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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, D22305, doi:10.1029/2006JD007154, 2006

Carbon dioxide column abundances at the Wisconsin Tall Tower site

R. A. Washenfelder

Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


G. C. Toon

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


J.-F. Blavier

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Z. Yang

Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


N. T. Allen

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA


P. O. Wennberg

Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


S. A. Vay

NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, USA


D. M. Matross

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA


B. C. Daube

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA


Abstract

We have developed an automated observatory for measuring atmospheric column abundances of CO2 and O2 using near-infrared spectra of the Sun obtained with a high spectral resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS). This is the first dedicated laboratory in a new network of ground-based observatories named the Total Carbon Column Observing Network. This network will be used for carbon cycle studies and validation of spaceborne column measurements of greenhouse gases. The observatory was assembled in Pasadena, California, and then permanently deployed to northern Wisconsin during May 2004. It is located in the heavily forested Chequamegon National Forest at the WLEF Tall Tower site, 12 km east of Park Falls, Wisconsin. Under clear sky conditions, ∼0.1% measurement precision is demonstrated for the retrieved column CO2 abundances. During the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment–North America and CO2 Boundary Layer Regional Airborne Experiment campaigns in summer 2004, the DC-8 and King Air aircraft recorded eight in situ CO2 profiles over the WLEF site. Comparison of the integrated aircraft profiles and CO2 column abundances shows a small bias (∼2%) but an excellent correlation.

Received 6 February 2006; accepted 26 May 2006; published 18 November 2006.

Keywords: column; Total Carbon Column Observing Network; Fourier Transform Spectrometry.

Index Terms: 0394 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Instruments and techniques; 0315 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Biosphere/atmosphere interactions (0426, 1610); 0325 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere (1610, 8125); 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (0315, 0325).

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Citation: Washenfelder, R. A., G. C. Toon, J.-F. Blavier, Z. Yang, N. T. Allen, P. O. Wennberg, S. A. Vay, D. M. Matross, and B. C. Daube (2006), Carbon dioxide column abundances at the Wisconsin Tall Tower site, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D22305, doi:10.1029/2006JD007154.