Report of the GAW Central Facilities (host institutions) for the period 2011­2012

Variable QA/SAC Central Calibration Laboratory

(CCL)

World Calibration Centre (WCC)

Regional Calibration Centre (RCC)

World Data Centre (WDC)

CO2 JMA (A/O)

Empa (Am, E/A)

ESRL ESRL (round robin)

Empa (audits)

JMA

carbon isotopes

MPI­BGC JMA

CH4 Empa (Am, E/A) JMA (A/O)

ESRL Empa (Am, E/A) JMA (A/O)

JMA

N2O UBA ESRL KIT/IMK­IFU JMA

CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs

JMA

SF6 ESRL KMA (just assigned)

JMA

H2 MPI­BGC JMA

Total Ozone JMA (A/O) ESRL, EC ESRL, EC BoM, ESRL, IZO JMA, MOHp, MGO, OCBA, SAWS, SOO­HK

EC, DLR

Ozone Sondes FZJ(IEK­8 )

FZJ(IEK­8) FZJ(IEK­8) EC

Surface Ozone

Empa NIST Empa OCBA (SNMA) JMA

Precipitation Chemistry

NOAA­ ARL

ISWS ISWS NOAA­ ARL

CO Empa ESRL Empa JMA

VOC UBA NPL, NIST(just assigned)

KIT/IMK­IFU JMA

SO2 JMA

NOx UBA IEK­8 (NO) JMA

Aerosol physical properties

UBA (physical properties)

IfT (physical properties)

NILU, DLR

Aerosol Optical Depth

PMOD/WRC PMOD/WRC NILU

Aerosol chemical properties

NILU

Variable QA/SAC Central Calibration Laboratory

(CCL)

World Calibration Centre (WCC)

Regional Calibration Centre (RCC)

World Data Centre (WDC)

UV Radiation PMOD/WRC (just assigned)

ESRL (Am), EUVC/PMOD (E)

EC

Solar Radiation

PMOD/WRC PMOD/WRC MGO

Organization NOAA ESRL GMD CCGG group Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL CH4

Contact person Ed Dlugokencky (ed.dlugokencky@noaa.gov) Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report NOAA has been CCL for CH4 since 2005, after an analysis of a

gravimetrically­prepared standard scale was published. The current primary CH4 scale used is the NOAA­2004 scale. It is based on a suite of gravimetrically prepared standards covering the nominal range 300 to 2600 nmol mol ­1 . The balances used to prepare the standards are traceable to SI mass units. These standards are analyzed against the current working secondary standard approximately every 2 years. Typical agreement with their assigned values is ±1 nmol mol ­1 (1 s.d.). After running the primary standards in 2006, a larger discrepancy was found outside the ambient range. It was corrected by replacing valve rotors in stream selection valves.

The WMO GAW CH4 CCL participates in WMO GAW round robin comparisons of air contained in high­pressure cylinders.

Following the signing of a side letter to the Mutual Recognition Agreement established between WMO and BIPM (Bureau of International Weights and Measures), NOAA/ESRL/GMD will participate in Key Comparisons organized by the CIPM (International Committee for Weights and Measures). NOAA will also work towards ISO 17025 compliance (an international standard for competence of testing and calibration laboratories).

Number of calibrations performed for CH4:

2011: 534 calibrations (~200 unique cylinders)

2012: 580 Calibrations (~225 unique cylinders)

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Organization National Physical Laboratory Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL for VOC (hydrocarbons) 7.3.3

Contact person Paul Brewer (paul.brewer@npl.co.uk)

Marivon Corbel (marivon.corbel@npl.co.uk) Web page http://www.npl.co.uk/science­technology/chemical­metrology/gas­

standards/products­and­services/standard­mixtures­of­volatile­organic­ compounds

Reporting period 2011­2012 Report In 2005, NPL developed the first in the series of ozone precursor

(O3P) VOC mixtures containing all of the VOCs listed in the EU directive (2002/3/EC) concerning the monitoring of the most important pre­cursor compounds for the formation of tropospheric ozone. This ozone precursor hierarchy (O3P MkI) formed the basis for the EURAMET 886 comparison. The full report includes extensive data on the stability of these mixtures and can be downloaded from the NPL website. It has also been published. [1] Since 2005, NPL has disseminated ozone precursor primary reference gas mixtures (PRGMs) to monitoring stations and research institutes.

Since 2008, NPL has been updating the ozone precursor hierarchy. The O3P MkII formed the basis of PRGMs disseminated from May 2009 to April 2012. Since then, the recently prepared MkIII hierarchy underpins PRGMs disseminated. New technologies applied to the preparation of these multi­component VOC mixtures have led to improvements in the introduction of low vapour pressure, high molecular weight species. In the current hierarchy, gravimetric dilution steps have been refined with an expanded number of parent mixtures containing fewer components. This has led to improved measurements to validate the stability of the mixtures prepared.

These standard mixtures provide the basis for traceability for the following compounds in the GAW VOC network: ethane, propane, n­butane, n­pentane, acetylene, toluene, benzene and isoprene.

1 R J P Grenfell, M J T Milton, A M Harling, G M Vargha, C Brookes, P G Quincey and P T Woods, Standard mixtures of ambient volatile organic compounds in synthetic and whole air with stable reference values, J Geophys Res, 115, D14302, (2010).

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Organization U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Air Resources Laboratory and the Illinois State Water Survey

Role in GAW QA/QC

Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centre (Americas )

Contact person Van Bowersox Web page http://qasac­americas.org/ Reporting period January 2011 ­ December 2012

Report The QA/SAC­Americas continues to conduct laboratory intercomparison studies two times per year. Each study consists of three simulated precipitation samples prepared by the reference laboratory, located at the Illinois State Water Survey. The samples are prepared with concentrations typical of precipitation at continental sites around the world. Study participants are required to report concentrations of 9 analytes (hydrogen ion as pH, sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium) plus solution conductivity. Optional additional measurements include total acidity and fluoride.

Ø The number of participants in 2011­12 averaged 79 laboratories, a 5% increase in participation over the previous 5­year average. Six new laboratories joined the study in the last two years.

Ø A system was developed to enable participants to enter their reports on­line using a secure, cost­effective, quality­assured procedure and half of the participants now use this system. A training video has been developed to promote use of this system. Distribution of the video is planned for 2013.

Ø Study results are posted on the QA/SAC Web site in four complementary formats: (1) tabular statistical summary, (2) graphical ring diagrams, (3) HTML listing by laboratory, and (4) comma­ separated­value (CSV) table available for download. In response to participant requests, Z­scores have been added to the HTML and CSV listings.

Ø At the request of several lab managers, total phosphorous was added to one sample in each of the two 2012 studies. Consideration was given to adding total nitrogen and total carbon measurements, as well, as interest in nutrient deposition increases. Addition of new analytes will be discussed at the next Precipitation Chemistry Science Advisory Group meeting.

