The ALE / GAGE / AGAGE Network (DB1001)
DOI: 10.3334/CDIAC/atg.db1001
Links to Additional Sources
- Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) home page
- How halocarbons (CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs, and halons) are named
- CDIAC data base including some of the same compounds, and a tabulation of their uses and atmospheric lifetimes
Investigators
R.G. Prinn, R.F. Weiss, P.J. Fraser, P.G. Simmonds, S. O'Doherty, P. Salameh, L. Porter, P. Krummel, R.H.J. Wang, B. Miller, C. Harth, B. Greally, F.A. Van Woy, L.P. Steele, J. Müehle, G. Sturrock, F.N. Alyea, J. Huang, and D.E. Hartley
Description
In the ALE/GAGE/AGAGE global network program, continuous high frequency gas chromatographic measurements of four biogenic/anthropogenic gases (methane, CH4; nitrous oxide, N2O; hydrogen, H; and carbon monoxide, CO) and several anthropogenic gases that contribute to stratospheric ozone destruction and/or to the greenhouse effect have been carried out at five globally distributed sites for several years. Recently additional stations at Jungfraujoch, Switzerland and Zeppelin Mountain, Norway have been added to the network. Data are currently available for all measured species listed in the table below. Units are dry air mole fractions in parts per 1012 (picomoles/mole) for all halocarbons and SF6, and parts per 109 (nanomoles/mole) for nitrous oxide, methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
The program, which began in 1978, is divided into three parts associated with three changes in instrumentation: the Atmospheric Lifetime Experiment (ALE), which used Hewlett Packard HP5840 gas chromatographs; the Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (GAGE), which used HP5880 gas chromatographs; and the present Advanced GAGE (AGAGE). AGAGE uses two types of instruments: a gas chromatograph with multiple detectors (GC-MD), and a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric analysis (GC-MS). The GC-MD is a new fully automated system produced at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and includes a custom-designed sample module plus HP5890 and Carle AGC-211 gas chromatographic components. The original GC-MS was a fully automated system produced at the University of Bristol and comprised of an adsorption-desorption preconcentration module and an HP5973 gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric module. Beginning in January 2004, an improved cryogenic preconcentration system (Medusa) replaced the absorption-desorption module in the GC-MS systems at Mace Head and Cape Grim; this provided improved capability to measure a broader range of volatile perfluorocarbons with high global warming potentials. The Medusa system is now used at all current AGAGE stations. Further details on this upgrade may be found at the AGAGE home page.
http://agage.eas.gatech.edu/instruments-gcms-medusa.htm
Currently Active Stations Represented in This Data Base
Ny-Ålesund, Norway
American Samoa
Mace Head, Ireland
Ragged Point, Barbados
Trinidad Head, CA, USA
Cape Grim, Tasmania
Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
The current station locations are Cape Grim, Tasmania (41° S, 145° E), Cape Matatula, American Samoa (14° S, 171° E), Ragged Point, Barbados (13° N, 59° W), Mace Head, Ireland (53° N, 10° W), Trinidad Head, California (41° N, 124° W), Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (47° N, 8° E), and Zeppelin Mountain, Norway (79° N, 12° E). Stations also previously existed at Cape Meares, Oregon (45° N, 124° W) and Adrigole, Ireland (52° N, 10° W). The Mace Head station came on line in January 1987 as a replacement for the Adrigole station which ceased operations at the end of December 1983; the Trinidad Head station began operations during AGAGE in October 1995, as an essential replacement for the Cape Meares station from which GAGE data were not available after June 1989.
Data from all three experiments are posted. AGAGE data through March 2012 are now available for all existing sites. Individual measurements (generally made 4 times daily at each site for ALE, 12 times daily at each site for GAGE, and more than 30 times daily at each site for AGAGE) and monthly summary averages are provided for each site. All ALE and GAGE data have been recalculated according to the current AGAGE calibration standards, thus creating a unified ALE/GAGE/AGAGE data set. All ALE/GAGE/AGAGE data previously reported based on the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)-1998 calibration scale are now recalibrated to the SIO-2005 scale; more information about instrumentation and calibration for ALE, GAGE and AGAGE is given by Prinn et al. (2000). Please see the "readme" files and (for gc-md) the "COcalibration.doc" and "H2calibration.doc" files for information on calibration of individual species.
More extensive information about AGAGE may found from the AGAGE home page.
Reference
- Prinn, R.G., R.F. Weiss, P.J. Fraser, P.G. Simmonds, D.M. Cunnold, F.N. Alyea, S. O'Doherty, P. Salameh, B.R. Miller, J. Huang, R.H.J. Wang, D.E. Hartley, C. Harth, L.P. Steele, G. Sturrock, P.M. Midgely, and A. McCulloch. 2000. A history of chemically and radiatively important gases in air deduced from ALE/GAGE/AGAGE. Journal of Geophysical Research 105: 17751-17792.
