Halogenated greenhouse gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, PFCs, 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 more than 50 halogenated greenhouse gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆) are performed by a GCMS (gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer) at Jungfraujoch as a Swiss national project (HALCLIM) and embedded into the EU-project SOGE (System for Observation of Halogenated Greenhouse Gases in Europe) and the global network AGAGE. The main goals of these projects are the following:

HALCLIM:

• An assessment of regional and supra-regional emissions as well as a control of the national emission inventary.
• A definition of source locations with the help of trajectories for different spatial dimensions and establish the identity of dominant source regions.
  

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
  

AGAGE:

• Montinoring the composition of the global atmosphere for Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol trace gases
  
  

Measurements
Measurements for the different halocarbons indicate the substances' specific emission strength and sources as well as their atmospheric lifetime. For example, HFC-134a is used in great quantities as cooling agent in mobile air conditioners for cars. HFC-125 on the other hand, is used in stationary cooling blends. Concentrations of both gases are currently rising.

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 these activities to:

Stefan Reimann
Tel. ++41 58 765 46 38

Martin K. Vollmer
Tel. ++41 58 765 42 42