Total column and surface densities of atmospheric carbon monoxide in Alaska, 1995

Abstract

Abstract. The results of correlated investigations of atmospheric carbon monoxide in Alaska during the spring-summer of 1995 using three different techniques are presented. CO total column abundance was measured in Fairbanks using IR spectroscopy with the Sun as a light source. A new computer retrieval code was developed and compared with the previously used technique. Surface mixing ratios were determined in situ by gas filter correlation and by gas chromatography with a mercuric oxide reduction detector.Surface measurements were made at two uncontaminated sites: Poker Flat Research Range in interior Alaska and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Point Barrow Observatory. In spring, the measurements revealed considerably more CO in the surface layer as compared with the tropospheric mean values determined by spectroscopy. This suggests an accumulation of anthropogenic CO in the boundary atmospheric layer over vast areas of the northern hemisphere during the winter. Beginning in midApril, the CO concentration in the troposphere decreases, but the rate of decrease in the surface layer was 2-2.5 times greater than that for the troposphere as a whole. By June the surface mixing ratios and mean tropospheric values nearly converged, and the CO mixing ratio seemed to be almost constant with altitude. The July measurements revealed days with enhanced CO total column burden; these are most likely associated with lifted layers of air, polluted by forest fires.

Carbon monoxide mixing ratios over Oklahoma between 2002 and 2009 retrieved from Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer spectra

“…Below, we compare the SGP observations to the global and regional satellite data. Yurganov et al (2005) found, Siberian fires during that time affected the entire northern hemisphere: total column CO increased by 20%, and surface mixing ratios increased by 35% (in comparison with [2000][2001]. The 25% increase observed by the AERI at SGP lies between those two estimates.…”

“…Primarily, it is removed from the atmosphere through reaction with hydroxyl (OH) (Spivakovsky et al, 2000). CO is a relatively shortlived gas (life time ∼2 months) conveniently measured in situ using gas-chromatography, non-dispersive infrared (IR) technique, diode lasers, open path Fourier Transform IR spectrometrs (FTIR) (Sachse et al, 1987;Jaffe et al, 1998;Goode et al, 1999;Novelli et al, 2003;Nedelec et al, 2003). Sun-viewing spectrometers supply remotely sensed CO total column amounts and some information about the vertical distributions of CO (e.g., Dianov-Klokov and Yurganov, 1981;Zander et al, 1989;Rinsland et al, 1998).…”

Using <sup>14</sup>C, <sup>13</sup>C, <sup>18</sup>O and <sup>17</sup>O isotopic variations to provide insights into the high northern latitude surface CO inventory

“…Due to reduced convection in the absence of surface heating, mixing with the free troposphere is limited, which results in vertically decreasing CO mixing ratios, as has been established by Conway et al (1993). Recently, Yurganov et al (1998) published correlated surface and total column CO mixing ratio measurements revealing that surface values are about 50 ppb higher than average total column values during Arctic winter and spring.…”

“…Thus, CO that was temporarily stored at the high northern latitudes over winter is transported in spring to lower latitudes again where it is eventually removed. Also mixing with the free troposphere leads to a reduction of the wintertime vertical CO gradient over the Arctic, and by the end of May this gradient has disappeared and the troposphere is vertically well mixed again as regards CO levels (Yurganov et al, 1998).…”

Attribution and evolution of ozone from Asian wild fires using satellite and aircraft measurements during the ARCTAS campaign

“…Both periods show high CO, SO 2 , BC and PAN levels. The high levels of CO (Roths and Harris, 1996;Jaffe et al, 1997, Yurganov et al, 1998Ponchanart et al, 2003;Fisher et al, 2010) and aerosols (Haywood and Boucher, 2000;Zhao et al, 2002;Eck et al, 2003;Myhre et al, 2003;Massie e al., 2004, Abel et al, 2005Reid et al, 2005a, b;Forster et al, 2007) along with high levels of HCN observed by in situ data validate the biomass burning origin of the plumes. Moreover, SO 2 measurements are significantly above background levels in both part of the lower/middle tropospheric plume; these enhanced amounts suggest mixing of the biomass burning plume with anthropogenic pollution.…”