| Measured Species | Zeppelin Mtn. Station, Norway (79° N, 12° E) |
Mace Head, Ireland (53° N, 10° W) |
Adrigole, Ireland (52° N, 10° W)1 |
Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (47° N, 8° E) |
Cape Meares, Oregon, USA (45° N, 124° W)2 |
Trinidad Head, California USA (41° N, 124° W) |
Ragged Point, Barbados (13° N, 59° W) |
Cape Matatula, American Samoa (14° S, 171° W)3 |
Cape Grim, Tasmania (41° S, 145° E) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methane (CH4) | Not reported |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Not reported |
Nov 85 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
Nov 85 Mar 12 |
Feb 87 Mar 12 |
May 86 Mar 12 |
| Nitrous oxide (N2O) | Not reported |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
July 78 Dec 83 |
Not reported |
Mar 80 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
Nov 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
| CFC-11 (CFCl3) | Not reported |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
July 78 Dec 83 |
Not reported |
Dec 79 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
Jul 78 Mar 12 |
| CFC-12 (CF2Cl2) | Not reported |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
July 78 Dec 83 |
Not reported |
Nov 80 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
| CFC-113 (CF2ClCFCl2) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Dec 11 |
Apr 84 June 89 |
Dec 95 Mar 12 |
Oct 85 Mar 12 |
Oct 85 Mar 12 |
June 82 Mar 12 |
| Methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3) | Aug 01 Mar 12 |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
July 78 Dec 83 |
Feb 00 Mar 12 |
Dec 79 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
| Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) | Not reported |
Jan 87 Mar 12 |
Dec 79 Dec 83 |
Not reported |
Dec 79 June 89 |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Mar 12 |
July 78 Dec 11 |
| Chloroform (CHCl3) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Mar 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Oct 95 Mar 12 |
June 96 Mar 12 |
Aug 96 Mar 12 |
Mar 94 Mar 12 |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | Not reported |
Mar 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Not reported |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Aug 93 Dec 994 |
| Hydrogen (H2) | Not reported |
Not reported5 |
Not measured |
Not reported |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Aug 93 Mar 12 |
| Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Nov 03 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Jul 01 Mar 12 |
| HFC-134a (CF3CH2F) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Oct 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Dec 11 |
| HFC-152a (CF3CHF2) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Oct 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Mar 12 |
| HCFC-141b (CH3CFCl2) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Nov 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Dec 11 |
| HCFC-142b (CH3CF2Cl) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Oct 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Not reported |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Dec 11 |
| HCFC-22 (CHClF2) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Jan 99 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Not reported |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Mar 12 |
| Methyl chloride (CH3Cl) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Jan 98 Mar 12 |
| Methyl bromide (CH3Br) | Jun 01 Dec 10 |
Feb 98 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Mar 12 |
| Halon 1211 (CF2BrCl) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Oct 94 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Mar 12 |
| Halon 1301 (CF3Br) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jul 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 98 Mar 12 |
| HFC-365mfc (CF3CH2CF2CH3) | Dec 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 03 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Dec 02 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Mar 04 Mar 12 |
| Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Apr 95 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Aug 11 |
| Trichloroethylene (C2HCl3) | Not reported |
Sep 99 Apr 08 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Apr 08 |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
Not measured |
| Perchloroethylene (C2Cl4) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Sep 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Sep 076 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Sep 076 |
Jul 00 Dec 11 |
| Sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Nov 04 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
Jul 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Nov 04 Mar 12 |
| HFC-125 (CHF2CF3) | Jan 01 Mar 12 |
Feb 98 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 00 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Not measured |
May 05 May 10 |
May 06 Sep 09 |
Feb 98 Dec 11 |
| HFC-23 (CHF3) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Sep 07 Mar 12 |
Aug 07 Mar 12 |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Nov 07 Mar 12 |
| PFC-116 (C2F6) | Not reported |
Nov 03 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
Nov 06 Mar 12 |
Apr 04 Mar 12 |
| PFC-218 (C3F8) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Nov 03 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Mar 05 Mar 12 |
May 05 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Jan 04 Mar 12 |
| PFC-14 (CF4) | Not reported |
May 06 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Jan 10 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Apr 06 Mar 12 |
Jun 06 Mar 12 |
Jun 06 Mar 12 |
May 06 Mar 12 |
| HFC-227ea (CF3CHFCF3) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Oct 06 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Aug 04 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Nov 07 Mar 12 |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Jun 06 Mar 12 |
| HFC-245fa (CHF2CH2CF3) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Nov 06 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Oct 04 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Dec 07 Mar 12 |
Dec 07 Mar 12 |
Nov 07 Mar 12 |
Jun 06 Dec 11 |
| HFC-236fa (CF3CH2CF3) | Sep 10 Mar 12 |
Oct 06 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
May 08 Mar 12 |
Not measured |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Nov 07 Mar 12 |
Oct 07 Mar 12 |
Sep 06 Mar 12 |
1No longer used for sampling. Replaced by the station at Mace Head, Ireland (53° N, 10° W).
2No longer used for sampling. Replaced by the station at Trinidad Head, California (41° N, 124° W).
3A tsunami on September 30, 2009 caused a power shutdown that prevented measurements of many gases at this station from October 2009 through February 2010.
4Carbon monoxide (CO) data for Cape Grim, Tasmania, after December 1999 are also temporarily removed in this update due to a non-linear problem. It will be added after an appropriate correction is applied.
5Hydrogen data from Mace Head are being converted to a new calibration scale. The hydrogen data from Cape Grim have already been converted.
6Recent Medusa perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene)(C2Cl4) data have not been subjected to "blank correction". Those data are still preliminary and will be updated after the blank correction is applied.
Updated January 2013.

