Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE)

Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE), and its predecessors (the Atmospheric Life Experiment, ALE, and the Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment, GAGE) have been measuring the composition of the global atmosphere continuously since 1978. The AGAGE is distinguished by its capability to measure over the globe at high frequency almost all of the important gases species in the Montreal Protocol (e.g. CFCs and HCFCs) to protect the ozone layer and almost all of the significant non-CO2 gases in the Kyoto Protocol (e.g. HFCs, methane, and nitrous oxide) to mitigate climate change.

AGAGE is part of the powerful global observing system that is measuring halocarbons, including bromocarbons, in the Earth’s atmosphere. The ALE/GAGE/AGAGE stations occupy coastal sites around the world chosen to provide accurate measurements of trace gases whose lifetimes are long compared to global atmospheric circulation times.

AGAGE also collaborates with the System for Observation of Halogenated Greenhouse Gases in Europe (SOGE), through transfer of AGAGE calibrations and sharing of AGAGE technology, placing AGAGE and SOGE data on common calibration scales with comparable precisions, accuracy and measurement frequency. AGAGE’s network also includes Hateruma Island, Japan through a co-operative agreement with the Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). The other two collaborative stations are at Shangdianzi, China and Gosan, Jeju Island, South Korea. Shangdianzi started measuring ozone-depleting trace gases and greenhouses gases in 2006, and is operated by Chinese Meteorology Administration (CMA). The Gosan station, started in late 2007, is operated by Seoul National University (SNU).