Atmospheric trace gas measurements at Palmer Station, Antarctica: 1982-83

Measurements conducted at the U.S. air chemistry monitoring station on Anvers Island in the Antarctic are concerned with the more stable atmospheric trace gases, the F-11 and F-12 chlorofluorocarbons, as well as CH3CCl3, CCl4, N2O, CO2, CO, CH4, O3, and Aitken nuclei. During the initial 20-22 months of station operation, each of the trace gases except O3, CH4, and CO have shown an increasing annual trend in concentration. Seasonal cycles are apparent in tabulation of weekly average data with indications of relatively rapid concentration increases occurring in early winter. These are followed by a period of little change which continues until late spring. It is suggested that these shorter period fluctuations are real atmospheric concentration variations in response to meteorological and regional environmental conditions.