Meijer, Prof. Harro

In 2000, Meijer set up the Lutjewad Measurement Station near Hornhuizen. That is where he and his team have been measuring the composition of the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the air, for over 25 years. By looking at the various forms of carbon in the measurements, the are mapping where the CO2 originates and where it ends up.
The carbon variants that Meijer is measuring in the atmosphere are like a fingerprint that shows the material’s source. For example, it can be clearly deduced that the increase in atmospheric CO2 is due to the use of fossil fuels. However, Meijer is also interested in the continuation of the cycle, such as how much of the atmospheric carbon ends up in plants and oceans.
Meijer has traveled very often to Greenland to take samples from a snow layer he has produced in 2007, using a snow gun. "This way we can follow how fresh snow changes over the years as a function of time and pressure of the snow falling on top."