Ø Links were created to enable users of the World Data Centre for Precipitation Chemistry (WDCPC) site to readily access laboratory intercomparison study results posted on QA/SAC Web site. This enables data users to evaluate the performance of laboratories whose data are accessible through the WDCPC.

Ø A program to track Web site usage was installed. The output allows the QA/SAC manager to gauge Web site usage. In 2011­2012, there were 1,634 unique visitors and 39,271 page views.

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Organization Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)

Meteorologisches Observatorium Hohenpeissenberg (MOHp) Role in GAW QA/QC

Regional Calibration Centre for the European Dobson Network (RDCC­E) to guarantee the data quality of the monitoring of the ozone layer in Europe.

Contact person Ulf Köhler Web page www.dwd.de Reporting period 2011­2012 Report Four WMO Dobson Intercomparisons and one Absolute Calibration

Campaign were organized by the RDCC­E in 2011 and 2012:

­ MOHp2011 and MOHp2012 were performed at Hohenpeissenberg and were completely funded by the DWD. 5 field Dobsons from UK, Egypt, Romania, Italy and Greece had undergone a complete calibration service; in addition the old electronics of the Italian and Egyptian were replaced by the new US type­MOHp modified electronic. The Europan Regional Standard Dobsons D064 (Hohenpeissenberg) and D074 (Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic) were calibrated with the World Standard Dobson D065 (World Dobson Calibration Center WDCC, NOAA, Boulder, USA) during MOHp2012.

­ ElAreno2011 (Spain) with four Dobsons and Arosa2012 (Switzerland) with three Dobson were ESA funded campaigns within a CEOS project.

­ Izana2012 was a repetition of the Izana2008 and Izana2010 campaigns. It was funded by the ESA CEOS project as an absolute calibration campaign after the Langley method for the Regional Standard Dobson D064. This activity was carried out to verify and confirm the capability of the facility at the Izana Observatory to host this kind of special independent calibrations of standard Dobsons.

The relocation of the unused Dobson D014 from Tromsö (Norway) was started with a complete refurbishment incl. electronic replacement at MOHp in 2011/2012. A discussion about its future use at a station in Siberia was conducted in the International Ozone Commission (IO3C) and the WMO Scientific Advisory Group for Ozone at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium (Toronto, Canada) in August/September 2012.

A proposal on the extension of the regular calibration cycle from four to five years was proposed during the IO3C and WMO SAG O3 meetings. The observed stability of the calibration levels of the Dobsons in the past two decades will allow this modification to reduce necessary funding and manpower of the Dobson Calibration Centres in times of budget and personnel cuts.

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Organization Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology,

Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology, Duebendorf,

Switzerland Role in GAW QA/QC

Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centre (QA/SAC) Switzerland

QA/SAC for carbon dioxide (CO2) (7.2.1)

QA/SAC for methane (CH4) (7.2.2)

QA/SAC for surface ozone (7.3.1)

QA/SAC for carbon monoxide (7.3.2) Contact person Brigitte Buchmann Web page http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/4277 Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The GAW Quality Assurance/Scientific Activity Centre (QA/SAC

Switzerland), funded by MeteoSwiss and Empa, was established at Empa in 2000. Being closely linked to the World Calibration Centre also hosted by Empa, QA/SAC Switzerland mainly focuses on surface ozone, carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide measurements but is broader in scope and provides technical and scientific support in general.

The main tasks of QA/SAC Switzerland are

• science activities including quality assurance / quality control such as evaluation of novel measurement techniques and their applicability for long­term monitoring purposes along with appropriate dissemination of the gathered experience to the GAW community;

• training, twinning, and capacity building through technical support of GAW stations, provision of recommendations for instrument selections, instrument operation and calibration strategies, assistance with data quality and data submission issues and regular teaching activities within GAWTEC;

• contribution to GAW outreach by being part of the author team of GAW report #192 (Guidelines for the Measurement of Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide), GAW report #195 (WMO/GAW Expert Workshop on Global Long­term Measurements of Nitrogen Oxides and Recommendations for GAW Nitrogen Oxides Network) and the GAW report (Guidelines for Continuous Measurements of Ozone in the Troposphere) (currently under review).

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Organization Meteorological State Agency of Spain (AEMET)

Role in GAW QA/QC

REGIONAL BREWER CALIBRATION CENTER (EUROPE)

Contact person Alberto Redondas Marrero (aredondasm@aemet.es)

Web page http://www.iberonesia.net

Reporting period 2011­2012

Report The Regional Brewer Calibration Center for Europe (RBCCE) has the following main goals:

• Implement a system for routine absolute calibrations of the European Brewer regional reference instruments at Izana, fully compatible with absolute calibrations of the world reference Triad at MLO.

• Perform periodical calibration campaigns using the Regional Primary Reference B157 (during intercomparisons held at Izaña) and the Regional Travelling Reference B183 spectrophotometer (traceable to B157) in continental campaigns.

• Perform Regular comparisons of the Regional Brewer Primary Reference B157 with the Regional Dobson Reference D074 to monitor the relationship between both calibration scales in the Region.

• Study the sources of errors of the absolute calibrations and to determine the accuracy of total ozone measurement achievable by this method due to atmospheric conditions or instrumental characteristics.

The main activities of the RBCC­E in the reporting period were:

• Absolute calibration transfer. The WMO Scientific Advisory Group for Ozone (WMO­SAG­O3) agreed in the 2011 SAG­Ozone meeting that the RBCC­E will transfer its own absolute calibration obtained by Langley due to uncertainties in the maintenance of the Brewer World Reference Triad. So, most the efforts of the RBCC­E focused in obtaining the absolute calibration and its transfer to the network instruments during the calibration campaigns.

• The publication of new absorption coefficients developed by the University of Bremen has been a thorough review of the calculations of ozone for Brewer and Dobson spectrophotometers. The new ozone data were compared to those obtained with previous coefficients. A detailed assessment of the impact of the use of these new coefficients on ozone Brewer and Dobson data series will presented in the ACSO meeting in June 2013.

• Three intercomparison campaigns were organized by the RBCC­E: Izaña 2011, Arosa 2012 and the absolute calibration at Izaña 2012. The last two campaigns were performed with the participation of the RDCC­E. During the absolute campaign at Izaña, an evaluation of the differences between the Langley Plot methods of both Brewer

and Dobson reference instruments, was performed and assessed. A report of this calibration is available at the RBCC­E web page.

Other technical developments:

Installation of a double Brewer at the global GAW station of Tamanrasset­Algeria (October 2011).

Evaluation of the NO2 measures with the Brewer MKIV with Dr. H Diemoz (Aosta, Italy) in September 2012.

Testing of new electronic board of the Brewer spectrophotometer (March 2012).

