World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG)

Category	Air sampling observation
Sampling Type	flask
Sampling Height/Depth
Sampling and Analysis Frequency	Weekly
Sampling Environment
Measurement Method	Gas Chromatography (FID)
Current status and history of Instruments	GC-FID
Description of Instruments	Agilent 6890N
Time Zone	UTC
Data Period	1999-10-28 - 2005-12-28
Data Type	event
Parameter detail
Other Descriptions for Sampling and Analyses	In 1997, an automated flask analysis system was developed and flask samples collected at Alert, Sable Island and Estevan Point for CO₂ begun being analyzed for methane as well as for nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, carbon monoxide and Hydrogen. A pair of air samples are collected approximately weekly in two 2L glass flasks. The flasks have dual glass barreled valves with VitonR o-ring seals. Using a pumping unit, the flasks are first flushed and then filled in parallel to 15psi with a pump. The sampling line extends to the top of nearby towers. A samples are analyzed for CH₄ at Environment Canada in Toronto by a gas chromatography equipped with an Flame Ionization Detector. Ambient and standard gas samples are bracket by 2 working tanks. Instrument response of the sample are compared to two standards of known CH₄ content. Measurements are reported in units of nanomol/mol (10^-9 mol CH₄ per mol of dry air (nmol/mol) or parts per billion (ppb)) relative to the NOAA04 CH₄ standard scale. Further details on the flask collection/program can be found in the CO₂ section.
Scientific Aim
Supporting Contributor(s)
Last update	2006-10-10
Situation

Category	Parameter	Country/Territory	Contributor

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This site is maintained by the Japan Meteorological Agency
in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization
(Created : 2001/07/02 Modified : 2010/09/02)

WMO World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases
c/o Japan Meteorological Agency
1-3-4, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8122, Japan

Tel:	+81-3-3287-3439
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