Halogenated greenhouse gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, SF6) are measured continuously at the Alpine station of Jungfraujoch (3580 m asl.) in Switzerland. Together with meteorological transport models these data are used to estimate European emissions down to a regional scale.

Since January 2000 continuous measurements of 23 halogenated greenhouse gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, SF6) are performed by a GCMS (gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer) at Jungfraujoch as a Swiss national project (HALCLIM) and of the EU-project SOGE (System for Observation of Halogenated Greenhouse Gases in Europe). The main goals of these projects are the following:

SOGE:

• To develop a new cost-effective long-term European observation system for halocarbons
• To predict and assess impacts of the halocarbons on the climate and on the ozone layer

HALCLIM:

• An assessment of regional and supra-regional emissions as well as a control of the national emis-sion inventary.
• A definition of source locations with the help of tra-jectories for different spatial dimensions and esta-blish the identity of dominant source regions.

Measurements
Measurements for the different halocarbons show particluar behaviour of the substances depending ohn their emission strength and emission sources as well as their atmospheric lifetime. For example, HFC-134a is used in great quantities for cooling agent in mobile air conditioners for cars. HFC-152, on the other hand, is used in as blowing agent in foams. Concentrations of both gases are rising at the moment.

Source allocation
With the help of a statistical trajectory model measurements are used to estimate the influence of different European source regions for the halocarbons.

Further information
Please direct questions and/or comments about EMPA's SOGE or HALCLIM activities to:

Stefan Reimann
Tel. ++41 44 823 46 38

Martin K. Vollmer
Tel.++41 44 823 42 42