Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites

W. M. J. Bader; E. Mahieu; B. Franco; A. Pozzer; D. Taraborrelli; M. Prignon; C. P. Servais; M. De Maziere; C. Vigouroux; G. Mengistu Tsidu; G. Sufa; J. Mellqvist; T. Blumenstock; F. Hase; R. Sussmann; T. Nagahama; K. Sudo; J. W. Hannigan; I. Ortega; I. Morino; H. Nakajima; D. Smale; M. Makarova; A. Poberovsky; I. Murata; M. Grutter de la Mora; C. A. Guarin; W. Stremme; Y. Té; P. Jeseck; J. Notholt; M. Palm; S. A. Conway; E. Lutsch; K. Strong; D. W. T. Griffith; N. B. Jones; C. Paton-Walsh; M. Friedrich; S. Smeekes

Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites

W. M. J. Bader, E. Mahieu, B. Franco, A. Pozzer, D. Taraborrelli, M. Prignon, C. P. Servais, M. De Maziere, C. Vigouroux, G. Mengistu Tsidu, G. Sufa, J. Mellqvist, T. Blumenstock, F. Hase, R. Sussmann, T. Nagahama, K. Sudo, J. W. Hannigan, I. Ortega, I. MorinoH. Nakajima, D. Smale, M. Makarova, A. Poberovsky, I. Murata, M. Grutter de la Mora, C. A. Guarin, W. Stremme, Y. Té, P. Jeseck, J. Notholt, M. Palm, S. A. Conway, E. Lutsch, K. Strong, D. W. T. Griffith, N. B. Jones, C. Paton-Walsh, M. Friedrich, S. Smeekes

QE Econometrics

Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Academic

Abstract

Ethane is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) in the Earthatmosphere. Its main sources are of anthropogenic origin, with globally62% from leakage during production and transport of natural gas, 20%from biofuel combustion and 18% from biomass burning. In the Southernhemisphere, anthropogenic emissions are lower which makes biomassburning emissions a more significant source. The main removal process isoxidation by the hydroxyl radical (OH), leading to a mean atmosphericlifetime of 2 months. Until recently, a prolonged decrease of itsabundance has been documented, at rates of -1 to -2.7%/yr, with globalemissions dropping from 14 to 11 Tg/yr over 1984-2010 owing tosuccessful measures reducing fugitive emissions from its fossil fuelsources. However, subsequent investigations have reported on an upturnin the ethane trend, characterized by a sharp rise from about 2009onwards. The ethane increase is attributed to the oil and natural gasproduction boom in North America, although significant changes in OHcould also be at play. In the present contribution, we report the trendof ethane at 23 ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) sitesspanning the 80ºN to 79ºS latitude range. Over 2010-2015, asignificant ethane rise of 3-5%/yr is determined for most sites in theNorthern Hemisphere, while for the Southern hemisphere the rates ofchanges are not significant at the 2-sigma uncertainty level . Dedicatedmodel simulations by EMAC (ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry;1.8×1.8 degrees) implementing various emission scenarios areincluded in order to support data interpretation. The usualunderestimation of the NMHCs emissions in the main inventories isconfirmed here for RCP85 (Representative Concentration Pathway Databasev8.5). Scaling them by 1.5 is needed to capture the background levels ofatmospheric ethane. Moreover, additional and significant emissions ( 7Tg over 2009-2015) are needed to capture the ethane rise in the Northernhemisphere. Attributing them to the oil and gas sector and locating themin North America allows EMAC to produce adequate trends in the Northernhemisphere, but not in the Southern hemisphere, where they areoverestimated. Possible causes for this difference are discussed.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2017

Keywords

0322 Constituent sources and sinks
ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
0345 Pollution: urban and regional
0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry
3307 Boundary layer processes
ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES

Access to Document

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.A31B2164B

Cite this

Bader, W. M. J., Mahieu, E., Franco, B., Pozzer, A., Taraborrelli, D., Prignon, M., Servais, C. P., De Maziere, M., Vigouroux, C., Mengistu Tsidu, G., Sufa, G., Mellqvist, J., Blumenstock, T., Hase, F., Sussmann, R., Nagahama, T., Sudo, K., Hannigan, J. W., Ortega, I., ... Smeekes, S. (2017). Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.A31B2164B

