Automatic CO2 Monitoring System Developed for Use at Summit of Mt. Fuji

Copyright National Institute for Environmental Studies

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) of Japan announced on July 25, 2011, that it has developed an automatic carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring system for measuring atmospheric concentrations of CO2 even under severe winter conditions. NIES will start preparing the system at the top of Mt. Fuji with a view of obtaining CO2 data during the winter of 2011/2012.

As the Mt. Fuji Weather Station is closed in the winter, a new system has been sought to continue observations under low-temperature conditions, and requiring no commercial power source or maintenance. A 2-year test conducted at the site demonstrated the system's capabilities for providing reliable data on atmospheric concentrations of CO2.

The system uses 100 batteries that can work at low temperature, and that are charged during summer. The batteries are designed to keep the voltage required for more than 10 months, enabling their use at the top of Mt. Fuji, where outdoor winter temperatures are lower than minus 30 degrees Celsius, indoor temperatures are expected to be less than minus 20 degrees Celsius, and atmospheric pressure is two thirds of that on the ground. When taking measurements, the system temperature is maintained at or above 0 degrees Celsius with the help of insulating materials. The system measures the concentrations of CO2 once a day with considerable accuracy, and the data is automatically transmitted via satellite.

The data will be compared with those collected at Mt. Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which has the longest history of CO2 observation. Data will also be compared with those from other parts of Japan in order to provide geographical data on the generation of CO2 in East Asia.

Results of Japanese Ibuki Satellite's Observations of Greenhouse Gases and Cloud Cover Released (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029945.html

Posted: 2011/11/12 06:00:15 AM