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Project title

In-situ observations of Greenhouse Gases at Carnsore Point

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Bristol

Lead Applicant

Simon O'Doherty

Project Abstract

To build on and further extend the Greenhouse Gas measurements being carried out at Carnsore Point, Wexford on the South East Coast to compliment Mace Head, Galway on the West Coast, in order to study levels of these species in air masses entering and leaving Ireland. Comparison of the data collected at the two sites demonstrates that there are many periods when the air masses reaching the two sites had different transport histories this is clear in the observation data and can be explained using air-history maps modelled with the NAME dispersion model. It is then possible to detect the addition of Irish emissions to air masses as they pass over Ireland using the data from these two sites and this will be further explored. The addition of the Carnsore Point data greatly improves the resolution of emissions over Ireland (and NW Europe) calculated using the NAME inversion technique, compared to just using the Mace Head data alone, and for some species reduces the error associated with the emissions estimates. Continuation and extension of observations at Carnsore Point will enhance the existing dataset and significantly improve the representation of Irish emissions and will provide a top-down validation of emission estimates.

Grant Approved

�564,860.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sinks, and Management Systems

Start Date

01/01/2008

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2011