Abstract / Description of output
Abstract. We present the organization, instrumentation, datasets, data interpretation, modeling, and accomplishments
of the multinational global atmospheric measurement program AGAGE (Advanced Global Atmospheric
Gases Experiment). AGAGE is distinguished by its capability to measure globally, at high frequency,
and at multiple sites all the important species in the Montreal Protocol and all the important non-carbon-dioxide
(non-CO2) gases assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (CO2 is also measured at several
sites). The scientific objectives of AGAGE are important in furthering our understanding of global chemical and
climatic phenomena. They are the following: (1) to accurately measure the temporal and spatial distributions of
anthropogenic gases that contribute the majority of reactive halogen to the stratosphere and/or are strong infrared
Published by Copernicus Publications.
986 R. G. Prinn et al.: History of environmentally important atmospheric gases
absorbers (chlorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons – CFCs, bromocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons – HCFCs, hydrofluorocarbons
– HFCs and polyfluorinated compounds (perfluorocarbons – PFCs), nitrogen trifluoride – NF3,
sulfuryl fluoride – SO2F2, and sulfur hexafluoride – SF6) and use these measurements to determine the global
rates of their emission and/or destruction (i.e., lifetimes); (2) to accurately measure the global distributions and
temporal behaviors and determine the sources and sinks of non-CO2 biogenic–anthropogenic gases important to
climate change and/or ozone depletion (methane – CH4, nitrous oxide – N2O, carbon monoxide – CO, molecular
hydrogen – H2, methyl chloride – CH3Cl, and methyl bromide – CH3Br); (3) to identify new long-lived greenhouse
and ozone-depleting gases (e.g., SO2F2, NF3, heavy PFCs (C4F10, C5F12, C6F14, C7F16, and C8F18) and
hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs; e.g., CH2 DCFCF3) have been identified in AGAGE), initiate the real-time monitoring
of these new gases, and reconstruct their past histories from AGAGE, air archive, and firn air measurements;
(4) to determine the average concentrations and trends of tropospheric hydroxyl radicals (OH) from the rates
of destruction of atmospheric trichloroethane (CH3CCl3), HFCs, and HCFCs and estimates of their emissions;
(5) to determine from atmospheric observations and estimates of their destruction rates the magnitudes and distributions
by region of surface sources and sinks of all measured gases; (6) to provide accurate data on the global accumulation
of many of these trace gases that are used to test the synoptic-, regional-, and global-scale circulations
predicted by three-dimensional models; and (7) to provide global and regional measurements of methane, carbon
monoxide, and molecular hydrogen and estimates of hydroxyl levels to test primary atmospheric oxidation
pathways at midlatitudes and the tropics.
of the multinational global atmospheric measurement program AGAGE (Advanced Global Atmospheric
Gases Experiment). AGAGE is distinguished by its capability to measure globally, at high frequency,
and at multiple sites all the important species in the Montreal Protocol and all the important non-carbon-dioxide
(non-CO2) gases assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (CO2 is also measured at several
sites). The scientific objectives of AGAGE are important in furthering our understanding of global chemical and
climatic phenomena. They are the following: (1) to accurately measure the temporal and spatial distributions of
anthropogenic gases that contribute the majority of reactive halogen to the stratosphere and/or are strong infrared
Published by Copernicus Publications.
986 R. G. Prinn et al.: History of environmentally important atmospheric gases
absorbers (chlorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons – CFCs, bromocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons – HCFCs, hydrofluorocarbons
– HFCs and polyfluorinated compounds (perfluorocarbons – PFCs), nitrogen trifluoride – NF3,
sulfuryl fluoride – SO2F2, and sulfur hexafluoride – SF6) and use these measurements to determine the global
rates of their emission and/or destruction (i.e., lifetimes); (2) to accurately measure the global distributions and
temporal behaviors and determine the sources and sinks of non-CO2 biogenic–anthropogenic gases important to
climate change and/or ozone depletion (methane – CH4, nitrous oxide – N2O, carbon monoxide – CO, molecular
hydrogen – H2, methyl chloride – CH3Cl, and methyl bromide – CH3Br); (3) to identify new long-lived greenhouse
and ozone-depleting gases (e.g., SO2F2, NF3, heavy PFCs (C4F10, C5F12, C6F14, C7F16, and C8F18) and
hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs; e.g., CH2 DCFCF3) have been identified in AGAGE), initiate the real-time monitoring
of these new gases, and reconstruct their past histories from AGAGE, air archive, and firn air measurements;
(4) to determine the average concentrations and trends of tropospheric hydroxyl radicals (OH) from the rates
of destruction of atmospheric trichloroethane (CH3CCl3), HFCs, and HCFCs and estimates of their emissions;
(5) to determine from atmospheric observations and estimates of their destruction rates the magnitudes and distributions
by region of surface sources and sinks of all measured gases; (6) to provide accurate data on the global accumulation
of many of these trace gases that are used to test the synoptic-, regional-, and global-scale circulations
predicted by three-dimensional models; and (7) to provide global and regional measurements of methane, carbon
monoxide, and molecular hydrogen and estimates of hydroxyl levels to test primary atmospheric oxidation
pathways at midlatitudes and the tropics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Earth System Science Data |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Jun 2018 |