scholarly journals 2019–20 Australian Bushfires and Anomalies in Carbon Monoxide Surface and Column Measurements

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 755
Author(s):  
Shyno Susan John ◽  
Nicholas M. Deutscher ◽  
Clare Paton-Walsh ◽  
Voltaire A. Velazco ◽  
Nicholas B. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Composition Change ◽  
Coastal City ◽  
Surface Measurements ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Accurate Reflection ◽  
Meteorological Effects

In Australia, bushfires are a natural part of the country’s landscape and essential for the regeneration of plant species; however, the 2019–20 bushfires were unprecedented in their extent and intensity. This paper is focused on the 2019–20 Australian bushfires and the resulting surface and column atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) anomalies around Wollongong. Column CO data from the ground-based Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) and Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) site in Wollongong are used together with surface in situ measurements. A systematic comparison was performed between the surface in situ and column measurements of CO to better understand whether column measurements can be used as an estimate of the surface concentrations. If so, satellite column measurements of CO could be used to estimate the exposure of humans to CO and other fire-related pollutants. We find that the enhancements in the column measurements are not always significantly evident in the corresponding surface measurements. Topographical features play a key role in determining the surface exposures from column abundance especially in a coastal city like Wollongong. The topography at Wollongong, combined with meteorological effects, potentially exacerbates differences in the column and surface. Hence, satellite column amounts are unlikely to provide an accurate reflection of exposure at the ground during major events like the 2019–2020 bushfires.

scholarly journals Retrieval of xCO<sub>2</sub> from ground-based mid-infrared (NDACC) solar absorption spectra and comparison to TCCON

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 577-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Buschmann ◽  
Nicholas M. Deutscher ◽  
Vanessa Sherlock ◽  
Mathias Palm ◽  
Thorsten Warneke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectra ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Composition Change ◽  
Solar Absorption ◽  
Mid Infrared ◽  
Infrared Spectral ◽  
Ftir Spectrometer ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. High-resolution solar absorption spectra, taken within the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change Infrared Working Group (NDACC-IRWG) in the mid-infrared spectral region, are used to infer partial or total column abundances of many gases. In this paper we present the retrieval of a column-averaged mole fraction of carbon dioxide from NDACC-IRWG spectra taken with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer at the site in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen. The retrieved time series is compared to colocated standard TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) measurements of column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of CO2 (denoted by xCO2). Comparing the NDACC and TCCON retrievals, we find that the sensitivity of the NDACC retrieval is lower in the troposphere (by a factor of 2) and higher in the stratosphere, compared to TCCON. Thus, the NDACC retrieval is less sensitive to tropospheric changes (e.g., the seasonal cycle) in the column average.

scholarly journals First intercalibration of column-averaged methane from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network and the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1355-1379
Author(s):  
F. Forster ◽  
R. Sussmann ◽  
M. Rettinger ◽  
N. M. Deutscher ◽  
D. W. T. Griffith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Calibration Factor ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Composition Change ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Difference Time

Abstract. We present the intercalibration of dry-air column-averaged mole fractions of methane (XCH4) retrieved from solar FTIR measurements of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) in the mid-infrared (MIR) versus near-infrared (NIR) soundings from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The study uses multi-annual quasi-coincident MIR and NIR measurements from the stations Garmisch, Germany (47.48° N, 11.06° E, 743 m a.s.l.) and Wollongong, Australia (34.41° S, 150.88° E, 30 m a.s.l.). Direct comparison of the retrieved MIR and NIR time series shows a phase shift in XCH4 seasonality, i.e. a significant time-dependent bias leading to a standard deviation (stdv) of the difference time series (NIR-MIR) of 8.4 ppb. After eliminating differences in a prioris by using ACTM-simulated profiles as a common prior, the seasonalities of the (corrected) MIR and NIR time series agree within the noise (stdv = 5.2 ppb for the difference time series). The difference time series (NIR-MIR) do not show a significant trend. Therefore it is possible to use a simple scaling factor for the intercalibration without a time-dependent linear or seasonal component. Using the Garmisch and Wollongong data together, we obtain an overall calibration factor MIR/NIR = 0.9926(18). The individual calibration factors per station are 0.9940(14) for Garmisch and 0.9893(40) for Wollongong. They agree within their error bars with the overall calibration factor which can therefore be used for both stations. Our results suggest that after applying the proposed intercalibration concept to all stations performing both NIR and MIR measurements, it should be possible to obtain one refined overall intercalibration factor for the two networks. This would allow to set up a harmonized NDACC and TCCON XCH4 data set which can be exploited for joint trend studies, satellite validation, or the inverse modeling of sources and sinks.

