The YAK-AEROSIB transcontinental aircraft campaigns: new insights on the transport of CO₂, CO and O₃ across Siberia

Abstract

Two airborne campaigns were carried out to measure the tropospheric concentrations and variability of CO₂, CO and O₃ over Siberia. In order to quantify the influence of remote and regional natural and anthropogenic sources, we analysed a total of 52 vertical profiles of these species collected in April and September 2006, every ∼200 km and up to 7 km altitude. CO₂ and CO concentrations were high in April 2006 (respectively 385–390 ppm CO₂ and 160–200 ppb CO) compared to background values. CO concentrations up to 220 ppb were recorded above 3.5 km over eastern Siberia, with enhancements in 500–1000 m thick layers. The presence of CO enriched air masses resulted from a quick frontal uplift of a polluted air mass exposed to northern China anthropogenic emissions and to fire emissions in northern Mongolia. A dominant Asian origin for CO above 4 km (71.0%) contrasted with a dominant European origin below this altitude (70.9%) was deduced both from a transport model analysis, and from the contrasted ΔCO/ΔCO₂ ratio vertical distribution. In September 2006, a significant O₃ depletion (∼ –30 ppb) was repeatedly observed in the boundary layer, as diagnosed from virtual potential temperature profiles and CO₂ gradients, compared to the free troposphere aloft, suggestive of a strong O₃ deposition over Siberian forests.