Articles | Volume 18, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025
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14 Jul 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 14 Jul 2025

Long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 trends and comparison of two measurement systems at Pallas-Sammaltunturi station in Northern Finland

Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka

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Cited articles

Aalto, T., Hatakka, J., Kouznetsov, R., and Stanislawska, K.: Background and anthropogenic influences on atmospheric CO2 concentrations measured at Pallas: comparison of two models for tracing air mass history, Boreal Environ. Res., 20, 213–226, http://hdl.handle.net/10138/228118 (last access: 18 September 2024), 2015. a
Aaltonen, H., Saarnio, K., Hatakka, J., Mäkelä, T., Rainne, J., Laurent, O., and Laurila, T.: Water vapor correction assesment as a part of ICOS atmospheric station audit, in: Proceedings of “The Centre of Excellence in Atmospheric Science (CoE ATM) – From Molecular and Biological processes to The Global Climate” Annual Meeting 2016, Helsinki, Finland, 2016, no. 189 in Report series in aerosol science, Aerosolitutkimusseura ry – Finnish Association for Aerosol Research FAAR, 73–76, ISBN 978-952-7091-62-3, http://www.faar.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/rs-189.pdf (last access: 20 August 2024), 2016.​​​​​​​ a
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Dlugokencky, E. J., Myers, R. C., Lang, P. M., Masarie, K. A., Crotwell, A. M., Thoning, K. W., Hall, B. D., Elkins, J. W., and Steele, L. P.: Conversion of NOAA atmospheric dry air CH4 mole fractions to a gravimetrically prepared standard scale, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 110, 2005JD006035, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006035, 2005. a
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Executive editor
Laitinen et al. demonstrate the remarkable agreement between two independent greenhouse gas observation systems (GAW and ICOS) at the Pallas station in Finnish Lapland, confirming the high accuracy and reliability of long-term CO₂ and CH₄ measurements in the Northern Hemisphere. Their results strengthen confidence in atmospheric monitoring data critical for carbon cycle research.
Short summary
This paper presents long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 mole fractions and a comparison of two permanent and two mobile measurement systems located in Northern Finland. Furthermore, the observed mole fractions are compared against the mean marine boundary layer product for the Northern Hemisphere. The comparisons of all the systems show good agreement in relation to the World Meteorological Organization/Global Atmosphere Watch network compatibility goal limits for CO2 and CH4.
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