International Scientists Meet; Visit American Samoa Observatory
Global Monitoring Division - ESRL-GMD
This story entered on 18th Jun, 2009 09:18:25 AM PST

Twenty scientists from Australia, China, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States will meet to discuss global halocarbon measurements and science in Pago Pago, American Samoa, 15-17 June 2009. Both global (Advanced Global Atmospheric Gas Experiment, AGAGE, and NOAA ESRL) and regional networks (China, Europe, Japan, Korea) are represented at the meeting. On 18 June 2009, these scientists will visit the NOAA ESRL Samoa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory at Cape Matatulu to see the AGAGE and NOAA operations. During the visit, a plaque will be dedicated to the memory and scientific career of Prof. Derek Cunnold, a member of the AGAGE team involved in many international assessments of climate and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Background: Both the AGAGE and NOAA ESRL networks have been measuring halocarbons since 1978 at many international sites. The purpose of these meetings is to resolve differences in the calibration and measurement of halocarbons at very low concentrations (parts-per-trillion, ppt). In the past five years regional networks have been included in these twice a year meetings held nearby to the stations in the networks.

Significance: Many of the halocarbons monitored by these groups are significant greenhouse gases, some halocarbons also contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion, and a few are involved in air quality of the industrial workplace and urban areas. Climate is one of the main goals of NOAA. Monitoring of these atmospheric halocarbons helps climate modelers verify their models and use the halocarbon and other trace gas data to predict future climate change.

More information: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd

Contact information
Name: James W Elkins
Tel: (303) 497-6224
James.W.Elkins@noaa.gov