New improvements of Iberonesia database (www.iberonesia.net).

Training activities and capacity building:

Permanent supervision and counseling of the Brewer operation at Tamanrasset Station.

Calibration of the Brewer from Uruguay, support for its installation at the Antarctic base, and data evaluation through the Iberonesia database/tool (July­October 2012).

One­week practical course to three expertises of the Korean Meteorological office at the RBCC­E (December 2012).

Ø Technical support and data analysis of the Brewers from Morocco

(Casablanca and Dakhla).

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Organization Federal Environment Agency/Germany (Umweltbundesamt = UBA) Role in GAW QA/QC

Quality Assurance/Scientific Advisory Centre, Germany:

• QA/SAC for N2O (7.2.3) ∙

• QA/SAC for VOC (7.3.3) ∙

• QA/SAC for aerosol physical properties (7.6). ∙

• QA/SAC for NOx (7.3.4).

• GAWTEC (10.2) Contact person Holger Gerwig (Holger.Gerwig@uba.de)

Ludwig Ries (Ludwig.Ries@uba.de) Web page http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/luft­

e/umweltbeobachtung/gaw/index.htm Reporting period 2011­2012 Report In agreement with the German Minister of Environmental Affairs, UBA

Germany operates the QA/SAC, Germany, by giving contracts to external Institutes.

WCC Contracts were made with:

• WCC N2O Hans­Eckhart Scheel, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMKIFU),Garmisch­Partenkirchen

• WCC VOC Rainer Steinbrecher, IMKIFU (KIT)

• WCC Aerosol (Physical Properties) Alfred Wiedensohler, Institute of Tropospheric Research (IfT), Leipzig.

The support for WCC NOx, F. Rohrer FZ Jülich, couldn´t be implemented yet.

The WCC have to fulfil the following tasks:

• continuous operation of the laboratory

• adjustment to new technological developments, fulfilment of the data quality objectives given by WMO

• carry out round robins and/or audits (two per year), respectively for WCC Aerosols: central intercomparison.

• improvement of SOP

• if possible or necessary give advice to stations which install the measurements of VOC or N2O

• giving teaching lessons at training workshops, especially GAWTEC

• cooperation with GAW head quarters (especially with the Scientific Advisory Groups (SAGs)), GAW Data Centres

• update of the homepage

• annual report of ongoing activities and final report to UBA and WMO

• flyer in English and German, also distributed via internet

For details see the reports of the WCC for VOC, N2O and Aerosols GAWTEC Contracts were made for GAWTEC (GAW Training and Education

Centre) with the Bavarian Institute for Environment Research. GAWTEC is funded mainly from UBA together with the Bavarian Ministry for Environment and Health and the UNO/WMO GAW secretary.

GAWTEC fulfils following tasks:

• technical training and scientific guidance of GAW station personnel from worldwide global and regional measurement stations

• two training workshops per year are performed at the environment research station Schneefernerhaus, Zugspitze, Germany

• The main thematic contents of lectures: chemical reactive gases, climate forcing gases, precip. chemistry, aerososls, UV radiation, data handling, and quality control.

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Organization Max­Planck­Institute for Biogeochemistry Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL for H2

Contact person Armin Jordan Web page http://www.bgc.mpg.de/service/iso_gas_lab/gas_lab/gaslab.shtml Reporting period 2011­2012 Report Calibration service of reference gas mixtures has been offered and

accessed by several international groups.

The WMO Mole Fraction Scale for H2 in air has been reevaluated using a more sensitive and precise analytical method (GC­HePDD 1 ). This has confirmed the internal consistency of the WMO Primary Standards. A repetition of the experiments that had formed the basis for the assignment of the WMO Primary Standards H2 mole fractions 2 has indicated a systematic difference of 0.4 % between the WMO scale and these new results. The findings of this investigation have been presented at the 16 th WMO/IAEA Meeting on Carbon Dioxide, Other Greenhouse Gases, and Related Measurement Techniques in Wellington 2011. The experimental evaluation of the scale has been continued in 2012, and may after completion necessitate a respective revision.

A second set of 12 air standards covering a similar range of mole fractions as the primary standards has been prepared up to June 2011 to provide for a backup in case a catastrophic event occurs. The stability of the H2 composition within the cylinders is being monitored and one drifting standard has been identified and excluded from the set.

1 Novelli, P. C., Crotwell, A. M., and Hall, B. D.: Environ. Sci. Technol., 43(7), 2431–2436, doi:10.1021/es803180g, 2009

2 Jordan, A. and Steinberg, B.: Atmos. Meas. Tech., 4, 509­521, 2011, doi:10.5194/amt­4­509­2011

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Organization DLR ­ German Aerospace Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany Role in GAW QA/QC

World Data Centre for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, WDC­RSAT

Contact person Julian.Meyer­Arnek@dlr.de, Michael.Bittner@dlr.de, Thomas.Holzer­Popp@dlr.de, Frank.Baier@dlr.de, sabine.wuest@dlr.de

Web page http://wdc.dlr.de

http://wdc.dlr.de/ndmc Reporting period 2011­2012 Report Significant progress in establishing the GAW Central Facility “WDC­

RSAT” hosted at German Aerospace Center (DLR) was achieved within the current 2011­2012 reporting period.

Relevant developments and achievements within WDC­RSAT cover the following aspects:

­ was successfully certified according to ISO 9001 in 10/2012

­ became a DOI publication agent (with TIB Hanover acting as DOI registration partner)

­ received the status as a DCPC within the WMO Information System (WIS)

­ maintains and continuously improves the data and communication platform (including quicklooks) for the Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change (NDMC) (more than 54 stations worldwide)

­ maintains and continuously improves – in close cooperation with the Aerosol­SAG and the Ozone­SAG ­ one­stop­shops for aerosol remote sensing products and total ozone­related products

­ Collaboration was started with CNES/CNRS and ICARE/ETHER

­ Cooperation with NASA on the CEOS­Atmospheric Composition Portal, ACP, was further developed

­ implemented service oriented OGC compliant access to data and products

­ established the UFS­Data Analysis Center (UFS­DAZ) at the GAW­ global station Schneefernerhaus/Zugspitze

­ started preparations in order to contribute to the planned Virtual Alpine Observatory, VAO (involving several permanent observatories)

­ maintains operational and user driven / oriented services (e.g. air quality, stratospheric ozone etc.) in order to support GEOSS / GMES

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Organization Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology,

Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology, Duebendorf,

Switzerland Role in GAW QA/QC

World Calibration Centre WCC­Empa:

WCC for carbon dioxide (7.2.1)

WCC for methane (7.2.2)

WCC for surface ozone (7.3.1)

WCC for carbon monoxide (7.3.2) Contact person Brigitte Buchmann (Brigitte.Buchmann@empa.ch) Web page http://www.empa.ch/gaw Reporting period 2011­2012 Report Empa – cofounded by MeteoSwiss – has operated the World

Calibration

Centre WCC­Empa since 1996 as a Swiss contribution to the WMO/GAW programme. Under this mandate WCC­Empa is responsible for verifying the traceability of surface ozone, carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide measurements to the designated reference within the GAW programme. To date 62 audits were made mainly at global GAW stations. The purpose of the audits is to ensuring traceability to a common reference and to assessing the measurement bias in comparison to the GAW data quality objectives (DQOs). Audit reports are publicly available through GAWSIS. In order to achieve these goals, WCC­Empa maintains laboratory and transfer standards that are traceable to the primary GAW standards provided by the Central Calibration Laboratories (CCLs).

