scholarly journals Calibration of column-averaged CH<sub>4</sub> over European TCCON FTS sites with airborne in-situ measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1517-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Geibel ◽  
J. Messerschmidt ◽  
C. Gerbig ◽  
T. Blumenstock ◽  
F. Hase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Calibration Factor ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Observation Network ◽  
First Time ◽  
Aircraft Data

Abstract. In September/October 2009, six ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS) of the Total Carbon Column Observation Network (TCCON) in Europe were calibrated with aircraft in-situ measurements for the first time. The campaign was part of the Infrastructure for Measurement of the European Carbon Cycle (IMECC) project. During this campaign aircraft in-situ profiles of CO2, CH4, CO and H2O (from continuous measurements) as well as N2O, H2, and SF6 (from flasks) were taken close to the FTS sites. The aircraft data had a vertical coverage ranging from approximately 300 to 13 000 m, corresponding to ~80% of the total atmospheric column seen by the FTS. This study summarizes the calibration results for CH4. Using similar methods, the resulting calibration factor of 0.978 ± 0.002 (±1 σ) from the IMECC campaign agreed very well with the results that Wunch et al. (2010) had derived for TCCON instruments in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. By adding the data of the previous calibration of Wunch et al. (2010), the uncertainty of the calibration factor could be reduced by a factor of three. A careful analysis of the calibration method used by Wunch et al. (2010) revealed that the incomplete vertical coverage of the aircraft profiles can lead to a bias in the calibration factor. This bias can be compensated with a new iterative approach that we developed. Using this improved method, we derived a significantly lower calibration factor of 0.974 ± 0.002 (±1 σ). This corresponds to a correction of all TCCON CH4 measurements by roughly −7 ppb.

scholarly journals Calibration of column-averaged CH<sub>4</sub> over European TCCON FTS sites with airborne in-situ measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 8763-8775 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Geibel ◽  
J. Messerschmidt ◽  
C. Gerbig ◽  
T. Blumenstock ◽  
H. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
Calibration Factor ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Aircraft Measurements ◽  
Observation Network ◽  
First Time ◽  
Aircraft Data

Abstract. In September/October 2009, six European ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS) of the Total Carbon Column Observation Network (TCCON) were calibrated for the first time using aircraft measurements. The campaign was part of the Infrastructure for Measurement of the European Carbon Cycle (IMECC) project. During this campaign, altitude profiles of several trace gases and meteorological parameters were taken close to the FTS sites (typically within 1–2 km distance for flight altitudes below 5000 m). Profiles of CO2, CH4, CO and H2O were measured continuously. N2O, H2, and SF6 were later derived from flask measurements. The aircraft data had a vertical coverage ranging from approximately 300 to 13 000 m, corresponding to ~80% of the total atmospheric column seen by the FTS. This study summarizes the calibration results for CH4. The resulting calibration factor of 0.978 ± 0.002 (±1 σ) from the IMECC campaign agreed very well with the results that Wunch et al. (2010) had derived for TCCON instruments in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan using similar methods. By combining our results with the data of Wunch et al. (2010), the uncertainty of the calibration factor could be reduced by a factor of three (compared to using only IMECC or only Wunch et al. (2010) data). A careful analysis of the calibration method used by Wunch et al. (2010) revealed that the incomplete vertical coverage of the aircraft profiles can lead to a bias in the calibration factor. This bias can be compensated with a new iterative approach that we developed. Using this improved method, we derived a significantly lower calibration factor of 0.974 ± 0.002 (±1 σ). This corresponds to a correction of all TCCON CH4 measurements by roughly −7 ppb.

scholarly journals Aerosol measurements at the Gual Pahari EUCAARI station: preliminary results from in-situ measurements

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 7241-7252 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.-P. Hyvärinen ◽  
H. Lihavainen ◽  
M. Komppula ◽  
T. S. Panwar ◽  
V. P. Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Finnish Meteorological Institute ◽  
Convective Mixing ◽  
Average Fraction ◽  
Mode Size ◽  
First Time ◽  
Pm10 Mass

