Continuous low-maintenance CO₂/CH₄/H₂O measurements at the Zotino Tall Tower Observatory (ZOTTO) in Central Siberia

Abstract

Abstract. The Zotino Tall Tower Observatory in Central Siberia (ZOTTO, 60°48' N, 89°21' E) is an excellent location to monitor the continental carbon cycle. Since April 2009, a fully automated low maintenance measurement system based on a cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) analyzer is installed at the site to measure continuously carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) from six heights up to 301 m a.g.l. Buffer volumes in each air line remove short term CO2 and CH4 mixing ratio fluctuations associated with turbulence, and allow continuous, near-concurrent measurements from all six tower levels. Instead of drying the air sample, the simultaneously measured water vapor is used to correct the dilution and pressure-broadening effects for the accurate determination of dry air CO2 and CH4 mixing ratios. The stability of the water vapor correction was demonstrated by repeated laboratory and field tests. The effect of molecular adsorption in the wet air lines was shown to be negligible. The low consumption of four calibration tanks that need recalibration only on decadal timescale further reduces maintenance. The measurement precision (accuracy) of 0.04 ppm (0.09 ppm) for CO2 and 0.3 ppb (1.5 ppb) for CH4 is compliant with the WMO recommendations. The data collected during the 2009 vegetation period reveals a seasonal cycle amplitude of 26.4 ppm at the 301 m level.