One focal point during the last two years has been on­site comparisons for carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide using a traveling instrument. It was recognized by the 16th WMO/IAEA Meeting of Experts on Carbon Dioxide, Other Greenhouse Gases and Related Tracer Measurement Techniques (GAW Report 206) that such comparisons provide valuable information about the overall performance of a station including the air sampling process. First results of an on­site comparison made at Pallas have been published. The knowledge that is gained through these activities is shared with the GAW community through training during station audits, the support of the GAWTEC training facility as well as providing substantial input to GAW reports and scientific publications.

References: Rella, C. W., et al. (2012), High accuracy measurements of dry mole fractions

of carbon dioxide and methane in humid air, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 5(4), 5823­5888.

WMO (2012), 16th WMO/IAEA Meeting on Carbon Dioxide, Other Greenhouse Gases, and Related Measurement Techniques (GGMT­2011), Wellington, New Zealand, 25­28 October 2011, GAW Report No. 206Rep., World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Zellweger, C., M. Steinbacher, and B. Buchmann (2012), Evaluation of new laser spectrometer techniques for in­situ carbon monoxide measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5(10), 2555­2567.

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Organization Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK­IFU)

Role in GAW QA/QC

WCC for N2O (7.2.3)

Contact person Rainer Steinbrecher (rainer.steinbrecher@kit.edu) Web page http://imk­ifu.kit.edu/wcc­n2o/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report In the following the main activities and achievements of the WCC­N2O

are listed. They are related to the Terms of the Reference General Information. The WCC­N2O keeps 8 laboratory standards calibrated by the CCL (last recalibration in February 2009), and 17 traveling standards (5 calibrated by the CCL in 2011) suited for performance audits and inter­ comparisons. Audits were conducted on the basis of previously developed and SAG­GG approved guidelines.

The conducted activities include:

* Internal comparisons of WCC­N2O standards (quality assurance measures).

* Establishing the NOAA­2006A scale in cooperation with the CCL.

* System and performance audits at the stations Cape Point, Baring Head and Mace Head.

* Inter­comparison experiments: (i) Zugspitze, (ii) CARIBIC Central Analytical Laboratory (MPI, Mainz, Germany), and (iii) EMPA.

* Lectures at GAWTEC courses and communication with stations about technical issues (KRISS).

* Contributions to GAW strategic documents related to N2O.

* Reports at the Experts Meeting (GGMT) in Wellington, New Zealand, the SAG­GG, and QA/SAC Germany.

* Publication of a WCC­N2O flyer (German/English).

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Organization NOAA ESRL GMD CCGG group Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL for CO

Contact person Paul Novelli Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The CCL measurement system was upgraded to an off­axis, ICOS

analyzer, improving reproducibility by a factor of five.

The CCL provided approximately 120 standards to GAW related programs, all referenced to the WMO X2004 scale.

Seventeen new primary standards were prepared covering the range of 25 to 1000 nmol mol ­1 . These gravimetrically­prepared CO­in­air mixtures confirm the lower end of the suite of primary standards made in 2000 were low. A revision to the scale prior to 2004 is necessary.

The CCL participated in a comparison of CO measurements (at the ~300 nmol mol ­1 level) organized by KRISS. The results are not yet available.

A comparison of CO (and CO2, CH4, N2O) measurements over the ranges of atmospheric levels with several laboratories in Japan has been scheduled to begin in 2013.

Following the signing of a side letter to the Mutual Recognition Agreement between WMO and BIPM (Bureau of International Weights and Measures), NOAA/ESRL/GMD will participate in Key Comparisons organized by the CIPM (International Committee for Weights and Measures). NOAA will also work towards ISO 17025 compliance.

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Organization Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK), Atmospheric Environmental Research (IFU).

Role in GAW QA/QC

WCC VOC (7.3.3)

Contact person Rainer Steinbrecher (rainer.steinbrecher@kit.edu) Web page http://imk.ifu.kit.edu/wcc­voc/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The WCC­VOC ensures high quality VOC data in the GAW network.

Since 2010, a scale is available for non­methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), hosted by NPL, UK. The CCL was established jointly together with QA/SAC Germany, the GAW­VOC expert group and the specific consultative committee of the International Bureau of Weight and Measures (BIPM; CCQM­GAWG). This co­operation continues aiming at setting up additional CCLs to cover the complete suite of target VOC in the GAW program. QA/QC measures of the WCC­VOC are currently based on 8 gas standard with a concentration range close to ambient conditions. In 2011/12, a new set of ambient air standards and a new laboratory standard referenced to the VOC scale was established. In the reporting period the global GAW Stations Jungfraujoch (JFJ), Hohenpeißenberg (HPB) and Mace Head (MHD) and the central analytical laboratory (CAL) for the global flask sampling network at the Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research (INSTAAR, Boulder, CO) were audited. The CAL and HPB report the full suite of GAW NHMCs targets, all within the DQOs. HPB reports in addition to the NHMCs also the specified list of monoterpenes, another GAW­VOC target group, with excellent quality. JFJ and MHD report a reduced set of NMHCs meeting mostly the quality objectives. In co­operation with the European ACTIRS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infra­Structure) project WCC­VOC served as reference laboratory for assigning target concentrations of standards used in an ACTRIS round robin excercise. Further, the WCC­VOC participated in the kick­off meeting of the in 2011 established SAG RG, the ACTRIS QA/QC workshop, the biannual GAW­VOC expert work shop and the annual QA/SAC meetings. The WCC­VOC served as consultant for station operators and WMO­GAW in VOC related issues. In the past, inter­ comparison experiments and audits revealed that air sampling with stainless steel canisters needs to be standardised. In the following, a SOP was developed together with GAW­VOC experts and the SAG RG (GAW Report, 204, 2012). The outreach activities include the publication of a flyer (German/English) and hosting the internet portal for the WCC­VOC (imk­ ifu.kit.edu/wcc­voc). Audit activities further resulted in a now substantially increases number of VOC data available through the WDCGG (ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wdcgg/), highlighted by a press release from the German Federal Environment Agency.