@conference{825f3cb8c13f411692290196c0cd215c,

title = "Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites",

abstract = "Ethane is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) in the Earthatmosphere. Its main sources are of anthropogenic origin, with globally62% from leakage during production and transport of natural gas, 20%from biofuel combustion and 18% from biomass burning. In the Southernhemisphere, anthropogenic emissions are lower which makes biomassburning emissions a more significant source. The main removal process isoxidation by the hydroxyl radical (OH), leading to a mean atmosphericlifetime of 2 months. Until recently, a prolonged decrease of itsabundance has been documented, at rates of -1 to -2.7%/yr, with globalemissions dropping from 14 to 11 Tg/yr over 1984-2010 owing tosuccessful measures reducing fugitive emissions from its fossil fuelsources. However, subsequent investigations have reported on an upturnin the ethane trend, characterized by a sharp rise from about 2009onwards. The ethane increase is attributed to the oil and natural gasproduction boom in North America, although significant changes in OHcould also be at play. In the present contribution, we report the trendof ethane at 23 ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) sitesspanning the 80ºN to 79ºS latitude range. Over 2010-2015, asignificant ethane rise of 3-5%/yr is determined for most sites in theNorthern Hemisphere, while for the Southern hemisphere the rates ofchanges are not significant at the 2-sigma uncertainty level . Dedicatedmodel simulations by EMAC (ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry;1.8×1.8 degrees) implementing various emission scenarios areincluded in order to support data interpretation. The usualunderestimation of the NMHCs emissions in the main inventories isconfirmed here for RCP85 (Representative Concentration Pathway Databasev8.5). Scaling them by 1.5 is needed to capture the background levels ofatmospheric ethane. Moreover, additional and significant emissions ( 7Tg over 2009-2015) are needed to capture the ethane rise in the Northernhemisphere. Attributing them to the oil and gas sector and locating themin North America allows EMAC to produce adequate trends in the Northernhemisphere, but not in the Southern hemisphere, where they areoverestimated. Possible causes for this difference are discussed.",

keywords = "0322 Constituent sources and sinks, ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE, 0345 Pollution: urban and regional, 0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry, 3307 Boundary layer processes, ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES",

author = "Bader, {W. M. J.} and E. Mahieu and B. Franco and A. Pozzer and D. Taraborrelli and M. Prignon and Servais, {C. P.} and {De Maziere}, M. and C. Vigouroux and {Mengistu Tsidu}, G. and G. Sufa and J. Mellqvist and T. Blumenstock and F. Hase and R. Sussmann and T. Nagahama and K. Sudo and Hannigan, {J. W.} and I. Ortega and I. Morino and H. Nakajima and D. Smale and M. Makarova and A. Poberovsky and I. Murata and {Grutter de la Mora}, M. and Guarin, {C. A.} and W. Stremme and Y. T{\'e} and P. Jeseck and J. Notholt and M. Palm and Conway, {S. A.} and E. Lutsch and K. Strong and Griffith, {D. W. T.} and Jones, {N. B.} and C. Paton-Walsh and M. Friedrich and S. Smeekes",

year = "2017",

month = dec,

day = "1",

language = "English",

}

Bader, WMJ, Mahieu, E, Franco, B, Pozzer, A, Taraborrelli, D, Prignon, M, Servais, CP, De Maziere, M, Vigouroux, C, Mengistu Tsidu, G, Sufa, G, Mellqvist, J, Blumenstock, T, Hase, F, Sussmann, R, Nagahama, T, Sudo, K, Hannigan, JW, Ortega, I, Morino, I, Nakajima, H, Smale, D, Makarova, M, Poberovsky, A, Murata, I, Grutter de la Mora, M, Guarin, CA, Stremme, W, Té, Y, Jeseck, P, Notholt, J, Palm, M, Conway, SA, Lutsch, E, Strong, K, Griffith, DWT, Jones, NB, Paton-Walsh, C, Friedrich, M & Smeekes, S 2017, 'Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites'. <http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.A31B2164B>

TY - CONF

T1 - Observation and simulation of ethane at 23 FTIR sites

AU - Bader, W. M. J.

AU - Mahieu, E.

AU - Franco, B.

AU - Pozzer, A.

AU - Taraborrelli, D.

AU - Prignon, M.

AU - Servais, C. P.

AU - De Maziere, M.

AU - Vigouroux, C.

AU - Mengistu Tsidu, G.

AU - Sufa, G.

AU - Mellqvist, J.

AU - Blumenstock, T.

AU - Hase, F.

AU - Sussmann, R.

AU - Nagahama, T.

AU - Sudo, K.

AU - Hannigan, J. W.

AU - Ortega, I.

AU - Morino, I.

AU - Nakajima, H.

AU - Smale, D.

AU - Makarova, M.

AU - Poberovsky, A.

