Atmospheric Trace Gases in Antarctica

Abstract

Trace gases have been measured, by electron-capture gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques, at the South Pole (SP) in Antarctica and in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) (∼ 45°N) during January of each year from 1975 to 1980. These measurements show that the concentrations of CCl₃F, CCl₂F₂, and CH₃CCl₃ have increased exponentially at substantial rates. The concentration of CCl₃F increased at 12 percent per year at the SP and at 8 percent per year in the PNW; CCl₂F₂ increased at about 9 percent per year at both locations, and CH₃CCl₃ increased at 17 percent per year at the SP and 11.6 percent per year at the PNW site. There is some evidence that CCl₄ (∼ 3 percent per year) and N₂O (0.1 to 0.5 percent per year) may also have increased. Concentrations of nine other trace gases of importance in atmospheric chemistry are also being measured at these two locations. Results of the measurements of CHClF₂(F-22), C₂Cl₃F₃(F-113), SF₆, C₂-hydrocarbons, and CH₃Cl are reported here.