F., Gluckman, R., Brown, P. N., Watterson, J. D., and Arnold, T.: Evidence of a recent decline in UK emissions of hydrofluorocarbons determined by the InTEM inverse model and atmospheric measurements, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 12739–12755, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12739-2021, 2021. a
Munassar, S., Monteil, G., Scholze, M., Karstens, U., Rödenbeck, C., Koch, F.-T., Totsche, K. U., and Gerbig, C.: Why do inverse models disagree? A case study with two European CO2 inversions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2813–2828, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2813-2023, 2023. a
Nisbet, E. and Weiss, R.: Top-Down Versus Bottom-Up, Science, 328, 1241–1243, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1189936, 2010. a
O'Doherty, S., Arnold, T., Chung, E., Ganesan, A., Garrard, N., Grant, A., Kikaj, D., Pitt, J., Rennick, C., Safi, E., Say, D., Spain, G., Stanley, K., Stavert, A., Wenger, A., Wisher, A., and Young, D.: Atmospheric trace gas observations from the UK Deriving Emissions linked to Climate Change (DECC) Network and associated data – Version 24.09, NERC EDS Centre for Environmental Data Analysis [data set], https://doi.org/10.5285/bd7164851bcc491b912f9d650fcf7981, 2024. a
Penkett, S. A., Plane, J. M. C., Comes, F. J., Clemitshaw, K. C., and Coe, H.: The Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory, J. Atmos. Chem., 33, 107–110, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026428102821, 1999. a
Pereira, E. B. and Da Silva, H. E.: Atmospheric radon measurements by electrostatic precipitation, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 280, 503–505, https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(89)90960-1, 1989. a, b
Perrino, C., Pietrodangelo, A., and Febo, A.: An atmospheric stability index based on radon progeny measurements for the evaluation of primary urban pollution, Atmos. Environ., 35, 5235–5244, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(01)00349-1, 2001. a
Polian, G., Lambert, G., Ardouin, B., and Jegou, A.: Long-range transport of continental radon in subantarctic and antarctic areas, Tellus B, 38, 178–189, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v38i3-4.15126, 1986. a, b
Röttger, S., Röttger, A., Mertes, F., Morosch, V., Ballé, T., and Chambers, S.: Evolution of traceable radon emanation sources from MBq to few Bq, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 196, 110726, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110726, 2023. a, b, c, d
Schmithüsen, D., Chambers, S., Fischer, B., Gilge, S., Hatakka, J., Kazan, V., Neubert, R., Paatero, J., Ramonet, M., Schlosser, C., Schmid, S., Vermeulen, A., and Levin, I.: A European-wide 222radon and 222radon progeny comparison study, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 1299–1312, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1299-2017, 2017. a
Stanley, K. M., Grant, A., O'Doherty, S., Young, D., Manning, A. J., Stavert, A. R., Spain, T. G., Salameh, P. K., Harth, C. M., Simmonds, P. G., Sturges, W. T., Oram, D. E., and Derwent, R. G.: Greenhouse gas measurements from a UK network of tall towers: technical description and first results, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 1437–1458, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-1437-2018, 2018. a, b, c
Stavert, A. R., O'Doherty, S., Stanley, K., Young, D., Manning, A. J., Lunt, M. F., Rennick, C., and Arnold, T.: UK greenhouse gas measurements at two new tall towers for aiding emissions verification, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 4495–4518, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4495-2019, 2019. a, b, c
Stull, R. B.: An introduction to boundary layer meteorology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3027-8, 1988. a
Taguchi, S., Iida, T., and Moriizumi, J.: Evaluation of the atmospheric transport model NIRE-CTM-96 by using measured radon-222 concentrations, Tellus B, 54, 250–268, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v54i3.16664, 2002. a
Taylor, J. A. and Lucas, J.: Atmospheric radon monitor, Tech. Rep. ANL-7220, Argonne National Lab., Ill., https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4405995 (last access: 20 December 2024), 1967. a
Tolk, L. F., Meesters, A. G. C. A., Dolman, A. J., and Peters, W.: Modelling representation errors of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios at a regional scale, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 6587–6596, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-6587-2008, 2008. a, b
van der Laan, S., Neubert, R. E. M., and Meijer, H. A. J.: Methane and nitrous oxide emissions in The Netherlands: ambient measurements support the national inventories, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9369–9379, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-9369-2009, 2009. a
van der Laan, S., van der Laan-Luijkx, I. T., Zimmermann, L., Conen, F., and Leuenberger, M.: Net CO2 surface emissions at Bern, Switzerland inferred from ambient observations of CO2, δ(O2/N2), and 222Rn using a customized radon tracer inversion, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 119, 1580–1591, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD020307, 2014. a, b
