Variability of Total Column CO2, CH4 and CO in the Eastern Mediterranean And Middle East (EMME) Region: Insights from the TCCON Nicosia and AirCore

Abstract

At the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, the island of Cyprus receives long-range and regional pollution from various anthropogenic and natural sources. To assess the variability and amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the region, we have set up, in 2019, a new Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) site, the TCCON Nicosia, at The Cyprus Institute. Herewith, we present the first time series of columnar amounts of the main GHGs in the region (Xgas; X stands for total column average dry-air mole fractions), namely carbon dioxide (XCO2), methane (XCH4), nitrous oxide (XN2O), carbon monoxide (XCO) and hydrogen fluoride (XHF). To evaluate the performance of TCCON, an AirCore campaign was conducted in Cyprus in June 2020, providing independent in-situ vertical profiles of CO2, CH4 and CO extending up to the stratosphere. The recent observations of XGHG data, together with the results of the AirCore, are presented. The observed variability in the columnar time series and its possible drivers are discussed.