Abstract. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), together with The Energy and Resources Institute of India (TERI), contributed to the European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions, EUCAARI, by conducting aerosol measurements in Gual Pahari, India, from December 2007 to January 2010. This paper describes the station setup in detail for the first time and provides results from the aerosol in-situ measurements, which include PM and BCe masses, aerosol size distribution from 4 nm to 10 μm, and the scattering and absorption coefficients. The seasonal variation of the aerosol characteristics was very distinct in Gual Pahari. The highest concentrations were observed during the winter and the lowest during the rainy season. The average PM10 concentration (at STP conditions) was 216 μgm−3 and the average PM2.5 concentration was 126 μgm−3. A high percentage (4–9%) of the PM10 mass consisted of BCe which indicates anthropogenic influence. The percentage of BCe was higher during the winter; and according to the diurnal pattern of the BCe fraction, the peak occurred during active traffic hours. Another important source of aerosol particles in the area was new particle formation. The nucleated particles grew rapidly reaching the Aitken and accumulation mode size, thus contributing considerably to the aerosol load. The rainy season decreased the average fraction of particle mass in the PM2.5 size range, i.e. of secondary origin. The other mechanism decreasing the surface concentrations was based on convective mixing and boundary layer evolution. This diluted the aerosol when sun radiation and the temperature was high, i.e. especially during the pre-monsoon day time. The lighter and smaller particles were more effectively diluted.

Measuring Radon and Thoron Levels in Sri Lanka

2013 ◽  
Vol 718-720 ◽  
pp. 721-724
Author(s):  
Deepal Subasinghe Nalaka ◽  
Mahakumara Prasad ◽  
Thusitha B. Nimalsiri ◽  
Nuwan B. Suriyaarchchi ◽  
Takeshi Iimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
First Time

For the first time in Sri Lanka, an attempt was made to measure the outdoor radon levels using CR 39 type passive radon detectors. Preliminary results indicate that in Sri Lanka, 220Rn isotope is more abundance than 222Rn isotope. These results were also confirmed by in-situ measurements. Sri Lanka has one of the highest 220Rn values in the region. It was also noted that environmental conditions and other physical factors have a significant effect on the outdoor radon measurements using passive discriminative detectors.

scholarly journals Wildfire Smoke Particle Properties and Evolution, From Space-Based Multi-Angle Imaging II: The Williams Flats Fire during the FIREX-AQ Campaign

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 3823
Author(s):  
Katherine T. Junghenn Noyes ◽  
Ralph A. Kahn ◽  
James A. Limbacher ◽  
Zhanqing Li ◽  
Marta A. Fenn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Statistical Characterization ◽  
Smoke Particle ◽  
Particle Properties ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Particle Property ◽  
Aircraft Data

Although the characteristics of biomass burning events and the ambient ecosystem determine emitted smoke composition, the conditions that modulate the partitioning of black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) formation are not well understood, nor are the spatial or temporal frequency of factors driving smoke particle evolution, such as hydration, coagulation, and oxidation, all of which impact smoke radiative forcing. In situ data from surface observation sites and aircraft field campaigns offer deep insight into the optical, chemical, and microphysical traits of biomass burning (BB) smoke aerosols, such as single scattering albedo (SSA) and size distribution, but cannot by themselves provide robust statistical characterization of both emitted and evolved particles. Data from the NASA Earth Observing System’s Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument can provide at least a partial picture of BB particle properties and their evolution downwind, once properly validated. Here we use in situ data from the joint NOAA/NASA 2019 Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments Experiment-Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) field campaign to assess the strengths and limitations of MISR-derived constraints on particle size, shape, light-absorption, and its spectral slope, as well as plume height and associated wind vectors. Based on the satellite observations, we also offer inferences about aging mechanisms effecting downwind particle evolution, such as gravitational settling, oxidation, secondary particle formation, and the combination of particle aggregation and condensational growth. This work builds upon our previous study, adding confidence to our interpretation of the remote-sensing data based on an expanded suite of in situ measurements for validation. The satellite and in situ measurements offer similar characterizations of particle property evolution as a function of smoke age for the 06 August Williams Flats Fire, and most of the key differences in particle size and absorption can be attributed to differences in sampling and changes in the plume geometry between sampling times. Whereas the aircraft data provide validation for the MISR retrievals, the satellite data offer a spatially continuous mapping of particle properties over the plume, which helps identify trends in particle property downwind evolution that are ambiguous in the sparsely sampled aircraft transects. The MISR data record is more than two decades long, offering future opportunities to study regional wildfire plume behavior statistically, where aircraft data are limited or entirely lacking.

scholarly journals Bias corrections of GOSAT SWIR XCO<sub>2</sub> and XCH<sub>4</sub> with TCCON data and their evaluation using aircraft measurement data

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
I. Morino ◽  
O. Uchino ◽  
T. Nakatsuru ◽  
Y. Yoshida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Data ◽  
Correction Method ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Japan Meteorological Agency ◽  
Aircraft Measurement ◽  
Observation Network ◽  
Systematic Biases ◽  
Aircraft Data

