Guidance

Monitoring and verification of long term UK atmospheric measurement of greenhouse gas emissions

Long term atmospheric measurement and interpretation of UK greenhouse gas emissions.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 1 March 2012
• Last updated: 20 July 2022 — See all updates

Documents

Annual Report 2021: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 23.4 MB, 122 pages

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Annual Report 2020 executive summary: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 14.7 MB, 27 pages

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Annual Report 2020: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 22.9 MB, 155 pages

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Annual Report 2019: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 6.57 MB, 143 pages

Annual Report 2018: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 4.82 MB, 118 pages

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Annual Report 2017: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 4.39 MB, 102 pages

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Methodology report - verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations

PDF, 2.43 MB, 39 pages

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Details

BEIS has a programme of atmospheric monitoring of trace gases at Mace Head in the Republic of Ireland, which has been running since 1987. These data are monitored and interpreted on behalf of BEIS by the University of Bristol and the Met Office respectively.

The atmospheric observations derive baseline concentrations and emission estimates for the UK, which are used to help verify the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory, as well as feeding into other research programmes, such as NitroEurope and global networks, such as Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE).

The Mace Head site is well positioned to contrast air entering Europe from the Atlantic with emissions leaving Europe towards the Atlantic, thus enabling the Met Office to determine emissions estimates for the UK.

In 2011, BEIS established an expanded programme of atmospheric observations to deliver increased spatial and temporal resolution in the emissions estimates. This was achieved through the establishment and adoption of three new observation sites: Angus (Scotland), Ridge Hill (Herefordshire) and Tacolneston (Norfolk).

Further information on BEIS’s atmospheric observations network, including project reports, is available on the Met Office: Atmospheric Trends website.

Further information on how this data is used to support verification of the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory is available in the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.

The Mace Head data are publicly available at The World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) and Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre (CDIAC) following expert peer review.

Please check our frequently asked questions or email [email protected] if you have any questions or comments about the information on this page.

Published 1 March 2012
Last updated 20 July 2022 + show all updates

1. 20 July 2022

   Annual reports for 2020 and 2021 added.

2. 8 June 2020

   Annual Report 2019: Verification of UK greenhouse gas emissions using atmospheric observations added.

3. 22 November 2018

   Annual Report 2018 published.

4. 23 February 2018

   AR17 published

5. 30 November 2016

   Methodology report and annual report from inventory verification research programme.

6. 29 July 2013

   DECC has today published the Verification of UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates report.

7. 1 March 2012

   First published.