AU - Murata, I.

AU - Grutter de la Mora, M.

AU - Guarin, C. A.

AU - Stremme, W.

AU - Té, Y.

AU - Jeseck, P.

AU - Notholt, J.

AU - Palm, M.

AU - Conway, S. A.

AU - Lutsch, E.

AU - Strong, K.

AU - Griffith, D. W. T.

AU - Jones, N. B.

AU - Paton-Walsh, C.

AU - Friedrich, M.

AU - Smeekes, S.

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - Ethane is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) in the Earthatmosphere. Its main sources are of anthropogenic origin, with globally62% from leakage during production and transport of natural gas, 20%from biofuel combustion and 18% from biomass burning. In the Southernhemisphere, anthropogenic emissions are lower which makes biomassburning emissions a more significant source. The main removal process isoxidation by the hydroxyl radical (OH), leading to a mean atmosphericlifetime of 2 months. Until recently, a prolonged decrease of itsabundance has been documented, at rates of -1 to -2.7%/yr, with globalemissions dropping from 14 to 11 Tg/yr over 1984-2010 owing tosuccessful measures reducing fugitive emissions from its fossil fuelsources. However, subsequent investigations have reported on an upturnin the ethane trend, characterized by a sharp rise from about 2009onwards. The ethane increase is attributed to the oil and natural gasproduction boom in North America, although significant changes in OHcould also be at play. In the present contribution, we report the trendof ethane at 23 ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) sitesspanning the 80ºN to 79ºS latitude range. Over 2010-2015, asignificant ethane rise of 3-5%/yr is determined for most sites in theNorthern Hemisphere, while for the Southern hemisphere the rates ofchanges are not significant at the 2-sigma uncertainty level . Dedicatedmodel simulations by EMAC (ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry;1.8×1.8 degrees) implementing various emission scenarios areincluded in order to support data interpretation. The usualunderestimation of the NMHCs emissions in the main inventories isconfirmed here for RCP85 (Representative Concentration Pathway Databasev8.5). Scaling them by 1.5 is needed to capture the background levels ofatmospheric ethane. Moreover, additional and significant emissions ( 7Tg over 2009-2015) are needed to capture the ethane rise in the Northernhemisphere. Attributing them to the oil and gas sector and locating themin North America allows EMAC to produce adequate trends in the Northernhemisphere, but not in the Southern hemisphere, where they areoverestimated. Possible causes for this difference are discussed.

AB - Ethane is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) in the Earthatmosphere. Its main sources are of anthropogenic origin, with globally62% from leakage during production and transport of natural gas, 20%from biofuel combustion and 18% from biomass burning. In the Southernhemisphere, anthropogenic emissions are lower which makes biomassburning emissions a more significant source. The main removal process isoxidation by the hydroxyl radical (OH), leading to a mean atmosphericlifetime of 2 months. Until recently, a prolonged decrease of itsabundance has been documented, at rates of -1 to -2.7%/yr, with globalemissions dropping from 14 to 11 Tg/yr over 1984-2010 owing tosuccessful measures reducing fugitive emissions from its fossil fuelsources. However, subsequent investigations have reported on an upturnin the ethane trend, characterized by a sharp rise from about 2009onwards. The ethane increase is attributed to the oil and natural gasproduction boom in North America, although significant changes in OHcould also be at play. In the present contribution, we report the trendof ethane at 23 ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) sitesspanning the 80ºN to 79ºS latitude range. Over 2010-2015, asignificant ethane rise of 3-5%/yr is determined for most sites in theNorthern Hemisphere, while for the Southern hemisphere the rates ofchanges are not significant at the 2-sigma uncertainty level . Dedicatedmodel simulations by EMAC (ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry;1.8×1.8 degrees) implementing various emission scenarios areincluded in order to support data interpretation. The usualunderestimation of the NMHCs emissions in the main inventories isconfirmed here for RCP85 (Representative Concentration Pathway Databasev8.5). Scaling them by 1.5 is needed to capture the background levels ofatmospheric ethane. Moreover, additional and significant emissions ( 7Tg over 2009-2015) are needed to capture the ethane rise in the Northernhemisphere. Attributing them to the oil and gas sector and locating themin North America allows EMAC to produce adequate trends in the Northernhemisphere, but not in the Southern hemisphere, where they areoverestimated. Possible causes for this difference are discussed.

KW - 0322 Constituent sources and sinks

KW - ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE

KW - 0345 Pollution: urban and regional

KW - 0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry

KW - 3307 Boundary layer processes

KW - ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES

M3 - Abstract

ER -