Abstract. We describe a method for removing systematic biases of column-averaged dry air mole fractions of CO2 (XCO2) and CH4 (XCH4) derived from short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectra of the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT). We conduct correlation analyses between the GOSAT biases and simultaneously-retrieved auxiliary parameters. We use these correlations to bias correct the GOSAT data, removing these spurious correlations. Data from Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) were used as reference values for this regression analysis. To evaluate the effectiveness of this correction method, the uncorrected/corrected GOSAT data were compared to independent XCO2 and XCH4 data derived from aircraft measurements taken for the Comprehensive Observation Network for TRace gases by AIrLiner (CONTRAIL) project, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the HIAPER Pole- to-Pole observations (HIPPO) program, and the GOSAT validation aircraft observation campaign over Japan. These comparisons demonstrate that the empirically-derived bias correction improves the agreement between GOSAT XCO2/XCH4 and the aircraft data. Finally, we present latitudinal distributions and temporal variations of the derived GOSAT biases.

scholarly journals An indirect-calibration method for non-target quantification of trace gases applied to a time series of fourth-generation synthetic halocarbons at the Taunus Observatory (Germany)

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 4669-4687
Author(s):  
Fides Lefrancois ◽  
Markus Jesswein ◽  
Markus Thoma ◽  
Andreas Engel ◽  
Kieran Stanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Mass Range ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Calibration Gas ◽  
Tof Ms

Abstract. Production and use of many synthetic halogenated trace gases are regulated internationally due to their contribution to stratospheric ozone depletion or climate change. In many applications they have been replaced by shorter-lived compounds, which have become measurable in the atmosphere as emissions increased. Non-target monitoring of trace gases rather than targeted measurements of well-known substances is needed to keep up with such changes in the atmospheric composition. We regularly deploy gas chromatography (GC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) for analysis of flask air samples and in situ measurements at the Taunus Observatory, a site in central Germany. TOF-MS acquires data over a continuous mass range that enables a retrospective analysis of the dataset, which can be considered a type of digital air archive. This archive can be used if new substances come into use and their mass spectrometric fingerprint is identified. However, quantifying new replacement halocarbons can be challenging, as mole fractions are generally low, requiring high measurement precision and low detection limits. In addition, calibration can be demanding, as calibration gases may not contain sufficiently high amounts of newly measured substances or the amounts in the calibration gas may have not been quantified. This paper presents an indirect data evaluation approach for TOF-MS data, where the calibration is linked to another compound which could be quantified in the calibration gas. We also present an approach to evaluate the quality of the indirect calibration method, select periods of stable instrument performance and determine well suited reference compounds. The method is applied to three short-lived synthetic halocarbons: HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), and HCFO-1233zd(E). They represent replacements for longer-lived hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and exhibit increasing mole fractions in the atmosphere. The indirectly calibrated results are compared to directly calibrated measurements using data from TOF-MS canister sample analysis and TOF-MS in situ measurements, which are available for some periods of our dataset. The application of the indirect calibration method on several test cases can result in uncertainties of around 6 % to 11 %. For hydro(chloro-)fluoroolefines (denoted H(C)FOs), uncertainties up to 23 % are achieved. The indirectly calculated mole fractions of the investigated H(C)FOs at Taunus Observatory range between measured mole fractions at urban Dübendorf and Jungfraujoch stations in Switzerland.

scholarly journals Brief Communication: Evaluation and comparisons of permafrost map over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on inventory of in-situ evidence

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Cao ◽  
Tingjun Zhang ◽  
Qinghai Wu ◽  
Yu Sheng ◽  
Lin Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlling Factors ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Permafrost Region ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Communication Evaluation ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract. Many maps have been produced to estimate permafrost distribution over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, however, the evaluation and comparisons of them are poorly understood due to limited evidence. Using a large number data from various sources, we present the inventory of permafrost presence/absence with 1475 sites/plots over the QTP. Based on the in-situ measurements, our evaluation results showed a wide range of map performance with the overall accuracy of about 59–82 %, and the estimated permafrost region (1.42–1.84 × 106 km2) and area (0.76–1.25 × 106 km2) are extremely large. The low agreement in areas near permafrost boundary and fragile landscapes require improved method considering more controlling factors at both medium-large and local scales.

