Trace gas mixing ratios measured over the Southern Ocean in the austral summer of 2016/2017, during the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition.

Dataset abstract

The authors would highly appreciate to be contacted if the data is used for any purpose.

We measured mixing ratios of CO, CO₂ and CH₄ with a PICARRO G2401 Gas Analyzer. Ozone (O₃) mixing ratios were measured with a 2B Technology ozone monitor, model 205. We report five-minute averaged data cleaned from exhaust gas influence. Temporal coverage is from December 20, 2016 to April 10, 2017.

The trace gas concentrations represent a large number of atmospheric processes that happen on different time scales. CO for example, has basically no sources other than combustion and can hence be used as tracer for air mass transport from regions with combustion activities (e.g., South Africa). CO has a lifetime of a few weeks. CO₂ and CH₄ are longer-lived trace gases which disperse globally. The data set shows that concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere are higher than in the Southern Hemisphere. Both trace gases are emitted by anthropogenic activities as well as natural sources. Over the cruise track, areas of the Southern Ocean were passed where these trace gases either outgas or are absorbed. Ozone is a secondary trace gas, meaning that it is formed in the atmosphere. It’s concentrations are relatively low.

All trace gases data have been cleaned from exhaust gas influence.

Dataset contents

• ACESPACE_trace_gas_concentration.csv, data file, comma-separated values
• data_file_header.txt, metadata, text
• README.md, metadata, text

NaN values denote missing values because of e.g., ship exhaust contamination or instrument maintenance. For latitude and longitude, NaN values are noted in cases where position data was not available for the given time period.