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Organization Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Role in GAW QA/QC

The Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centre (QA/SAC) for Asia and the South­West Pacific:

QA/SAC for carbon dioxide (CO2) (7.2.1)

QA/SAC for methane (CH4) (7.2.2)

QA/SAC for total ozone (7.1.1) Contact person Hiroshi Koide (qasac@met.kishou.go.jp) Web page http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/qasac/qasac.html Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centre (QA/SAC) for Asia and

the South­West Pacific was established in the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in October 1995. This QA/SAC emphasizes activities in the areas of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and total ozone, with its main tasks as follows:

• To cooperate technically with GAW stations in Asia and the South­West Pacific in starting and maintaining observations in secured quality;

• To secure the quality of observational data submitted to the WDCGG, including investigation into scales of observation by calibration and comparison, in cooperation with the WCC and WDCGG as well as data contributors to it; and

• To provide supporting documents to promote scientific use of GAW data.

Trying to provide additional site information to WDCGG data users, some preliminary investigations are started in cooperation with WDCGG. For example, the characteristics of the CO2 data in the WDCGG archive are analyzed in connection with climate classification of the sites. Outcomes are planned to be used to enhance WDCGG’s metadata and the web service.

There was no technical cooperation outcome during the reporting period but informal contacts from several newly developing countries in Asia for future start­up supports of GHG observations.

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Organization Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Role in GAW QA/QC

RCC for Dobson instruments – Asia (7.1.1)

Contact person Tetsuro Uekubo (ozone@met.kishou.go.jp) Web page http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wcc/wcc.html

Reporting period 2011­2012

Report The Regional Dobson Calibration Centre (RDCC) for Asia for the parameter of total ozone is operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The activities of this centre include regional intercomparison of Dobson spectrophotometers for the measurement of total ozone and technical support of the automated Dobson system developed by JMA’s Aerological Observatory.

JMA maintains and manages a regional standard instrument for Dobson spectrophotometer in Asia at the Aerological Observatory in Tsukuba. This regional standard instrument is calibrated through comparison with the WMO world standard owned by NOAA once every 3 years to ensure high accuracy in observation data for the ozone observation network in Asia. The latest intercomparison with the world standard instrument was carried out at Mauna Loa in Hawaii, U.S.A. in 2010, where the regional standard were proved to be accurate with a difference of no more than 0.1% on average in comparison to the world standard.

Dobson regional intercomparisons were held in 1996, 2003, 2006 and 2011 at the JMA Aerological Observatory in Tsukuba, Japan. The latest intercomparison was held from 29 August to 16 September 2011 and two Chinese experts participated.

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Organization Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Role in GAW

QA/QC WCC for methane (CH4) in Asia and the South­West Pacific (7.2.2)

Contact person Hiroshi Koide (atenv@met.kishou.go.jp)

Web page http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wcc/wcc.html

Reporting period 2011­2012

Report The World Calibration Centre (WCC) for Methane in Asia and the South­ West Pacific is operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in Tokyo, Japan. The activities of this centre include the calibration of methane standard gases against the standards maintained by JMA on request from GAW operators in the region, as well as the organization of methane reference gas intercomparison experiments.

Intercomparison has been carried out to compare methane (CH4) measurements in GAW and other stations monitoring atmospheric CH4 concentrations, particularly in Asia. In the project, two cylinders containing air of known CH4 concentrations are circulated. At the beginning and the end of the circulation, the cylinders are measured at the JMA methane calibration facility in Tokyo to check for drift. Participants are requested to measure the CH4 concentrations in the cylinders repeatedly (e.g. 10 to 20 times), statistically process the measured concentrations and report the results to the Secretariat of the intercomparison at the WCC in Tokyo, Japan. The Secretariat compiles the results, and when the circulation of the cylinders is completed informs the participants of the results from each contributor in an intercomparable manner. The intercomparisons organized during the reporting period are summarized in the table below. The results of the past intercomparisons are shown in the WCC’s web site at http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wcc/ and GAW’s web site at http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/other_pub.html (only recent results).

Summary of Methane Reference Gas Intercomparison Regions Periods of intercomparison Participating Laboratory and Location

South­ West Pacific

April 2010 – February 2011

JMA, Tokyo; CSIRO, Aspendale; NIWA,Wellington; JMA, Tokyo

Asia June 2011 – March 2012

JMA, Tokyo; CMA, Mt. Waliguan; CMA, Beijing, KMA, Anmyeon­do; JMA, Tokyo

CMA: China Meteorological Administration;

CSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia;

JMA: Japan Meteorological Agency;

KMA: Korea Meteorological Administration; NIWA: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd., New Zealand

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Organization Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Role in GAW

QA/QC WDC for greenhouse and reactive gases (7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.4,

7.3.1, 7.3.2, 7.3.3, 7.3.4, 7.3.5, 7.3.6)

Contact person Hiroshi Koide (wdcgg@met.kishou.go.jp)

Web page http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wdcgg/

Reporting period 2011­2012

Report 1. Archive and dissemination of reported data For last two years (2011­2012), data contributors all over the world have

regularly submitted their measurement data on greenhouse and reactive gas species in the atmosphere and partly in the ocean. Newly submitted data include 19 stations and 3 mobile data sets, where one is operational aircraft observations between Tokyo and Minamitorishima started February 2011 by Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Downloaded data amount from WDCGG archive is also increased for last two years and the hit number with the word “WDCGG” in Google Scholar is gradually increasing from 680 at March 2012 and count 815 as for the end of February 2013, presumably due to atmospheric chemistry modelers tend to use more raw measurement data.

2. Interoperability with WMO Information System (WIS) WDCGG started harmonized service with WMO Information System

(WIS) as newly designated Data Collection or Production Centre (DCPC) in WIS framework since August 2011 onward. ISO compliant metadata from WDCGG are delivered together with all other WMO data catalogues with wider Discovery, Access and Retrieval (DAR) function of WIS, facilitating the data exchange within and beyond WMO programmes. The focused data could be downloaded directly from the WDCGG respecting the GAW data policy.

3. Regular publications and distribution The WDCGG analyzes long­term trends and seasonal variations in the

mixing ratios of CO2, CH4, N2O, CO and other gases which are published annually as the WDCGG Data Summary. The archived data and diagnostic analyses are distributed to WMO Members, data contributors and other researchers as the Data Summary and the DVD published annually by JMA in cooperation with WMO. The latest issue of the Data Summary (WDCGG No.36) and DVD No.4 were produced in March 2012.

WMO releases the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin annually to report the latest trends and atmospheric burdens of the most influential, long­lived greenhouse gases as well as a summary of the contributions of other gases, as a contribution to the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC meeting (http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/ghg_data_non_unfccc/items/3170.php). The latest issue No. 8 was published in November 2012. The WDCGG contributed to the preparation of this Bulletin by taking charge of the analyses of global observational data.