Unique heliophysics science opportunities along the Interstellar Probe journey up to 1000 AU from the Sun

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Provornikova ◽  
Pontus C. Brandt ◽  
Ralph L. McNutt, Jr. ◽  
Robert DeMajistre ◽  
Edmond C. Roelof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Space Mission ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Unique Determination ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Global Shape ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
First Time ◽  
Interstellar Probe ◽  
Probe Mission

&lt;p&gt;The Interstellar Probe is a space mission to discover physical interactions shaping globally the boundary of our Sun`s heliosphere and its dynamics and for the first time directly sample the properties of the local interstellar medium (LISM). Interstellar Probe will go through the boundary of the heliosphere to the LISM enabling for the first time to explore the boundary with a dedicated instrumentation, to take the image of the global heliosphere by looking back and explore in-situ the unknown LISM. The pragmatic concept study of such mission with a lifetime 50 years that can be implemented by 2030 was funded by NASA and has been led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The study brought together a diverse community of more than 400 scientists and engineers spanning a wide range of science disciplines across the world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Compelling science questions for the Interstellar Probe mission have been with us for many decades. Recent discoveries from a number of space missions exploring the heliosphere raised new questions strengthening the science case. The very shape of the heliosphere, a manifestation of complex global interactions between the solar wind and the LISM, remains the biggest mystery. Interpretations of imaging the heliosphere in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) in different energy ranges on IBEX and Cassini/INCA from inside show contradictory pictures. Global physics-based models also do not agree on the global shape. Interstellar Probe on outbound trajectory will image the heliosphere from outside for the first time and will provide a unique determination of the global shape.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The LISM is a completely new area for exploration and discovery. We have a crude understanding of the LISM inferred from in-situ measurements inside the heliosphere of interstellar helium, pick-up-ions, ENAs, remote observations of solar backscattered Lyman-alpha emission and absorption line spectroscopy in the lines of sight of stars. We have no in-situ measurements of most LISM properties, e.g. ionization, plasma and neutral gas, magnetic field, composition, dust, and scales of possible inhomogeneities. Voyagers with limited capabilities have explored 30 AU beyond the heliosphere which appeared to be a region of significant heliospheric influence. The LISM properties are among the key unknowns to understand the Sun`s galactic neighborhood and how it shapes our heliosphere. Interstellar Probe will be the first NASA mission to discover the very nature of the LISM and shed light on whether the Sun enters a new region in the LISM in the near future.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this presentation we give an overview of heliophysics science for the Interstellar Probe mission focusing on the critical science questions of the three objectives for the mission. We will discuss in more details a need for direct measurements in the LISM uniquely enabled by the Interstellar Probe.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Development of a balloon-borne instrument for CO<sub>2</sub> vertical profile observations in the troposphere

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Ouchi ◽  
Yutaka Matsumi ◽  
Tomoki Nakayama ◽  
Kensaku Shimizu ◽  
Takehiko Sawada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
First Time ◽  
Aircraft Data

Abstract. A novel, practical observation system for measuring tropospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations using a non-dispersive infrared analyzer carried by a small helium-filled balloon (CO2 sonde), has been developed for the first time. Onboard calibrations, using CO2 standard gases, is possible to measure the vertical profiles of atmospheric CO2 accurately with a 240–400 m altitude resolution. The standard deviations (1σ) of the measured mixing ratios in the laboratory experiments using a vacuum chamber at a temperature of 298 K were approximately 0.6 ppm at 1010 hPa and 1.2 ppm at 250 hPa. Compared with in situ aircraft data, although the difference up to the altitude of 7 km was 0.6 ± 1.2 ppm, this bias and difference were within the precision of the CO2 sonde. In field experiments, the CO2 sonde detected an increase in CO2 concentration in an urban area and a decrease in a forested area near the surface. The CO2 sonde was shown to be a useful instrument for observing and monitoring the vertical profiles of CO2 concentration in the troposphere.

scholarly journals Oil Pollution Of The Southeastern Baltic Sea By Satellite Remote Sensing Data And In-Situ Measurements

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena V. Bulycheva ◽  
Aleksander V. Krek ◽  
Andrey G. Kostianoy ◽  
Aleksander V. Semenov ◽  
Aleksandar Joksimovich
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Oil Products ◽  
Satellite Monitoring ◽  
First Time

Abstract Results of operational satellite monitoring of oil pollution of the sea surface together with in-situ measurements of the oil products concentration in the water column for the first time allowed to establish relation between the surface pollution originated from ships, and the general characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution of oil products in the water column in the Southeastern Baltic Sea. Areas with heightened concentrations of oil products in the surface and bottom layers were determined for the study area. The main directions of the contamination propagation are agreed with the main direction of annual mean transport of substances in the Gdansk Basin.

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