Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3941
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3941
08 Jan 2025
 | 08 Jan 2025

Long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 trends and comparison of two measurement systems at Pallas-Sammaltunturi station in Northern Finland

Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka

Abstract. Accurate and precise observations of atmospheric greenhouse gas mixing ratios are crucial for understanding the carbon cycle. However, challenges can arise when comparing data between different observation sites, due to different measurement routines and data formats used. To combat these challenges, different research infrastructures have been established in order to harmonize measurement routines and data processing and to make the data from different stations readily available. One of the few stations in the boreal region that observes atmospheric greenhouse gas mixing ratios is the Pallas station, located atop Sammaltunturi fell in Finnish Lapland. The station's location above the arctic circle, far away from large settlements, makes it ideal for measurement of background mixing ratios. The station hosts instrumentation for two different research infrastructures, Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) and Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), with completely separate gas analyzers, calibration standards and sampling systems. We present the long-term time series of the mixing ratios of CO2 and CH4 and their evolution measured at the station, as well as a long-term comparison of the two instruments during the period when both have been installed. We find that the average difference in the hourly values for CO2 is <0.01 ppm and 0.47 ppb for CH4. The trends and growth rated calculated for both instruments agree well. For a more detailed comparison, the ICOS and GAW systems were simultaneously audited by ICOS Mobile Laboratory and the World Calibration Centre (WCC) of GAW, respectively. The audit results show good agreement between the different systems, with the differences ranging from -0.06 ppm to 0.02 ppm for CO2 and from -0.24 ppb to 0.30 ppb for CH4. No significant dependence on mixing ratio values was found for the differences between the systems. However, for one of the analyzers we found a clear influence of sample drying, especially for CH4. We also compared the long time series with the marine boundary layer reference values in the Northern Hemisphere. For CO2, the values measured at Pallas are on average 1.9 ppm higher than the MBL for Northern Hemisphere, and 54 ppb higher for CH4. The difference is larger during summer for CO2, but not significantly for CH4.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Jul 2025
| Highlight paper
Long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 trends and comparison of two measurement systems at Pallas-Sammaltunturi station in Northern Finland
Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3109–3133, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025, 2025
Short summary Executive editor
Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Inclusion of ICOS flask data', Tonatiuh Guillermo Nuñez Ramirez, 13 Jan 2025
    • AC4: 'Reply on CC1', Antti Laitinen, 27 Mar 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #2, 29 Jan 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #3, 18 Feb 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Inclusion of ICOS flask data', Tonatiuh Guillermo Nuñez Ramirez, 13 Jan 2025
    • AC4: 'Reply on CC1', Antti Laitinen, 27 Mar 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #2, 29 Jan 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3941', Anonymous Referee #3, 18 Feb 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Antti Laitinen on behalf of the Authors (28 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (31 Mar 2025) by Frank Keppler
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (14 Apr 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (17 Apr 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (28 Apr 2025) by Frank Keppler
AR by Antti Laitinen on behalf of the Authors (30 Apr 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Jul 2025
| Highlight paper
Long-term observations of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 trends and comparison of two measurement systems at Pallas-Sammaltunturi station in Northern Finland
Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3109–3133, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3109-2025, 2025
Short summary Executive editor
Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka
Antti Laitinen, Hermanni Aaltonen, Christoph Zellweger, Aki Tsuruta, Tuula Aalto, and Juha Hatakka

Viewed

Total article views: 495 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
356 110 29 495 17 31
  • HTML: 356
  • PDF: 110
  • XML: 29
  • Total: 495
  • BibTeX: 17
  • EndNote: 31
Views and downloads (calculated since 08 Jan 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 08 Jan 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 474 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 474 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 14 Jul 2025
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
This article presents the time series of CO2 and CH4 mixing ratios measured at Pallas station in Finland over long time period. In addition, two instruments measuring both species were compared against each other over as well as against separate audit instruments over 6 week period. The mixing ratios of both species show growth comparable to the average in the Northern Hemisphere. The differences between the instruments are small and fit within the compatibility goals assigned by WMO.
Share