Global Monitoring of Atmospheric CO₂: Measurement Practices and Networks
Overview of CO₂ Measurement Practices
Monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels is crucial for understanding and addressing climate change. Various organizations and networks worldwide employ different methodologies to measure CO₂ concentrations, each contributing valuable data to the global dataset.
Measurement Frequencies and Methodologies
The frequency and methodology of CO₂ measurements vary across monitoring stations:
- Continuous Monitoring: Many stations, such as the Mauna Loa Observatory, measure CO₂ levels continuously, producing hourly averages. These hourly readings are then used to calculate daily and monthly averages. 2
- Background Conditions: Some stations select specific hourly measurements that satisfy 'background' conditions—periods of stability and persistence in CO₂ concentrations—to compute daily averages. 6
Global Monitoring Networks
Several global networks contribute to the monitoring of CO₂ levels:
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML): Operates multiple observatories worldwide, including the Mauna Loa Observatory, providing continuous CO₂ measurements. 10
- FLUXNET: A global network of over 1,000 micrometeorological tower sites that measure exchanges of CO₂, water vapor, and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere. 14
- Carbon Monitor: Provides near-real-time daily estimates of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel and cement production for over 1,500 cities worldwide.
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