Review and outlook of 30 years of atmospheric background observations at Mt. Waliguan

doi:10.12006/j.issn.1673-1719.2024.222

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to respond to climate change and to conduct systematic globalized observations of atmospheric constituents and their related physical and chemical properties, the Chinese government, in cooperation with the WMO and the United Nations Global Environment Facility (GEF), established the first global atmospheric baseline observatory (the Waliguan Baseline Observatory) in the Eurasian hinterland at Waliguan Mountain, Qinghai province, in September 1994, and has also conducted long-term observations of key atmospheric constituents, including greenhouse gases, aerosols, ozone, radiation, and acid rain, which are closely related to weather, climate, the environment and human health. After 30 years of construction and development, the Waliguan Baseline Observatory has accumulated a large amount of first-hand and globally representative atmospheric background observational data, which provide fundamental support for in-depth research, assessment and prediction of changes in atmospheric composition and their impacts on weather and climate changes, and also serve as an early warning and monitoring of future changes in atmospheric composition. This paper systematically reviews the Waliguan Baseline Observatory’s development history, major observing programs, and research results over the past 30 years. It also looks forward to future development direction and research focus.

Key words: Waliguan Baseline Observatory, Atmospheric composition, Observation, Climate change

CHE Hui-Zheng, ZHANG Xiao-Chun, WANG Jian-Qiong, SHEN Xiao-Jing, ZHANG Gen, XU Wan-Yun, ZHENG Yu, ZHANG Xiao-Ye. Review and outlook of 30 years of atmospheric background observations at Mt. Waliguan[J]. Climate Change Research, 2025, 21(2): 186-197.

Figures/Tables 3

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