The data and products, as well as supporting information, are also available at the WDCGG website (http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wdcgg/). In connection with the JMA’s resource procurement, the WDCGG web server was replaced in March 2012 without changing its services. Some minor extensions of functions in WDCGG website were also implemented for last two years.

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Organization South African Weather Service, Pretoria, South Africa Role in GAW QA/QC

“Un­official” Dobson Spectrophotometer Regional Calibration Facility for Africa – Region 1. The focus remains mostly on hosting inter­comparison events with limited in­house resources and technical capabilities.

RCC for Dobson instruments – Africa (7.1.1) Contact person Gerrie Coetzee ( gerrie.Coetzee@weathersa.co.za ) Web page None Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The SAWS at its Irene Technical Centre has been hosting Dobson Inter­

comparison events since 2000. This forms part of our regional GAW program linked to the Cape Point GAW station. Work on Dobson Spectrophotometers has been rather limited during the period. The last inter­comparison took place at the Irene Weather Office ­ 16 km south of Pretoria, South Africa. This October 2009 IC event was technically headed by Mr. R Evans, head of the WMO World Calibration Centre from NOAA, USA together with the reference standard D083 instrument. Mr. U Kohler from DWD, MOHP Germany participated with the European Standard instrument D063. Mr. J Easson from BoM, Australia also participated with the Australian standard instrument D105, which was in desperate need of recalibration and world referencing after the instrument was damaged.

Other instruments that were attended to during this period were the three instruments from South African, D035 (non Operational as yet) from Cape Point, D132 from Springbok and D089 from Irene. The Botswana Instrument (D015) and Seychelles (D057) instruments arrived during the conclusion of the first part as the expert staff had to return back to their respective countries and they were only briefly inspected. The instruments that were attended to by SAWS staff during the second part were S5703 from Lagos­ Nigeria, D018 from Nairobi ­ Kenya, D057 from Mahe ­Seychelles and D015 from Maun – Botswana. Due to logistical challenges no training for station staff members was possible. A final report was compiled and sent to WMO for GAW serial publication.

The current operation status of the instruments outside South­Africa is uncertain. One or two stations have submitted data to WOUDC, and the current 2012 data sets for South African Dobson’s are being finalized for submitting to WOUDC before end March 2013. The Maun, Botswana station has not been operating for a very long time and they are in need of technical assistance and training.

The next Dobson Inter­comparison for these above instruments should occur during 2014 but not later than 2015.

South Africa also participated in the (WMO/UNEP) Dobson Data Quality Workshop in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic – February 2011.

Irene (a SHADOZ site) has also resumed it ozonesonde balloon sounding program (ECC6a and RS92) since September 2012, with the acquirement of a new Vaisala MW31 Digicora system.

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Organization U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Air Resources Laboratory

Role in GAW QA/QC

World Data Centre for Precipitation Chemistry

Contact person Van C. Bowersox Web page http://wdcpc.org/ Reporting period January 2011 – December 2012 Report The Web site for the World Data Centre for Precipitation Chemistry

(WDCPC) has been substantially re­programmed. Revisions and development of the site continue with the objective of providing a hub where users can access GAW precipitation chemistry data, either through links to national or international programs where these data are continuously updated and managed or through direct access to the WDCPC database. Supplemental information about precipitation chemistry monitoring sites and the laboratories that support these sites is also available on the Web site. Users can evaluate laboratory performance via a direct link to the results of biannual laboratory intercomparison studies posted on the QA/SAC­ Americas Web site. The goal is to provide simple Web access to data and quality assurance information that will allow users to decide which data meet the criteria for their study in terms of quality and representativeness.

The WDCPC maintains links with the major active precipitation chemistry programs around the world: (1) Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), (2) Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN), (3) Co­Operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long Range Transmissions of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP), (4) Deposition of Biogeochemically Important Trace Species (DEBITS), and (5) U.S. National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP).

For national programs with a single central laboratory and a centrally­ managed on­line database, such as CAPMoN and NADP, the WDCPC provides a link to the program Web site. The link offers access to information about the program, up­to­date site maps, monitoring site information, and a menu that allows data to be retrieved selectively.

For international programs with national laboratories but a centrally managed and on­line database, such as EMEP, the WDCPC posts site maps with links to the national laboratory and to the EMEP Web site, where data can be retrieved selectively.

For all other sites, the WDCPC is developing a database that will store site information and precipitation chemistry data and will allow data to be retrieved selectively. This database also will be used to store the data from the peer­reviewed, precipitation chemistry assessment in the final stages of preparation, under the auspices of the Precipitation Chemistry Science Advisory Group. All the figures, tables, and maps prepared for the assessment, including those not published in the assessment article will be stored and accessible from this WDCPC database system.

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Organization National Institute of Standards and Technology Role in GAW QA/QC

Central Calibration Laboratory, Surface Ozone

Contact person Mr. James Norris, Dr. Franklin Guenther Web page http://www.nist.gov/gas­metrology­portal.cfm Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has

continued its efforts as the Central Calibration Laboratory (CCL) during the 2011 – 2012 timeframe by maintaining its NIST Standard Reference Photometers (SRP), providing measurement traceability with its NIST SRPs, and producing new NIST SRPs. New NIST SRPs were produced for CENMA, Chile, NMC, Singapore, MEP, China, and GDEMC, China. All new NIST SRPs were in agreement with NIST SRP 2 to within 0.3%. NIST has annually provided validation measurements to the USEPA which forms the traceability for all ambient monitoring in the United States. NIST has annually provided calibrations to the JMA who participate in the GAW. NIST has provided calibration to the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division who maintains a network of global ozone monitoring.

The NIST maintains a link to the BIPM through biannual key comparisons under the CCQM.

A complete analysis of the NIST SRP sources of uncertainty can be found in a recent publication “A study of systematic biases and measurement uncertainties in ozone mole fraction measurements with the NIST Standard Reference Photometer”, Metrologia 09/2006; 43(5):44.

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Organization NOAA ESRL GMD CCGG group Role in GAW QA/QC

Central Calibration Laboratory for CO2

World Calibration Centre for CO2 (round­robin comparisons) Contact person Pieter Tans Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/ Reporting period 2011­2012

Report The current primary CO2 scale is the WMO X2007 scale. It is based on a suite of 15 manometrically­calibrated primary standards covering the nominal range 230 to 520 μmol mol ­1 . These standards are recalibrated with the manometric system approximately every 18 months. Temperature and pressure sensors used on the manometric calibration system are routinely calibrated against NIST standards, insuring traceability to SI units. Repeated measurements over time indicate no significant drift in the primary standards. A detailed analysis of the 15 primary standards published in 2006 determined that the combined standard uncertainty is ±0.069 μmol mol ­1 (68% confidence interval).

The WMO X2007 scale is propagated to lower level standards using 16 secondary standards in the range 250 to 530 μmol mol ­1 . The secondary standards are calibrated against the primaries yearly.

