Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE)

AGAGE performs real-time, high-frequency measurements of approximately 45 trace gases at stations around the world and interprets these measurements using 3D models and inverse theory to further our understanding of ozone depletion and climate change and to address verification issues arising from the Montreal (ozone) and Kyoto (climate) Protocols. AGAGE utilizes the Medusa GC-MS and GC-multidetector instruments and is distinguished by its capability to measure at high frequency, all the important species in the Montreal Protocol and all non-CO2 gases in the Kyoto Protocol. The scientific objectives of AGAGE are important in furthering understanding of global chemical and climatic phenomena. They are:

1. To determine optimally from observations the global rates of emission and/or destruction (i.e. lifetimes) of anthropogenic chlorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) that contribute most of the reactive halogen to the stratosphere and/or are strong infrared absorbers.
2. To document accurately global distributions and temporal behaviors of the biogenic/anthropogenic gases important in climate change and/or ozone depletion: methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methyl chloride and methyl bromide.
3. To determine optimally the average concentrations and trends of tropospheric hydroxyl radicals from the rates of destruction of atmospheric methyl chloroform, HFCs and HCFCs deduced from their measured mole fractions together with estimates of their emissions.
4. To determine optimally, from atmospheric observations and estimates of their destruction rates, the magnitudes and distributions by region of surface sources/sinks for these gases.
5. To provide accurate data on the global accumulation of these trace gases, which are used to test the synoptic/regional/global-scale circulations predicted by three-dimensional models.
6. To provide global and regional measurements of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, that together with estimates of hydroxyl levels, can be used to test primary atmospheric oxidation pathways at mid-latitudes and the tropics.

Professor R. Prinn (MIT) is the principal investigator for overall leadership and coordination of AGAGE, and for data processing and theoretical analysis for all AGAGE gases. Professor R. Weiss (SIO, UCSD) is the principal investigator for the experimental parts of AGAGE with specific responsibility for the Cape Matatula, Samoa, Trinidad Head, CA and La Jolla, CA stations and absolute calibration. Professor P. Simmonds and Dr. S. O’Doherty (University of Bristol) are the co-investigators in charge of the Mace Head, Ireland and Ragged Point, Barbados stations. Drs. P. Fraser and P. Krummel (CSIRO) are the AGAGE co-investigators supervising the Cape Grim,Tasmania and Aspendale, Australia AGAGE stations, the Cape Grim air archive, and inter-comparisons with other laboratories. Dr. R. Wang (GaTech) is the AGAGE co-investigator in charge of meteorology-related data processing and archiving and AGAGE website maintenance, and works under Prof. Prinn (MIT) on theoretical analysis. Drs. S. Reimann and M. Vollmer (Empa) are the principal investigators for the AGAGE-affiliated station at Jungfraujoch, Switzerland. Drs. F. Stordahl and C. Lunder are the principal investigators for the Ny-Alesund, Norway AGAGE-affiliated station. Dr. M. Maione (U. Urbino) is the principal investigator for the Monte Cimone, Italy AGAGE-affiliated station. Dr. Y. Yokouchi (NIES) is the principal investigator for the Hateruma Island, Japan AGAGE-affiliated station. Dr. K.-R. Kim is the principal investigator for the AGAGE-affiliated station at Gosan, S. Korea. Dr. L. Zhou is the principal investigator for the ShangDianzi, China AGAGE-affiliated station. Contact information for these individuals is available at http://agage.eas.gatech.edu/pi-copis.htm