Greenhouse Gas Baseline Monitoring Station Data from Central Queensland

July 2010 saw the installation of the 'Arcturus' atmospheric monitoring station in central Queensland by Geoscience Australia and CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research. The station measures concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and isotopic signatures, alongside meteorological parameters. Data is intended for modeling local variations and contributions from natural and anthropogenic sources in a region with mixed land use.

Use Cases

• Model local CO2 and CH4 variations using measured concentrations and meteorological parameters like wind speed and direction.
• Analyze the isotopic signature (δ13C) of CO2 to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic emission sources.
• Use TAPM (The Air Pollution Model) with station data to attribute variability to specific activities like grazing, mining, or gas production.
• Establish a high-quality atmospheric baseline for future monitoring near geological CO2 storage sites.

Strengths

• Station designed as a prototype for baseline monitoring in carbon capture and storage target areas.
• Measures multiple key greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4) and their isotopic signatures alongside meteorological data.

Limitations

• Specific data volume (row count), temporal coverage beyond the 2010 installation, and update frequency are not provided.
• Data availability and access methods (HTML, PDF formats) suggest raw, structured time-series data may not be readily accessible.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia and CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research.

Collection Method

Measurements from wavelength scanned cavity ringdown instruments and meteorological sensors at the 'Arcturus' station.

Time Range

Monitoring began in July 2010; ongoing duration unspecified.

Freshness

null

Geography

Central Queensland, Australia, in a region with cropping, grazing, coal mining, and gas production.