Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11
<p>We present new observations of trace gases in the stratosphere based on a cost-effective sampling technique that can access much higher altitudes than aircraft. The further development of this method now provides detection of species with abundances in the parts per trillion (ppt) range and...
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Copernicus Publications
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/20/9771/2020/acp-20-9771-2020.pdf |
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| author | J. C. Laube J. C. Laube E. C. L. Elvidge E. C. L. Elvidge K. E. Adcock B. Baier B. Baier C. A. M. Brenninkmeijer H. Chen E. S. Droste J.-U. Grooß P. Heikkinen A. J. Hind R. Kivi A. Lojko A. Lojko S. A. Montzka D. E. Oram S. Randall T. Röckmann W. T. Sturges C. Sweeney M. Thomas E. Tuffnell F. Ploeger F. Ploeger |
| author_facet | J. C. Laube J. C. Laube E. C. L. Elvidge E. C. L. Elvidge K. E. Adcock B. Baier B. Baier C. A. M. Brenninkmeijer H. Chen E. S. Droste J.-U. Grooß P. Heikkinen A. J. Hind R. Kivi A. Lojko A. Lojko S. A. Montzka D. E. Oram S. Randall T. Röckmann W. T. Sturges C. Sweeney M. Thomas E. Tuffnell F. Ploeger F. Ploeger |
| author_sort | J. C. Laube |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>We present new observations of trace gases in the stratosphere
based on a cost-effective sampling technique that can access much higher
altitudes than aircraft. The further development of this method now provides
detection of species with abundances in the parts per trillion (ppt) range
and below. We obtain mixing ratios for six gases (CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-22,
H-1211, H-1301, and SF<span class="inline-formula"><sub>6</sub></span>), all of which are important for understanding
stratospheric ozone depletion and circulation. After demonstrating the
quality of the data through comparisons with ground-based records and
aircraft-based observations, we combine them with the latter to demonstrate
its potential. We first compare the data with results from a global model driven
by three widely used meteorological reanalyses. Secondly, we focus on CFC-11
as recent evidence has indicated renewed atmospheric emissions of that
species relevant on a global scale. Because the stratosphere represents the
main sink region for CFC-11, potential changes in stratospheric circulation
and troposphere–stratosphere exchange fluxes have been identified as the
largest source of uncertainty for the accurate quantification of such
emissions. Our observations span over a decade (up until 2018) and therefore
cover the period of the slowdown of CFC-11 global mixing ratio decreases
measured at the Earth's surface. The spatial and temporal coverage of the
observations is insufficient for a global quantitative analysis, but we do
find some trends that are in contrast with expectations, indicating that the
stratosphere may have contributed to the slower concentration decline in
recent years. Further investigating the reanalysis-driven model data, we find
that the dynamical changes in the stratosphere required to explain the
apparent change in tropospheric CFC-11 emissions after 2013 are possible
but with a very high uncertainty range. This is partly caused by the high
variability of mass flux from the stratosphere to the troposphere,
especially at<span id="page9772"/> timescales of a few years, and partly by large differences
between runs driven by different reanalysis products, none of which agree
with our observations well enough for such a quantitative analysis.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:35:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-838e657c9f784aabb8c5ad8a7df2526c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:35:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-838e657c9f784aabb8c5ad8a7df2526c2022-12-22T00:17:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242020-08-01209771978210.5194/acp-20-9771-2020Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11J. C. Laube0J. C. Laube1E. C. L. Elvidge2E. C. L. Elvidge3K. E. Adcock4B. Baier5B. Baier6C. A. M. Brenninkmeijer7H. Chen8E. S. Droste9J.-U. Grooß10P. Heikkinen11A. J. Hind12R. Kivi13A. Lojko14A. Lojko15S. A. Montzka16D. E. Oram17S. Randall18T. Röckmann19W. T. Sturges20C. Sweeney21M. Thomas22E. Tuffnell23F. Ploeger24F. Ploeger25Institute of Energy and Climate Research: Stratosphere, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, 52428, GermanySchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomFaculty of Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomCooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USAGlobal Monitoring Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305-3337, USAAir Chemistry Division, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, GermanyCentre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the NetherlandsSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomInstitute of Energy and Climate Research: Stratosphere, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, 52428, GermanySpace and Earth Observation Centre, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sodankylä, 99600, FinlandSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomSpace and Earth Observation Centre, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sodankylä, 99600, FinlandSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomDepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143, USAGlobal Monitoring Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305-3337, USASchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomRandom Engineering Ltd., Felixstowe, IP11 9SL, United KingdomInstitute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3508 TA, the NetherlandsSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomCooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USASchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United KingdomInstitute of Energy and Climate Research: Stratosphere, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, 52428, GermanyInstitute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany<p>We present new observations of trace gases in the stratosphere based on a cost-effective sampling technique that can access much higher altitudes than aircraft. The further development of this method now provides detection of species with abundances in the parts per trillion (ppt) range and below. We obtain mixing ratios for six gases (CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-22, H-1211, H-1301, and SF<span class="inline-formula"><sub>6</sub></span>), all of which are important for understanding stratospheric ozone depletion and circulation. After demonstrating the quality of the data through comparisons with ground-based records and aircraft-based observations, we combine them with the latter to demonstrate its potential. We first compare the data with results from a global model driven by three widely used meteorological reanalyses. Secondly, we focus on CFC-11 as recent evidence has indicated renewed atmospheric emissions of that species relevant on a global scale. Because the stratosphere represents the main sink region for CFC-11, potential changes in stratospheric circulation and troposphere–stratosphere exchange fluxes have been identified as the largest source of uncertainty for the accurate quantification of such emissions. Our observations span over a decade (up until 2018) and therefore cover the period of the slowdown of CFC-11 global mixing ratio decreases measured at the Earth's surface. The spatial and temporal coverage of the observations is insufficient for a global quantitative analysis, but we do find some trends that are in contrast with expectations, indicating that the stratosphere may have contributed to the slower concentration decline in recent years. Further investigating the reanalysis-driven model data, we find that the dynamical changes in the stratosphere required to explain the apparent change in tropospheric CFC-11 emissions after 2013 are possible but with a very high uncertainty range. This is partly caused by the high variability of mass flux from the stratosphere to the troposphere, especially at<span id="page9772"/> timescales of a few years, and partly by large differences between runs driven by different reanalysis products, none of which agree with our observations well enough for such a quantitative analysis.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/20/9771/2020/acp-20-9771-2020.pdf |
| spellingShingle | J. C. Laube J. C. Laube E. C. L. Elvidge E. C. L. Elvidge K. E. Adcock B. Baier B. Baier C. A. M. Brenninkmeijer H. Chen E. S. Droste J.-U. Grooß P. Heikkinen A. J. Hind R. Kivi A. Lojko A. Lojko S. A. Montzka D. E. Oram S. Randall T. Röckmann W. T. Sturges C. Sweeney M. Thomas E. Tuffnell F. Ploeger F. Ploeger Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 |
| title_full | Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 |
| title_fullStr | Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 |
| title_short | Investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft, AirCores, and a global model focusing on CFC-11 |
| title_sort | investigating stratospheric changes between 2009 and 2018 with halogenated trace gas data from aircraft aircores and a global model focusing on cfc 11 |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/20/9771/2020/acp-20-9771-2020.pdf |
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