Climate Gases
The main activities of the Group for Climate Gases are centered around the observations of anthropogenic trace gases in the atmosphere. Data is exploited for detection of sources and sinks of these gases as well as trends and their influence on atmospheric chemistry.
Trace Gas Measurements at Jungfraujoch
CLIMGAS-CH (HALCLIM) / AGAGE: Continuous measurements of halogenated greenhouse gases at the high Alpine site of Jungfraujoch for identification of trends and regional European emissions.
CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6 and CO: Next to the halogenated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, also the important greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and carbon monoxide (CO) greenhouse gases are continuously measured at Jungfraujoch.
Halogenated greenhouse gases
CLIMGAS-CH (HALCLIM) / AGAGE: Continuous measurements of halogenated greenhouse gases at the high Alpine site of Jungfraujoch for identification of trends and regional European emissions.
Volatile organic compounds
ACTRIS-2 is the European Research Infrastructure for the observation of Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace gases. ACTRIS-2 is composed of observing stations, exploratory platforms, instruments calibration centres, and a data centre.
WP3: Near-surface observations of aerosols, clouds and trace gases
The overall objective of this work package is to consolidate and optimize the European capabilities to observe near-surface-based climate and air quality relevant properties of aerosol particles, cloud droplets as well as trace gases concentrations in the troposphere from ground-based stations.
Latest publications
• Reimann, S., Elkins, J. W., Fraser, P. J., Hall, B. D., Kurylo, M. J., Mahieu, E., … Weiss, R. F. (2018). Observing the atmospheric evolution of ozone-depleting substances. Comptes Rendus: Geoscience, 350(7), 384-392. doi.org/10.1016/j.crte.2018.08.008
• Guillevic, M., Vollmer, M. K., Wyss, S. A., Leuenberger, D., Ackermann, A., Pascale, C., … Reimann, S. (2018). Dynamic–gravimetric preparation of metrologically traceable primary calibration standards for halogenated greenhouse gases. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 11(6), 3351-3372. doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3351-2018
• Vollmer, M. K., Young, D., Trudinger, C. M., Mühle, J., Henne, S., Rigby, M., … Simmonds, P. G. (2018). Atmospheric histories and emissions of chlorofluorocarbons CFC-13 (CClF3), ΣCFC-114 (C2Cl2F4), and CFC-115 (C2ClF5). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18(2), 979-1002. doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-979-2018
Completed projects
HIGHGAS: Development of traceable standards with long-term stability for high impact greenhouse gases.
MEDEMPA: Building of the Medusas for Norway and China.
LEMURE: The LEMURE project will advance methods to obtain reliable and independent emission numbers of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, which can be used to check emissions to be reported by the signatory countries within the Kyoto Protocol.
SOGE: To develop a new cost-effective long-term European observation system for halocarbons.
Mehal-GG: First-time top down estimation of halocarbon emissions for Southeastern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, based on atmospheric measurement campaigns in Finokalía (Crete, Greece) and Pic du Midi (Pyrenees, France).
ENOVO: Campaign measurements of oxidised volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) at Zürich (urban) and Jungfraujoch (high Alpine, background).
SASHA-THT: The PhD thesis “Sources and Sinks of Hydrogen in the Atmosphere during Transition to Hydrogen-based Transportation” commenced in the summer of 2007.