Comparison of one year of XCH4 and XCO measurements using a EM27/SUN low resolution FTIR spectrometer to S5P/TROPOMI methane and carbon monoxide columns at Thessaloniki, Greece

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrysanthi Topaloglou ◽  
Marios Mermigkas ◽  
Maria-Elissavet Koukouli ◽  
Dimitrios Balis ◽  
Frank Hase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Low Resolution ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
One Year

&lt;p&gt;The column-averaged dry air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;), methane (XCH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) and carbon monoxide (XCO) have been measured for the first time for a whole year in Thessaloniki, Greece, using the portable Bruker EM27/SUN ground-based low-resolution Fourier Transform spectrometer, provided by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The EM27/SUN is a reliable, easy-to-deploy, mobile, low-cost supplement to the Bruker IFS 125HR&lt;strong&gt;, &lt;/strong&gt;a high-resolution spectrometer used in the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON)&lt;strong&gt;. &lt;/strong&gt;Approximately 30 of the EM27/SUN instruments constitute the Collaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON)&lt;strong&gt;, &lt;/strong&gt;with stations around the globe for the quantification of local sinks and sources, working as an important supplement of TCCON to increase the global density of column-averaged greenhouse gas observations&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One year of measurements of XCH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; and XCO are presented for Thessaloniki, Greece. The station is located in the center of the city. The data are compared to collocated measurements from S5P/TROPOMI using 50km and &amp;#177;30 min as criteria. For the XCH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; comparisons, the ground based XCH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; is constantly found to be lower than the satellite product. However, for ground based retrievals of XCH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; using the TROPOMI algorithm and IR band, the comparison with the satellite data shows a percentage difference lower than &amp;#177;2%, well within product requirements. Satellite XCO is also compared to ground observations to examine if EM27/SUN concentrations are reproduced by S5P/TROPOMI and whether the temporal variations are captured&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aknowledgments&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This work was co-funded by ESA within the Contract No. 4000117151/16/l-LG &amp;#8220;Preparation and Operations of the Mission Performance Centre (MPC) for the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor Satellite&amp;#8221;. The satellite data were obtained through Sentinel-5P Expert Users Data Hub (https://s5pexp.copernicus.eu/). &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This research was co-funded by the project &quot;PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE change&quot; (MIS 5021516) which is implemented under the Action &quot;Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure&quot;, funded by the Operational Programme &quot;Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation&quot; (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Using XCO<sub>2</sub> retrievals for assessing the long-term consistency of NDACC/FTIR data sets

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 10513-10558
Author(s):  
S. Barthlott ◽  
M. Schneider ◽  
F. Hase ◽  
A. Wiegele ◽  
E. Christner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Mauna Loa ◽  
Simple Regression Model ◽  
Good Consistency ◽  
Term Data

Abstract. Within the NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change), more than 20 FTIR (Fourier–Transform InfraRed) spectrometers, spread worldwide, provide long-term data records of many atmospheric trace gases. We present a method that uses measured and modelled XCO2 for assessing the consistency of these data records. Our NDACC XCO2 retrieval setup is kept simple so that it can easily be adopted for any NDACC/FTIR-like measurement made since the late 1950s. By a comparison to coincident TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) measurements, we empirically demonstrate the useful quality of this NDACC XCO2 product (empirically obtained scatter between TCCON and NDACC is about 4‰ for daily mean as well as monthly mean comparisons and the bias is 25‰). As XCO2 model we developed and used a simple regression model fitted to CarbonTracker results and the Mauna Loa CO2 in-situ records. A comparison to TCCON data suggests an uncertainty of the model for monthly mean data of below 3‰. We apply the method to the NDACC/FTIR spectra that are used within the project MUSICA (MUlti-platform remote Sensing of Isotopologues for investigating the Cycle of Atmospheric water) and demonstrate that there is a good consistency for these globally representative set of spectra measured since 1996: the scatter between the modelled and measured XCO2 on a yearly time scale is only 3‰.

scholarly journals Evaluation of new laser spectrometer techniques for in-situ carbon monoxide measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 2555-2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Zellweger ◽  
M. Steinbacher ◽  
B. Buchmann
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Spectroscopic Techniques ◽  
New Techniques

Abstract. Long-term time series of the atmospheric composition are essential for environmental research and thus require compatible, multi-decadal monitoring activities. The current data quality objectives of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for carbon monoxide (CO) in the atmosphere are very challenging to meet with the measurement techniques that have been used until recently. During the past few years, new spectroscopic techniques came to market with promising properties for trace gas analytics. The current study compares three instruments that have recently become commercially available (since 2011) with the best currently available technique (Vacuum UV Fluorescence) and provides a link to previous comparison studies. The instruments were investigated for their performance regarding repeatability, reproducibility, drift, temperature dependence, water vapour interference and linearity. Finally, all instruments were examined during a short measurement campaign to assess their applicability for long-term field measurements. It could be shown that the new techniques perform considerably better compared to previous techniques, although some issues, such as temperature influence and cross sensitivities, need further attention.