We calibrate gas mixtures prepared commercially and using our own system. A description of the cylinder filling and spiking procedures for NOAA­ prepared standards is given at: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/airstandard.html . Tertiary standards with higher­than ambient CO2 mole fractions can now be prepared with δ 13 CO2 close to ambient values using CO2 with δ 13 C = ­8.6 ‰, which is added to ambient air to increase the CO2 mole fraction.

Following the signing of a side letter to the Mutual Recognition Agreement established between WMO and BIPM (Bureau of International Weights and Measures), NOAA/ESRL/GMD will participate in Key Comparisons organized by the CIPM (International Committee for Weights and Measures). NOAA will also work towards ISO 17025 compliance (an international standard for competence of testing and calibration laboratories).

Status of current round­robin comparison (WCC role)

A comparison of GHG measurements in natural air contained in three sets of high­pressure cylinders, each containing 3 cylinders covering a range of GHG mole fractions, was started for GAW partners in 2009 and completed in 2012.

Standards calibrated for CO2:

463 2011

658 2012

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Organization NOAA ESRL GMD HATS group Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL N2O (7.2.3)

Contact person Brad Hall Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The N2O calibration scale was revised in 2012 to account for a drifting

secondary standard. Prior updates were deemed insufficient and a new update was issued. The current N2O scale is named WMO X2006A and is based on 13 primary standards over the range 260­370 ppb. The average change in N2O at ambient mole fraction corresponding to the change in scale from WMO X2006 to WMO X2006A is ­0.05 ppb. For most standards in the range 300­330 ppb, the magnitude of the update is less than 0.2 ppb.

Results for N2O calibrations are available at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/ccg/refgas/

Over the period 2011­2012, 96 compressed gas standards were prepared, analyzed for N2O/SF6, and distributed world­wide (not including standards used for NOAA/GMD programs).

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Organization NOAA Role in GAW QA/QC

Central Calibration Laboratory for Sulfur Hexafluoride

Contact person Brad Hall Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccl/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The current SF6 scale is valid over the range 1­10 ppt. Primary

standards up to 25 ppt have been prepared and are under evaluation. An update to the SF6 scale is expected in 2013.

Results for SF6 calibrations are available at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/ccg/refgas/

Five SF6 standards were provided to the newly­formed WCC for SF6 (Korea Meteorological Administration). A comparison between the SF6 WCC and CCL is planned for February 2013.

Over the period 2011­2012, 96 compressed gas standards were prepared, analyzed for N2O/SF6, and distributed world­wide (not including standards used for NOAA/GMD programs).

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Organization U.S. Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth System Research Lab, Global Monitoring Division, Ozone and Water Vapor Group : NOAA/ESRL/GMD

Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL and WCC for Dobson Instruments

Contact person Robert D. Evans Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ozwv/ Reporting period 2011­2012 Report The Calibration of the Primary Standard Dobson (D083) was verified at

NOAA/ESRL/GMD’s Mauna Loa Observatory June­August 2012 was the most significant accomplishment.

The Regional Standard Dobson instruments from Japan and Australia are expected to have the calibration checked in Boulder this (2013) summer. The Argentine standard should also be check, but funding is uncertain.

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Organization Institute for Energy and Climate Research: Troposphere (IEK­8), Jülich, Germany

Role in GAW QA/QC

• QA/SAC for Ozone Sondes (7.1.2)

• Central Calibration Laboratory for Ozone Sondes (7.1.2)

• World Calibration Centre for Ozone Sondes (WCCOS) (7.1.2) Contact person Herman Smit (H.Smit@fz­juelich.de) Web page http://www.fz­juelich.de/iek/iek­

8/EN/Expertise/Infrastructure/WCCOS/WCCOS_node.html Reporting period 2011­2012 Report 1. Completion of ASOPOS (Assessment of Standard Operating Procedures

for Ozone Sondes) report:: Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Ozone Sonde Measurements in GAW (GAW­Report Nr.201, http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/gaw­reports.html

2. Analysis of JOSIE 2009/2010 results to be prepared in peer reviewed publication. Results will be integrated in O3S­DQA activity

3. Coordination of O3S­DQA (Ozone Sonde Data Quality Assessment) as part of SPARC­IOC­IGACO (SI2N) assessment on “Understanding past changes in vertical distribution of ozone”. Key goal is the homogenization of long term ozone records in time and space. Organized 3 workshops (October 2010 at Boulder, USA; April 2012 at Greenbelt, USA; August 2012 at Toronto, Canada). Preparation of document: “Guide Lines for Homogenization of Ozone Sonde Data”

4. Development of new data format for ozone sondes in collaboration with WOUDC (hosted by Environmental Canada in Toronto, Canada)

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Organization Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany

Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL for CO2 isotopes (7.2.1)

Contact person Willi A. Brand (wbrand@bgcjena.mpg.de)

Juergen M. Richter (JRichter@bgc­jena.mpg.de) Web page http://www.bgc.mpg.de/service/iso_gas_lab/JRAS_web/JRASWeb/JRAS_rep

ort_II.shtml Reporting period 2011­2012 Report MPIBGC has since 2007 prepared sets of stable and accurate air

standards for CO2 isotopes. The CO2 in these air sets is generated from stable isotope reference materials (calcites) directly linked to NBS 19, which defines the VPDB stable isotope scale. (References 1 and 2).

The gases have provided the basis for the CCL for stable isotopes in CO2 in air created in 2010 at the MPIBGC (Reference 3).

The results of an ongoing calibration effort also including calibrated ambient air have been presented at the 2011 GGMT meeting in Wellington, NZ (Reference 4).

The materials are produced and provided to participating laboratories on request.

1. Willi A. Brand, Lin Huang, Hitoshi Mukai, Alina Chivulescu, Juergen M. Richter, and Michael Rothe, How well do we know VPDB; Variability of δ 13 C and δ 18 O in CO2 generated form NBS19­Calcite, Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom. 2009; 23: 915–926 (DOI: 10.1002/rcm.3940)

2. Magnus Wendeberg, Jürgen M. Richter, Michael Rothe, and Willi A. Brand, δ 18 O Anchoring to VPDB: Calcite Digestion with 18O­adjusted ortho­Phosphoric Acid, Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom. (2011) 25, 851­860

3. Magnus Wendeberg, Juergen M. Richter, Michael Rothe, and Willi A. Brand, JRAS isotope reference: A generalized VPDB scale anchor for CO2 in air?, Proceedings of the 15th IAEA/WMO meeting of CO2 experts, Jena, Sept. 2009, WMO­GAW Report 194, ed. W.A. Brand (2011) 180­185 (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/gaw­ reports.html)

4. M. Wendeberg, J. M. Richter, M. Rothe, W.A. Brand, Jena Reference Air Set (JRAS): a multi­point scale anchor for isotope measurements of CO2 in air, AMTD 5, 6627­6642, 2012 web­link

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Organization PhysikalischMeteorologisches Observatorium Davos/World Radiation

Centre, Davos, Switzerland (PMOD/WRC)

World Optical depth Research and Calibration Center (WORCC) Role in GAW QA/QC

CCL Aerosol Optical Depth (7.6)

WCC Aerosol Optical Depth (7.6) Contact person Christoph Wehrli (christoph.wehrli@pmodwrc.ch) Web page http://www.pmodwrc.ch/worcc Reporting period 2011­2012 Report In 2011, we have calibrated nine, and in 2012 twelve instruments of

the GAW­PFR network against the Triad of reference instruments maintained at Davos. Additional (5) network instruments were Langley calibrated at their respective sites. The internal consistency of the reference Triad was repeatedly verified and its AOD results compared to independent AERONET measurements at Davos. The traceability of AOD measurements within the GAW­PFR network is thus estimated to be better than 0.015 optical depths.

