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

PI开创了精确测量大气氧气的先河。近15年来，全球许多地点都使用烧瓶空气采样记录了大气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极为有用。特别是，可以限制陆地和海洋上的碳汇，量化海洋生物地球化学对气候变化的反应，测试海气热交换的气候学。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，赤道船上测量，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目标的贡献，从而对国家和国际气候政策的贡献。这些数据将在模拟研究中发挥很大作用，以评估对各种碳相关过程的理解。此外，还有可能出现与社会相关的意外的全球现象。将改进与气候有关的观测技术，并通过出版物和对学生的培训向科学界提供。

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.