Ground-based in situ measurements of hydrofluorocarbons HFC-125, HFC-134a, and HFC-152a, which are regulated under the Kyoto Protocol, are carried out at four European sites within the SOGE (System of Observation of Halogenated Greenhouse Gases in Europe) program. Concentrations measured at the high mountain stations of Jungfraujoch (Switzerland) and Mte Cimone (Italy) together with back-trajectory statistical analysis are used in order to identify potential source regions on a European scale. Combining concentration data recorded at the two sites allows to reduce one of the problem which is inherent to the back-trajectory approach, i.e. the localisation of "ghost" sources in the wake of real sources. In this way, a more reliable picture of the location of European potential source regions is given.

European emissions of nine representative halocarbons (CFC-11, CFC-12, Halon 1211, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HCFC-22, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-152a) are derived for the year 2009 by combining long-term observations in Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland with campaign measurements from Hungary. For the first time, halocarbon emissions over Eastern Europe are assessed by top-down methods, and these results are compared to Western European emissions. The employed inversion method builds on least-squares optimization linking atmospheric observations with calculations from the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART. The aggregated halocarbon emissions over the study area are estimated at 125 (106–150) Tg of CO2 equiv/y, of which the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) make up the most important fraction with 41% (31–52%). We find that chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions from banks are still significant and account for 35% (27–43%) of total halocarbon emissions in Europe. The regional differences in per capita emissions are only small for the HFCs, while emissions of CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) tend to be higher in Western Europe compared to Eastern Europe. In total, the inferred per capita emissions are similar to estimates for China, but 3.5 (2.3–4.5) times lower than for the United States. Our study demonstrates the large benefits of adding a strategically well placed measurement site to the existing European observation network of halocarbons, as it extends the coverage of the inversion domain toward Eastern Europe and helps to better constrain the emissions over Central Europe.

High altitude mountaintop observatories provide the opportunity to study aerosol properties in the free troposphere without the added expense and difficulty of making airborne measurements. Over the last several decades the number of mountaintop observatories continuously measuring in-situ aerosol radiative properties has increased significantly from a single station (Mauna Loa, USA) in the 1970's to at least ten observatories actively making these measurements today. By taking this data set as a whole and developing a self-consistent climatology, the combined observatory measurements of free tropospheric aerosol radiative properties have the potential to contribute to aerosol-climate research in a way that far exceeds the contribution from individual observatories. For example, this type of analysis may help constrain chemical transport models, validate satellite measurements, and quantify the influence of smoke and dust episodes on free troposphere aerosol properties. Here we present statistics of means, variability, and trends of aerosol radiative properties, including light scattering, light absorption, light extinction, single scattering albedo, Ångström exponent, hemispheric backscatter fraction and radiative forcing efficiency, from various high altitude measurements. These climatologies utilize data from ten mountaintop observatories in the 20-50ºN latitude band: Mauna Loa, USA; Lulin Mountain, Taiwan; Pyramid, Nepal; Izaña, Spain; Mount Waliguan, China; Beo Moussala, Bulgaria; Mount Bachelor, USA; Monte Cimone, Italy; Jungfraujoch, Switzerland; Whistler Mountain, Canada. Results are also included from two multi-year, in-situ aerosol vertical profiling programs: Southern Great Plains, USA and Bondville, USA. Using this cloud- and boundary layer contamination- screened data set we address the following questions: (1) What are the similarities and differences in the means, variability and trends of free-tropospheric aerosol radiative properties at a wide range of locations? (2) What is the relative importance of aerosol amount and aerosol optical properties for direct radiative forcing calculations? Delene and Ogren (2002) showed that the amount of aerosol was of primary importance while the aerosol optical properties were of secondary importance to direct radiative forcing calculations for the four boundary layer sites they studied. (3) How do these in-situ climatologies of free tropospheric light extinction compare to the satellite-derived climatologies presented by Kent et al., 1998? (4) Do aerosol events (e.g., smoke transport) have a significant influence on climatological values?