Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Measurements

ESRL GMD HATS CATS

browse graphicChromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Instrument
The Halocarbons and other Atmospheric Trace Species (HATS) group aims to quantify the distributions and magnitudes of sources and sinks for atmospheric nitrous oxide and halogen containing compounds. They utilize numerous types of platforms, including ground-based stations, towers, ships, aircraft, and balloons to accomplish their mission. HATS also measures chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) at its various measurement sites. CFCs are nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals that contains atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are classified as halocarbons which are compounds that contain carbon and halogen atoms. CFCs were used as solvents, refrigerants, and aerosol sprays. While inert in the lower atmosphere, CFCs decompose in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) with some of the released chlorine becoming active in destroying ozone in the stratosphere. Over time this lead to the creation of the "Ozone Hole" over the Antarctic. Monitoring the amounts of CFCs and other trace gases is important to tracking the growth or recovery of the Ozone Hole.

The Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) instruments have been in operation at the NOAA baseline observatories (Barrow, AK, Mauna Loa, HI, American Samoa, and South Pole, Antarctica) since 1999. The CATS instrument measure nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-12 (CCl2F2), CFC-11 (CCl3F), and CFC-113 (CCl2F-CClF2)), Halon-1211 (CBrClF2), methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The CATS gas chromatographs are custom built instruments that contain separation columns, flow controllers, an air selection valve, and an electron capture detector; all used for making measurements.

Through the Big Earth Data Initiative (BEDI), ESRL/GMD has taken their data collection and converted files into NetCDF-4, a self-describing format.
  • Cite as: Dutton, Geoffrey; James Elkins II, Bradley Hall, and NOAA ESRL (2017): Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Measurements, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5X0659V [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01556
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF-4 (Version: 4)
  • HTML
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset collaborator Dutton, Geoffrey
Professional Research Assistant
DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
(303) 497-6086
geoff.dutton@noaa.gov
Time Period 1998-06-01 to Present (time interval: 1-hour)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2017-11
  • creation: 1998-06-01
Edition Version 1
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Quarterly
Purpose The general mission of the Halocarbons and other Atmospheric Trace Species group is to quantify the distributions and magnitudes of sources and sinks for atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) and halogen containing compounds.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Dutton, Geoffrey; James Elkins II, Bradley Hall, and NOAA ESRL (2017): Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Measurements, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5X0659V [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Dutton, Geoffrey
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Elkins, James
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Hall, Bradley
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Principal Investigators
  • Dutton, Geoffrey
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborators
  • Elkins, James
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Hall, Bradley
    DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitrous Oxide
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Chlorofluorocarbons
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Halons
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Halocarbons And Halogens > Carbon Tetrachloride
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Composition - Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other Greenhouse Gases (including N2O, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, SF6 and PFCs)
Keyword Thesaurus Title
  • EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > HALOCARBONS AND HALOGENS > METHYL CHLOROFORM
  • Ozone Depletion
  • Montreal Protocal
  • Halocarbons
  • Atmospheric - Composition - Nitrous Oxide and Greenhouse Gases (including CFCs, halons, and SF6)
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • AIR MONITORING STATIONS/NETWORKS
  • ESRL STATIONS > NOAA Earth Science Research Laboratory Stations
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > Alaska
  • Continent > North America > Greenland
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > Hawaii
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > Colorado
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > American Samoa
  • Continent > Antarctica
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ESRL > Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA)
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • Point Resolution
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords
  • Point Resolution
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • Hourly - < Daily
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Dutton, Geoffrey; James Elkins II, Bradley Hall, and NOAA ESRL (2017): Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Measurements, Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5X0659V [access date].
  • The information contained herein is provided as a public service, with the understanding that the NOAA/ESRL Global Monitoring Divison makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information.
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement Raw data are collected at field sites, transferred daily to an NOAA server where initial processing is performed. Finally, quality control and processing are conducted on a desktop computer about quarterly.
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps
  • Typical data processing involves peak integration, calculating detector response and correcting for drift, applying calibrations, calculating mixing ratios. Quality control and data flagging may occur at any of these steps.
Processing Environment Initial peak integration of chromatograms is conducted on a Linux computer using GCwerks software. Python scripts perform initial quality control and data consolidation. Finally, quality control and processing are completed on an Apple computer using custom software developed in Igor Pro.
Source Datasets
  • Earth System Research Laboratory Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Gases Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (CATS) Measurements
    • Description of Source: ESRL GMD HATS CATS Program Measurements
    • Temporal extent used: 1998-06-01 to Present
    • Spatial extent used: N:90.0 S:-90.0 E:180.0 W:-180.0
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov