Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

DOI

10.5194/amt-7-333-2014

Publication Title

Atmospheric Measurment Techniques

Volume

7

Issue

1

Pages

333-344

Abstract

The long-term evolution of the vertical column abundance of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) above the high-altitude Jungfraujoch station (Swiss Alps, 46.5 ° N, 8.0 ° E, 3580 ma.s.l.) has been derived from the spectrometric analysis of Fourier transform infrared solar spectra recorded at that site between 1989 and 2012. The investigation is based on a multi-microwindow approach, two encompassing pairs of absorption lines belonging to the R-branch of the strong ν3 band of CF4 centered at 1283 cm-1, and two additional ones to optimally account for weak but overlapping HNO3 interferences. The analysis reveals a steady accumulation of the very long-lived CF4 above the Jungfraujoch at mean rates of (1.38 ± 0.11) x 1013 molec cm-2 yr-1 from 1989 to 1997, and (0.98 +/- 0.02) x 1013 molec cm-2 yr-1 from 1998 to 2012, which correspond to linear growth rates of 1.71 ± 0.14 and 1.04 ± 0.02% yr-1 respectively referenced to 1989 and 1998. Related global CF4 anthropogenic emissions required to sustain these mean increases correspond to 15.8 ±1.3 and 11.1 ± 0.2 Gg yr-1 over the above specified time intervals. Findings reported here are compared and discussed with respect to relevant northern mid-latitude results obtained remotely from space and balloons as well as in situ at the ground, including new gas chromatography mass spectrometry measurements performed at the Jungfraujoch since 2010.

Original Publication Citation

Mahieu, E., Zander, R., Toon, G. C., Vollmer, M. K., Reimann, S., Muhle, J., . . . Duchatelet, P. (2014). Spectrometric monitoring of atmospheric carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) above the Jungfraujoch station since 1989: Evidence of continued increase but at a slowing rate. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 7(1), 333-344. doi: 10.5194/amt-7-333-2014

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