scholarly journals First intercalibration of column-averaged methane from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network and the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sussmann ◽  
A. Ostler ◽  
F. Forster ◽  
M. Rettinger ◽  
N. M. Deutscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Composition Change ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Difference Time

Abstract. We present the first intercalibration of dry-air column-averaged mole fractions of methane (XCH4) retrieved from solar Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) in the mid-infrared (MIR) versus near-infrared (NIR) soundings from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The study uses multi-annual quasi-coincident MIR and NIR measurements from the stations Garmisch, Germany (47.48° N, 11.06° E, 743 m a.s.l.), and Wollongong, Australia (34.41° S, 150.88° E, 30 m a.s.l.). Direct comparison of the retrieved MIR and NIR XCH4 time series for Garmisch shows a quasi-periodic seasonal bias leading to a standard deviation (stdv) of the difference time series (NIR–MIR) of 7.2 ppb. After reducing time-dependent a priori impact by using realistic site- and time-dependent ACTM-simulated profiles as a common prior, the seasonal bias is reduced (stdv = 5.2 ppb). A linear fit to the MIR/NIR scatter plot of monthly means based on same-day coincidences does not show a y-intercept that is statistically different from zero, and the MIR/NIR intercalibration factor is found to be close to ideal within 2-σ uncertainty, i.e. 0.9996(8). The difference time series (NIR–MIR) do not show a significant trend. The same basic findings hold for Wollongong. In particular an overall MIR/NIR intercalibration factor close to the ideal 1 is found within 2-σ uncertainty. At Wollongong the seasonal cycle of methane is less pronounced and corresponding smoothing errors are not as significant, enabling standard MIR and NIR retrievals to be used directly, without correction to a common a priori. Our results suggest that it is possible to set up a harmonized NDACC and TCCON XCH4 data set which can be exploited for joint trend studies, satellite validation, or the inverse modeling of sources and sinks.

scholarly journals Mapping carbon monoxide pollution from space down to city scales with daily global coverage

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 5507-5518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Borsdorff ◽  
Joost aan de Brugh ◽  
Haili Hu ◽  
Otto Hasekamp ◽  
Ralf Sussmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Data Product ◽  
Global Coverage ◽  
The Individual

Abstract. On 13 October 2017, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite with the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) as its single payload. TROPOMI is the first of ESA's atmospheric composition Sentinel missions, which will provide complete long-term records of atmospheric trace gases for the coming 30 years as a contribution to the European Union's Earth Observing program Copernicus. One of TROPOMI's primary products is atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO). It is observed with daily global coverage and a high spatial resolution of 7×7 km2. The moderate atmospheric resistance time and the low background concentration leads to localized pollution hotspots of CO and allows the tracking of the atmospheric transport of pollution on regional to global scales. In this contribution, we demonstrate the groundbreaking performance of the TROPOMI CO product, sensing CO enhancements above cities and industrial areas and tracking, with daily coverage, the atmospheric transport of pollution from biomass burning regions. The CO data product is validated with two months of Fourier-transform spectroscopy (FTS) measurements at nine ground-based stations operated by the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). We found a good agreement between both datasets with a mean bias of 6 ppb (average of individual station biases) for both clear-sky and cloudy TROPOMI CO retrievals. Together with the corresponding standard deviation of the individual station biases of 3.8 ppb for clear-sky and 4.0 ppb for cloudy sky, it indicates that the CO data product is already well within the mission requirement.

scholarly journals Using XCO<sub>2</sub> retrievals for assessing the long-term consistency of NDACC/FTIR data sets

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1555-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Barthlott ◽  
M. Schneider ◽  
F. Hase ◽  
A. Wiegele ◽  
E. Christner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Mauna Loa ◽  
Simple Regression Model ◽  
Good Consistency ◽  
Term Data

Abstract. Within the NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change), more than 20 FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectrometers, spread worldwide, provide long-term data records of many atmospheric trace gases. We present a method that uses measured and modelled XCO2 for assessing the consistency of these NDACC data records. Our XCO2 retrieval setup is kept simple so that it can easily be adopted for any NDACC/FTIR-like measurement made since the late 1950s. By a comparison to coincident TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) measurements, we empirically demonstrate the useful quality of this suggested NDACC XCO2 product (empirically obtained scatter between TCCON and NDACC is about 4‰ for daily mean as well as monthly mean comparisons, and the bias is 25‰). Our XCO2 model is a simple regression model fitted to CarbonTracker results and the Mauna Loa CO2 in situ records. A comparison to TCCON data suggests an uncertainty of the model for monthly mean data of below 3‰. We apply the method to the NDACC/FTIR spectra that are used within the project MUSICA (multi-platform remote sensing of isotopologues for investigating the cycle of atmospheric water) and demonstrate that there is a good consistency for these globally representative set of spectra measured since 1996: the scatter between the modelled and measured XCO2 on a yearly time scale is only 3‰.

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