Changes in Atmospheric Oxygen (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Argon (Ar) Concentrations in Relation to the Carbon Cycle and Climate

大气中氧气的精确测量是由PI首创的。近15年来，在全球各地的许多地点，使用烧瓶对空气进行采样，记录了大气中氧气和二氧化碳水平的变化。这些数据对于记录和量化大气二氧化碳的源和汇及其随时间的演变非常有用。特别是，陆地和海洋的碳汇可以被限制，海洋生物地球化学对气候变化的响应可以被量化，海气热交换气候学可以被测试。这项工作在目前的调查中继续进行，并增加了旨在提高数据质量的活动，包括在阿森松岛增加一个测量点，赤道船板测量，改进气体处理程序和设备，统一标准，数据管理活动，以及与普林斯顿进行类似测量的小组进行协调。这项工作的更广泛影响包括对政府间气候变化专门委员会的目标作出贡献，从而对国家和国际气候政策作出贡献。这些数据将在建模研究中有很大的用处，以评估对各种碳相关过程的理解。此外，存在着与社会相关的意想不到的全球现象的巨大潜力。将通过出版物和对学生的培训，推进并向科学界提供与气候有关的观测技术。

The precise measurement of atmospheric oxygen was pioneered by the PI. Records of changes in atmospheric oxygen along with carbon dioxide levels have been documented for nearly 15 years at a number of sites throughout the globe using flask sampling of air. These data are extremely useful in documenting and quantifying sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and their evolution with time. In particular, sinks of carbon over land and ocean can be constrained, the response of ocean biogeochemistry to climate change quantified, and climatologies of air-sea heat exchange tested.This work is continued in the present investigation, with the addition of activities designed to improve the quality of the data, including addition of a measurement site at Ascension Island, equatorial ship board measurements, improvements to the gas handling procedures and equipment, harmonization of standards, data management activities, and coordination with the group at Princeton who make similar measurements. The broader impacts of this work include contribution to the goals of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and thus to national and international policy on climate. These data will be of great use in modeling studies to assess the understanding of various carbon related processes. In addition, there exists significant potential for unexpected global phenomena of societal relevance. Technology for making climate relevant observations will be advanced and made available to the scientific community through publications and the training of students.