Characteristics of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 at the Shangdianzi regional background station in China. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fang, Shuang-xi; Tans, Pieter P.; Dong, Fan; Zhou, Huaigang; Luan, Tian
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric environment. Volume 131(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide -- Methane -- Observation -- Back trajectory -- Air mass transport; Air -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- Periodicals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.01.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-2310

Abstract

Abstract: Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 have been continuously measured at the Shangdianzi regional background station (SDZ) in China from 2009 to 2013. Based on the influences of local surface wind and long-distance transport, the observed records were flagged into locally influenced, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) influenced, and Russia, Mongolia, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region influenced (RMI). ∼ 81.4% of CO2 and ∼75.6% of CH4 mole fractions were flagged as locally representative, indicating that the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 at SDZ were strongly influenced by local sources and sinks. Cluster analysis of back trajectories proved that the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 were influenced by air masses from northwest (RMI) or from south and southeast (BTH). The CO2 and CH4 mole fractions in BTH are always higher than in RMI, with the largest difference of 11.5 ± 0.3 ppm for CO2 and 102 ± 1 ppb for CH4 in July. The annual growth rates of CO2 and CH4 in BTH are 3.8 ± 0.01 ppm yr −1 and 10 ± 0.1 ppb yr −1, respectively, which are apparently higher than those of the RMI and the global means. The long-term trends of CO2 and CH4 in BTH are deviating from those in RMI, with ratios of ∼1.0 ppm yr −1 for CO2 and ∼2 ppb yr −1 for CH4, indicating the strengths of CO2 and CH4 emission in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain increased more than 20% every year. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 mole fractions at Shangdianzi regional background station located at northern China are reported. The observed records were selected into locally influenced, BTH influenced, and RMI influenced. The observed CO2 and CH4 were influenced by air masses from Northwest (RMI) or from South and Southeast (BTH). The annual growth rate of CO2 and CH4 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain are 3.8 ± 0.01 ppm yr −1 and 10 ± 0.1 ppb yr −1 . The strengths of CO2 and CH4 emission in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain increased more than 20% every year.