Collaborative Research: Improving Estimated Fluxes of Greenhouse Gases over North America Using a Receptor-Oriented Modeling Framework and In-situ Atmospheric Measurements

这项工作的目的是建立准确的自上而下的地表源和汇的重要温室气体，包括二氧化碳（CO2），甲烷（CH 4），一氧化二氮（N2 O），和一氧化碳（CO）在北美地区，并解决个别的科学问题，特别是关于变化的原因在昼夜，季节和年际的时间尺度，这些估计。 2003-2011年期间，将使用一个面向受体的拉格朗日粒子扩散模型，对选定月份的这些气体的机载和塔上测量数据进行分析，该模型由一个适合通量反演工作的天气研究和预报模型驱动。 这项分析将为根据现有清单进行独立的自下而上的排放量估计提供一个评估工具。 可靠的传输场的可用性和对四种气体的联合分析将是研究成功的关键。人类引起的大气温室气体浓度的变化是新闻界、国会和普通公民每天讨论的一个主要社会问题。 目前还没有验证基于清单的美国和北美对这一全球问题的贡献的估计，并且有迹象表明这些估计可能是错误的。这项工作将通过提供基于强大的物理和观测限制的新评估来决定性地改善这种情况。 数据、结果和软件将在研究期间公开，主要研究人员将通过传达与气候变化公众辩论有关的结果参与公共宣传。

The work aims to establish accurate top-down estimates of the surface sources and sinks for important greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon monoxide (CO) over North America, and address individual science questions, particularly with regard to the causes of variability on diurnal, seasonal, and interannual timescales that underlie these estimates. Collocated airborne and tower-based measurements of these gases for selected months in the period 2003-2011 will be analyzed using a receptor-oriented Lagrangian particle dispersion model driven by a version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model adapted to flux inversion work. The analysis will provide an assessment tool for independent bottom-up emission estimates from existing inventories. The availability of reliable transport fields and a conjoint analysis of the four gases will be critical to the success of the study.Human-induced changes in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are a major societal concern discussed in the press, in Congress, and by ordinary citizens every day. Currently there is no validation for inventory-based estimates of U.S. and North American contributions to this global problem, and there are indications that these estimates may be in error.The work will decisively improve this situation by providing new assessments based on strong physical and observational constraints. The data, results, and software will be made publicly available during the research, and the principal investigators will engage in public outreach by communicating the results that are pertinent to the public debate on climate change.