Vogel, F., Ishizawa, M., Chan, E., Chan, D., Hammer, S., Levin, I., and Worthy, D.: Regional non-CO2 greenhouse gas fluxes inferred from atmospheric measurements in Ontario, Canada, J. Integr. Environ. Sci., 9, 41–55, https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2012.691884, 2012. a
Wada, A., Matsueda, H., Murayama, S., Taguchi, S., Hirao, S., Yamazawa, H., Moriizumi, J., Tsuboi, K., Niwa, Y., and Sawa, Y.: Quantification of emission estimates of CO2, CH4 and CO for East Asia derived from atmospheric radon-222 measurements over the western North Pacific, Tellus B, 65, 18037, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.18037, 2013. a, b
Whittlestone, S. and Zahorowski, W.: Baseline radon detectors for shipboard use: Development and deployment in the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1), J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 103, 16743–16751, https://doi.org/10.1029/98JD00687, 1998. a, b, c
Wigand, A. and Wenk, F.: Der gehalt der luft an radium-emanation, nach messungen bei flugzeugaufstiegen, Ann. Phys., 391, 657–686, https://doi.org/10.1002/andp.19283911302, 1928. a
Williams, A. G., Chambers, S., and Griffiths, A.: Bulk mixing and decoupling of the nocturnal stable boundary layer characterized using a ubiquitous natural tracer, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 149, 381–402, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-013-9849-3, 2013. a
Williams, A. G., Chambers, S. D., Conen, F., Reimann, S., Hill, M., Griffiths, A. D., and Crawford, J.: Radon as a tracer of atmospheric influences on traffic-related air pollution in a small inland city, Tellus B, 68, 30967, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v68.30967, 2016. a
Wright, A. G.: PMT background, in: The Photomultiplier Handbook, edited by: Wright, A. G., Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-956509-2, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199565092.003.0006, 2017. a
Wright, J. R. and Smith, O. F.: The variation with meteorological conditions of the amount of radium emanation in the atmosphere, in the soil gas, and in the air exhaled from the surface of the ground, at Manila, Phys. Rev., 5, 459–482, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.5.459, 1915. a
Xia, Y., Sartorius, H., Schlosser, C., Stöhlker, U., Conen, F., and Zahorowski, W.: Comparison of one- and two-filter detectors for atmospheric 222Rn measurements under various meteorological conditions, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 723–731, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-3-723-2010, 2010. a
Yver Kwok, C., Laurent, O., Guemri, A., Philippon, C., Wastine, B., Rella, C. W., Vuillemin, C., Truong, F., Delmotte, M., Kazan, V., Darding, M., Lebègue, B., Kaiser, C., Xueref-Rémy, I., and Ramonet, M.: Comprehensive laboratory and field testing of cavity ring-down spectroscopy analyzers measuring H2O, CO2, CH4 and CO, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 3867–3892, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-3867-2015, 2015. a
Yver-Kwok, C., Philippon, C., Bergamaschi, P., Biermann, T., Calzolari, F., Chen, H., Conil, S., Cristofanelli, P., Delmotte, M., Hatakka, J., Heliasz, M., Hermansen, O., Komínková, K., Kubistin, D., Kumps, N., Laurent, O., Laurila, T., Lehner, I., Levula, J., Lindauer, M., Lopez, M., Mammarella, I., Manca, G., Marklund, P., Metzger, J.-M., Mölder, M., Platt, S. M., Ramonet, M., Rivier, L., Scheeren, B., Sha, M. K., Smith, P., Steinbacher, M., Vítková, G., and Wyss, S.: Evaluation and optimization of ICOS atmosphere station data as part of the labeling process, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 89–116, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-89-2021, 2021. a, b
Zahorowski, W., Chambers, S. D., and Henderson-Sellers, A.: Determination of mid-latitude radon-222 flux from the Southern Ocean using atmospheric radon-222 concentration measurements at an island ground station, International Atomic Energy Agency, https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/36/003/36003223.pdf?r=1#page=5&zoom=auto,-15,800 (last access: 20 December 2024), 2004. a, b
Zhang, B., Liu, H., Crawford, J. H., Chen, G., Fairlie, T. D., Chambers, S., Kang, C.-H., Williams, A. G., Zhang, K., Considine, D. B., Sulprizio, M. P., and Yantosca, R. M.: Simulation of radon-222 with the GEOS-Chem global model: emissions, seasonality, and convective transport, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1861–1887, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1861-2021, 2021. a, b, c, d
Short summary
We present a protocol to improve confidence in atmospheric radon measurements, enabling site comparisons and integration with greenhouse gas data. As a natural tracer, radon provides an independent check of transport model performance. This standardized method enhances radon’s use as a metric for model evaluation. Beyond UK observatories, it can support broader networks like ICOS and WMO/GAW, advancing global atmospheric research.
We present a protocol to improve confidence in atmospheric radon measurements, enabling site...
