Carbon monoxide (CO) and ethane (C2H6) trends from ground-based solar FTIR measurements at six European stations, comparison and sensitivity analysis with the EMEP model

Journal article, 2011

Trends in the CO and C(2)H(6) partial columns (similar to 0-15 km) have been estimated from four European ground-based solar FTIR (Fourier Transform InfraRed) stations for the 1996-2006 time period. The CO trends from the four stations Jungfraujoch, Zugspitze, Harestua and Kiruna have been estimated to -0.45 +/- 0.16%yr(-1), -1.00 +/- 0.24%yr(-1), -0.62 +/- 0.19%yr(-1) and -0.61 +/- 0.16%yr(-1), respectively. The corresponding trends for C(2)H(6) are -1.51 +/- 0.23%yr(-1), -2.11 +/- 0.30%yr(-1), -1.09 +/- 0.25%yr(-1) and -1.14 +/- 0.18%yr(-1). All trends are presented with their 2-sigma confidence intervals. To find possible reasons for the CO trends, the global-scale EMEP MSC-W chemical transport model has been used in a series of sensitivity scenarios. It is shown that the trends are consistent with the combination of a 20% decrease in the anthropogenic CO emissions seen in Europe and North America during the 1996-2006 period and a 20% increase in the anthropogenic CO emissions in East Asia, during the same time period. The possible impacts of CH(4) and biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are also considered. The European and global-scale EMEP models have been evaluated against the measured CO and C(2)H(6) partial columns from Jungfraujoch, Zugspitze, Bremen, Harestua, Kiruna and Ny-Alesund. The European model reproduces, on average the measurements at the different sites fairly well and within 10-22% deviation for CO and 14-31% deviation for C(2)H(6). Their seasonal amplitude is captured within 6-35% and 9-124% for CO and C(2)H(6), respectively. However, 61-98% of the CO and C(2)H(6) partial columns in the European model are shown to arise from the boundary conditions, making the global-scale model a more suitable alternative when modeling these two species. In the evaluation of the global model the average partial columns for 2006 are shown to be within 1-9% and 37-50% of the measurements for CO and C(2)H(6), respectively. The global model sensitivity for assumptions made in this paper is also analyzed.