By temporary deployment of a WORCC travelling standard instrument, traceability to WORCC was established at 10 European stations, participating in the EU EUSAAR programme, between 2008 and 2011.

Annual quality assured AOD data from 10 stations in the GAW­PFR network (a total of 46 station years) were prepared and submitted to WDCA in 2011 and 2012. Daily measurements from 23 stations are processed at WORCC and delivered as quick­look results to WDCA.

WORCC is currently preparing the implementation of a Quality Management system according to ISO 17025 requirements.

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Organization Servicio Meteorológico Nacional – Argentina (SMNA)

Role in GAW QA/QC

Regional Calibration Centre for surface ozone

Contact person MSc. Gerardo Carbajal Benítez

Web page http://www.smn.gov.ar/

Reporting period

2011­2012

Report The SMNA through Department of Atmospheric Watch and Geophysical has mission of the calibration and maintenance of TEI49 and TEI49C analyzers, ensuring correct operation. Also, concentrate the data produced by stations, applying quality control, based in statistical and meteorological conditions. Finally the data are published in the WDCGG.

The following report provides information on the functionality of the ozone gas analyzers TEI49 and TEI49C installed in the Regional and Global GAW stations in the region:

La Quiaca Observatory – Analyzer Ozone TEI49C donated by EMPA since 2010. The historical data of Surface Ozone was published in WDCGG (1996 to 2012). The data present some important interruptions, due to bad function, incorrectly data or intercomparison campaigns. Actually, the instrument work correctly.

Pilar Observatory ­ Analyzer TEI49 Ozone was installed since 2010. The historical data of Surface Ozone was published in WDCGG (1995 to 2012). The data present some important interruptions, due to bad function, incorrectly data or intercomparison campaigns. Actually, the instrument work correctly.

San Julián Observatory ­ Analyzer Ozone TEI49 was broken since 2007. The historical data of Surface Ozone was published in WDCGG (1997 to 2002). The data present some important interruptions, due to bad function, incorrectly data or intercomparison campaigns. Actually, it was obtained one Analyzer Ozone TEI49 from Uruguay (El Salto Station) because The EMPA has given them one in 2010. We hope that in April restart the measurement.

Ushuaia GAW ­ Analyzer TEI49 work correctly. The data of Surface Ozone was published in WDCGG (2011­2012).

Marambio Antartic Station – Analyzer Ozone TEI49 was installed at begin February 2012 six months' probation. The data will be sent soon to WDCGG. Thus begins the measurement in Marambio.

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Organization Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller, Norway Role in GAW QA/QC

World Data Centre for Aerosol

Contact person Dr. Markus Fiebig (Markus.Fiebig@nilu.no) Web page www.gaw­wdca.org Reporting period 2011­2012 Report Main foci of work in reporting period:

• Increase of coverage and completeness in data holdings A comparison between atmospheric aerosol data reported to WDCA as opposed to aerosol measurements claimed to be conducted in GAWSIS was used to reveal GAW stations dormant with respect to aerosol. In collaboration with the SAG aerosol and the GAW secretariat, the stations were contacted and encouraged to report their data. In addition, regional networks monitoring aerosol parameters on the GAW list of core parameters were contacted, leading to a MoU with the North American improve network. All these measures resulted in an increase of stations reporting of 390%, an increase of instrument datasets reported annually by 536%, and an increase in data holdings (instrument years) by 327%, calculated relative to the last inventory in 2007.

• Increase of coverage of Near­Real­Time service In a similar way, the number of stations reporting data in near­real­time (NRT) was increased by 195%, and the number of NRT instruments by 200% between 2010 and 2012.

• Improvement of homepage and data submission instructions The WDCA homepage was improved and now contains detailed instruction for data submissions to WDCA. For each supported variable, a template with line­by­line instructions is available. The homepage links to the database hosting the WDCA data, and features a section for utility software to assist data processing of commonly used instruments.

• Introduction of traceable data reporting WDCA now supports traceable data reporting on a voluntary basis. Traceable means that a measurement can be traced back to the time of measurement. It is supposed to make the process of data collection and processing documented and transparent to outsiders, allows data reprocessing if needed, and facilitates easier intercomparisons of data processing routines across a network.

• Schooling of data submitters WDCA collaborates with GAWTEC and regionally financed projects in instructing data submitters in data reporting procedures. Courses in data reporting were delivered in the GAWTEC aerosol courses in 2011 and 2012, as well as in a data reporting workshop in the context of the EU­ funded project ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure Network). These efforts resulted in data submissions especially from WMO regions underrepresented in data reporting within GAW.

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Organization U.S. Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth System Research Lab, Global Monitoring Division, Ozone and Water Vapor Group (NOAA/ESRL/GMD)

Role in GAW QA/QC

RCL for Dobson Instruments in the WMO region IV, North and Central American and the Caribbean.

Contact person Robert D. Evans

Web page http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ozwv/ Reporting period

2011­2012

Report The Dobson instruments in this region are operated at stations in • USA: by NOAA/ESRL either directly or through cooperative programs

with NASA and the University of Alaska. o The instrument operated at Wallops Island Flight Center, Virginia

was calibrated in late 2011. o The instrument operated at Hanford, California was calibrated in

summer 2012. o The instrument operated in Boulder, Colorado has its calibration

verified during the intercomparisons of other instruments. o The Secondary standard D065 (also serves as the reference for

region I) was verified multiple times during this period. o The calibration of the instrument operated at Mauna Loa

Observatory was verified during the Langley plot campaign with the World standard summer 2012.

• Cuba; by the Instituto de Meteorología. The diplomatic situation between the USA and Cuba make it necessary for calibrations of this instrument to done by the RDCC in Buenos Aires

• Mexico, by the Instituto de Geofisica, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). This organization prefers to have calibrations done by the RDCC in Buenos Aires

Canada has no stations operating Dobson instruments.

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