An improved method for atmospheric 14CO measurements

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dc.contributor.authorPetrenko, VVen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSmith, AMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCrosier, EMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKazemi, Ren_AU
dc.contributor.authorPlace, PFen_AU
dc.contributor.authorColton, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorYang, Ben_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMurray, LTen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-05T23:07:50Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-05-05T23:07:50Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2021-03-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-05-05en_AU
dc.description.abstractImportant uncertainties remain in our understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric hydroxyl radical concentration ([OH]). Carbon-14-containing carbon monoxide (14CO) is a useful tracer that can help in the characterization of [OH] variability. Prior measurements of atmospheric 14CO concentration ([14CO] are limited in both their spatial and temporal extent, partly due to the very large air sample volumes that have been required for measurements (500–1000 L at standard temperature and pressure, L STP) and the difficulty and expense associated with the collection, shipment, and processing of such samples. Here we present a new method that reduces the air sample volume requirement to ≈90 L STP while allowing for [14CO] measurement uncertainties that are on par with or better than prior work (≈3 % or better, 1σ). The method also for the first time includes accurate characterization of the overall procedural [14CO] blank associated with individual samples, which is a key improvement over prior atmospheric 14CO work. The method was used to make measurements of [14CO] at the NOAA Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, USA, between November 2017 and November 2018. The measurements show the expected [14CO] seasonal cycle (lowest in summer) and are in good agreement with prior [14CO] results from another low-latitude site in the Northern Hemisphere. The lowest overall [14CO] uncertainties (2.1 %, 1σ) are achieved for samples that are directly accompanied by procedural blanks and whose mass is increased to ≈50 µgC (micrograms of carbon) prior to the 14C measurement via dilution with a high-CO 14C-depleted gas. © Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the David and Lucille Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering (to Vasilii V. Petrenko). We acknowledge the financial support from the Australian Government for the Centre for Accelerator Science at ANSTO through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationPetrenko, V. V., Smith, A. M., Crosier, E. M., Kazemi, R., Place, P., Colton, A., Yang, B., Hua, Q., & Murray, L. T. (2021). An improved method for atmospheric 14 CO measurements. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 14(3), 2055-2063. doi:10.5194/amt-14-2055-2021en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1867-8548en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleAtmospheric Measurement Techniquesen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination2055-2063en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2055-2021en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13131en_AU
dc.identifier.volume14en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherCopernicus Publicationsen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectAtmospheric chemistryen_AU
dc.subjectSamplingen_AU
dc.subjectHawaiien_AU
dc.subjectNorthern Hemisphereen_AU
dc.subjectSeasonal variationsen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon monoxideen_AU
dc.titleAn improved method for atmospheric 14CO measurementsen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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