Unveiling High-Resolution CH4 Profiles Over Southeast China: Novel Insights From AirCore Balloon Observations

IF 4.6 1区地球科学 Q1 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Geophysical Research Letters Pub Date : 2025-10-03 DOI:10.1029/2025gl116203

Shuo Liu, Kangxuan Wei, Bingjiang Chen, Zeping Jin, Ziyi Chen, Ziyan Wu, Zihan Fan, Shaohui Li, Kunpeng Zang, Chao Zhang, Honghui Xu, Philippe De Maeyer, Shuangxi Fang

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Abstract

Vertical profiles of methane (CH₄) are essential for validating satellite observations and quantifying regional sources and sinks. This study presents the first two high-resolution CH₄ profiles (0–25 km) over southeastern China, an economically developed region, using AirCore measurements. The profiles exhibited distinct variations: CH₄ increased from 25 to 15 km, remained stable (15–6 km), decreased sharply (6–3 km), then rose toward the surface (∼600 ppb range). While trends align with observations in northwest China, concentrations were higher. Wind patterns and balloon trajectories influenced the profiles, with long-range air mass transport from coastal megacities elevating upper-atmosphere CH₄. Comparisons with TCCON, TROPOMI, and GOSAT-2 revealed 26–39 ppb discrepancies in column-averaged CH₄, exposing resolution limitations and retrieval uncertainties. Pronounced day-to-day variability highlight influence from meteorological conditions and regional transport. These findings emphasize the need for higher spatiotemporal resolution monitoring to improve CH₄ assessments and climate modeling.

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揭开中国东南部高分辨率CH4剖面：来自AirCore气球观测的新见解

甲烷（CH4）的垂直剖面对于验证卫星观测和量化区域源汇至关重要。本研究利用AirCore测量资料，在经济发达的中国东南部首次获得了两个高分辨率CH4剖面（0-25 km）。CH4从25 ~ 15 km增加，保持稳定（15 ~ 6 km），急剧减少（6 ~ 3 km），然后向地表上升（~ 600 ppb范围）。虽然趋势与中国西北地区的观测结果一致，但浓度较高。风型和气球轨迹影响了廓线，来自沿海特大城市的远程气团输送提升了高层大气CH4。与TCCON、TROPOMI和GOSAT-2的比较显示，柱平均CH4存在26 - 39ppb的差异，暴露了分辨率限制和检索的不确定性。显著的日变率突出了气象条件和区域运输的影响。这些发现强调需要更高的时空分辨率监测来改进CH4评估和气候模拟。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Geophysical Research Letters 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

9.00

自引率

9.60%

发文量

1588

审稿时长

2.2 months

期刊介绍： Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) publishes high-impact, innovative, and timely research on major scientific advances in all the major geoscience disciplines. Papers are communications-length articles and should have broad and immediate implications in their discipline or across the geosciences. GRLmaintains the fastest turn-around of all high-impact publications in the geosciences and works closely with authors to ensure broad visibility of top papers.