Downwind Trace Gas Vertical Profiles in SE Australia Associated with SAFARI 2000 Dry Season Campaign

In association with the SAFARI 2000 Dry Season campaign in Africa, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) division of Atmospheric Research conducted aircraft measurements downwind, over Australia. Five missions were conducted using a Piper Navajo twin-engine aircraft to measure trace gas vertical profiles from near surface up to 7 km above Cape Grim (41^oS, 144^oE) and Melbourne (38^oS, 145^oE) regions. Air collected in glass flasks were analysed for CO2 and its stable isotopes (d13C and d18O of CO2), CH4, CO, H2 and N2O. Air collected in passivated canisters were analysed for C2 and C3 hydrocarbons. Ozone was monitored continuously in four of these missions and ground-based LIDAR was also employed in the Melbourne region in three occasions. Previous study on trace gas vertical profiles above Cape Grim between 1992 and 1997 had established using emission ratios that burning in Africa and S America are contributing to the enhanced mid-tropospheric content of various trace gases in SE Australia. Now the SAFARI 2000 in-situ data complemented with downwind observations in Australia provides the opportunity to more closely link the observed mid-tropospheric anomalies at Cape Grim to specific surface emissions and atmospheric processes. Combined with our previous data, this investigation of biomass burning impacts is extended for the whole period from 1992 to 2000. In this respect, we plan to collaborate with groups measuring the same trace gases in-situ during SAFARI 2000 (including ozone and VOCs) and compare the observations to simulated results from the UC Irvine chemistry transport model. Data requests for the vertical profile data could be addressed to B.C. Pak or R.L. Langenfelds via email: bpak@halo.ps.uci.edu, ray.langenfelds@dar.csiro.au