Towards a universal “baseline” characterisation of air masses for high- and low-altitude observing stations using Radon-222

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dc.contributor.authorChambers, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorConen, Fen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, ADen_AU
dc.contributor.authorReimann, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSteinbacher, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorKrummel, PBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSteele, LPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorvan der Schoot, MVen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGalbally, IEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMolloy, SBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBarnes, JEen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-06T01:45:18Zen_AU
dc.date.available2016-04-06T01:45:18Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-07-30en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-04-06en_AU
dc.description.abstractWe demonstrate the ability of atmospheric radon concentrations to reliably and unambiguously identify local and remote terrestrial influences on an air mass, and thereby the potential for alteration of trace gas composition by anthropogenic and biogenic processes. Based on high accuracy (lower limit of detection 10–40 mBq m–3), high temporal resolution (hourly) measurements of atmospheric radon concentration we describe, apply and evaluate a simple two-step method for identifying and characterising constituent mole fractions in baseline air. The technique involves selecting a radon-based threshold concentration to identify the “cleanest” (least terrestrially influenced) air masses, and then performing an outlier removal step based on the distribution of constituent mole fractions in the identified clean air masses. The efficacy of this baseline selection technique is tested at three contrasting WMO GAW stations: Cape Grim (a coastal low-altitude site), Mauna Loa (a remote high-altitude island site), and Jungfraujoch (a continental high-altitude site). At Cape Grim and Mauna Loa the two-step method is at least as effective as more complicated methods employed to characterise baseline conditions, some involving up to nine steps. While it is demonstrated that Jungfraujoch air masses rarely meet the baseline criteria of the more remote sites, a selection method based on a variable monthly radon threshold is shown to produce credible “near baseline” characteristics. The seasonal peak-to-peak amplitude of recent monthly baseline CO2 mole fraction deviations from the long-term trend at Cape Grim, Mauna Loa and Jungfraujoch are estimated to be 1.1, 6.0 and 8.1 ppm, respectively. © Taiwan Association for Aerosol Researchen_AU
dc.identifier.citationChambers, S. D., Williams, A. G., Conen, F., Griffiths, A. D., Reimann, S., Steinbacher, M., Krummel, P. B., Steele, L. P., van der Schoot, M. V., Galbally, I. E., Molloy, S. B., & Barnes, J. E. (2015). Towards a universal “baseline” characterisation of air masses for high- and low-altitude observing stations using radon-222. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 16(3), 885-899. doi:10.4209/aaqr.2015.06.0391en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc6508en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1680-8584en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleAerosol and Air Quality Researchen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination885-899en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2015.06.0391en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/6698en_AU
dc.identifier.volume16en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherTaiwan Association for Aerosol Researchen_AU
dc.subjectAiren_AU
dc.subjectBaseline ecologyen_AU
dc.subjectRadon 222en_AU
dc.subjectGreenhouse gasesen_AU
dc.subjectRadonen_AU
dc.subjectMountainsen_AU
dc.titleTowards a universal “baseline” characterisation of air masses for high- and low-altitude observing stations using Radon-222en_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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