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    • Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Old Flask Gas Chromatograph (GC) Measurements

    Metadata Updated: September 19, 2023

    The Halocarbons and other Atmospheric Trace Species (HATS) group aims to quantify the atmospheric burden, and the distributions and magnitudes of sources and sinks for nitrous oxide and other halogen containing compounds. They utilize numerous types of platforms, including ground-based stations, towers, ships, aircraft, and balloons to accomplish their mission. HATS measures chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) at measurement sites spanning the globe. CFCs are non-toxic, non-flammable chemicals that contain carbon, chlorine, and fluorine atoms. CFCs were used as solvents, refrigerants, and aerosol sprays. While inert in the troposphere, they decompose in the stratosphere to release chlorine for destructive reactions with ozone. This process eventually led to the creation of the "Ozone Hole" over the Antarctic. Monitoring the amounts of CFCs and other trace gases is important, both for tracking the growth and recovery of the Ozone Hole, and because many upward trending trace gases are potent and durable greenhouse gases.

    Original flask sampling electron capture gas chromatograph ("Pre-Otto") : Air samples collected in flasks at five remote sites, including Barrow, AK (BRW), Mauna Loa, HI (MLO), American Samoa (SMO), South Pole (SPO), Antarctica, and Niwot Ridge, CO (NWR), were analyzed using the HATS group's original electron capture gas chromatograph (GC-ECD) system beginning in 1977. Two additional sites at Alert, Nunavut, Canada (ALT), and Cape Grim, Tasmania (CGO) were added prior to the original Pre-Otto system's retirement in 1995, when it was replaced by a newer, automated system called "Otto". This program was originally set up under the Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change (GMCC) division of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory. Air was collected weekly at these sites in stainless-steel flasks and analyzed for nitrous oxide (N2O), and the chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11 (CCl3F) and CFC-12 (CCl2F2) in the Boulder labs in Colorado.

    Through the Big Earth Data Initiative (BEDI), ESRL/GMD has taken their data collection and converted files into NetCDF-4, a self-describing format.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date June 23, 2023
    Metadata Created Date October 28, 2022
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) 2017-11 (publication), January 15, 1977 (creation)
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Old Flask Gas Chromatograph Instrument

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date June 23, 2023
    Metadata Created Date October 28, 2022
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) 2017-11 (publication), January 15, 1977 (creation)
    Responsible Party DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Collaborator); NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C01553
    Access Constraints Cite as: Elkins, James W.; Dutton, Geoff; Nance, David; Bradley Hall; and NOAA ESRL (2017): Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Old Flask Gas Chromatograph (GC) Measurements, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5959FT5 [access date]., The information contained herein is provided as a public service, with the understanding that the NOAA/ESRL Global Monitoring Divison makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information. If you use this data in a publication or report, we would appreciate that you contact the principal investigators (PIs) first and discuss your interests. The PIs can discuss the quality of the data and any potential problems with its analysis. The data should be cited in presentations or publications along the following lines: %s data from the NOAA/ESRL/GMD halocarbons flask program., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned
    Graphic Preview Description Old Flask Gas Chromatograph Instrument
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C01553.jpg
    Graphic Preview Type JPEG
    Harvest Object Id d7b5efa2-4721-4f85-94db-7c8c923350d2
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence
    Lineage Air samples were collected in flasks at field sites and transported to NOAA/ESRL/GMD in Boulder, Colorado for analysis by electron capture gas chromatograph (GC-ECD). Data reduction was conducted on a desktop computer.
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1977-01-15
    Temporal Extent End 1995-12-15

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