Atmospheric methane concentrations---the NOAA/CMDL global cooperative flask sampling network, 1983--1988

Technical Report · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5480352

Steele, L P ^[1]; Lang, P M ^[2]; Sepanski, R J ^[3]

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1. Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO (USA). Cooperative Inst. for Research in Environmental Sciences
2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA). Environmental Research Labs.
3. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA). Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center

This document presents monthly averages and sampling statistics for atmospheric methane (CH{sub 4}) concentrations (mixing ratios) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (NOAA/CMDL) global cooperative flask sampling network from 1983 to 1988. The data are derived from a network of 31 stations (27 of which were still active at the end of 1988), which collected air samples in flasks approximately once per week for measurement of both methane and carbon dioxide. The samples were analyzed for atmospheric methane on a gas chromatograph (fitted with a flame ionization detector) at the NOAA/CMDL Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. These data represent the most spatially comprehensive atmospheric methane record available in the world. They have been used to study the temporal and spatial variations in atmospheric methane concentration and have applications in modeling, projections, and global mass balance calculations. The data consist of station identification code; year; and, for each month, mean monthly methane concentration, standard deviation, and number of samples contributing to the mean. This document provides sample listings of the NOAA/CMDL atmospheric methane data as they appear on magnetic tape, as well as a complete listing of the methane data (statistics excluded) in tabular form. This document also offers retrieval program listings, furnishes information on sampling and analysis methods and on data selection, defines limitations and restrictions of the data, and provides reprints of pertinent literature. 1 fig., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States). Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5480352
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CDIAC-42; NDP-038; ON: DE91014942
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Environmental Sciences Division Publication No. 3642
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
METHANE
MONITORING
R CODES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CLIMATE MODELS
CLIMATES
COMPILED DATA
GLOBAL ASPECTS
SAMPLING
STATISTICS
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COMPUTER CODES
DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)