Atmospheric measurement stations
Atmospheric research is performed by the Centre for Isotope Research (CIO) at several locations. The main objective is to gain knowledge about the sources and sinks of the main long-lived anthropogenic greenhouse gases CO2, CH4 and N2O.
Sources and sinks of greenhouse gases are determined from their concentrations and concentrations of Rn, O2, 14C and 13C. Besides being involved in several international research projects, CIO has its own remote and automated stations Lutjewad and F3 were the main greenhouse gases and tracers are measured.
Lutjewad measurement station
The atmospheric measurement station is located on the Wadden Sea dike near Hornhuizen since 2000.
The measuring station consists of a high mast of 60 meters with next to it a small building containing a laboratory. The laboratory was completely renovated in the autumn of 2013. The mast contains measuring equipment for research into the greenhouse effect and there are air inlets at heights of 7, 40 and 60 meters. Air is pumped to the lab through these inlets. All kinds of measurements are taken on the spot. Glass bottles are also automatically filled and taken to Groningen for analysis. The container and the scaffolding mast were placed and put into use in 2020 and 2021.
Ruisdael Observatory | Rotterdam
In the coming decade, the Rotterdam area will be subject to large changes in the energy system, such as the phase-out of coal-fired powerplants and increased electrification of transport systems, providing unique opportunities to test sensitivity of an urban observational system to monitor energy transitions towards a low carbon society. At present, 13 basic air quality stations are present in the Rotterdam area (operated by RIVM-DCMR), mostly focusing on inner-city air quality (street stations).
F3 Platform
The atmospheric measurement site F3 is situated in the central North Sea. The closest land (the Netherlands) is located 200 km away from the measurement station. It is an ideal location for measuring atmospheric background concentrations as measurements with NW wind are hardly affected by terrestrial emissions. Analysis of gas mixing ratios is relatively straightforward as the maritime atmosphere is usually well-mixed because night-time inversions are basically absent and the cold air from the north (west) is warmed up at the surface, creating an unstable, well-mixed atmospheric boundary layer.
| Last modified: | 30 January 2024 2.40 p.m. |