the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 trends and comparison of two measurement systems at Pallas-Sammaltunturi station in Northern Finland
Hermanni Aaltonen
Christoph Zellweger
Aki Tsuruta
Tuula Aalto
Juha Hatakka
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We compared six years of carbon dioxide and methane measurements from two nearby laboratories at the high mountain station on Mount Cimone, Italy. Both recorded similar long-term and seasonal changes, but hourly readings often differed beyond limits recommended by WMO. Sampling location, data selection and moisture removal contributed to these differences; human presence may also have played a role. Standardization of sampling and procedures can make greenhouse gas measurements more consistent.
Accurate national methane (CH4) emission estimates are essential for tracking progress towards climate goals. This study compares estimates from Finland, which use different methods and scales, and shows how well a global model estimates emissions within a country. The bottom-up estimates vary a lot, but constraining them with atmospheric CH4 measurements brought the estimates closer together. We also highlight the importance of quantifying natural emissions alongside anthropogenic emissions.