Recent Publications of the group Climate Gases at Empa
All publications of the Climate Gas Group can be found here:
Publications 2025
Iturrate-Garcia, M.; Salameh, T.; Schlauri, P.; Baldan, A.; Vollmer, M. K.; Stratigou, E.; Dusanter, S.; Li, J.; Persijn, S.; Claude, A.; et al. Towards a high-quality in situ observation network for oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) in Europe: transferring metrological traceability to the field. Atmos. Meas. Tech. 2025, 18 (2), 371-403. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-371-2025
Liu, X.; Zhang, X.; Dufresne, M.; Wang, T.; Wu, L.; Lara, R.; Seco, R.; Monge, M.; Yáñez-Serrano, A. M.; Gohy, M.; et al. Measurement report: exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and their environmental health implications. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2025, 25 (1), 625-638. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025
Publications 2024
Ge, Y.; Solberg, S.; Heal, M. R.; Reimann, S.; van Caspel, W.; Hellack, B.; Salameh, T.; Simpson, D. Evaluation of modelled versus observed non-methane volatile organic compounds at European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme sites in Europe. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2024, 24 (13), 7699-7729. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7699-2024
Laj, P.; Lund Myhre, C.; Riffault, V.; Amiridis, V.; Fuchs, H.; Eleftheriadis, K.; Petäjä, T.; Salameh, T.; Kivekäs, N.; Juurola, E.; et al. Aerosol, clouds and trace gases research infrastructure (ACTRIS): the European research infrastructure supporting atmospheric science. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 2024, 105 (7), E1098-E1136. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0064.1
Liu, Y.; Sheng, J.; Rigby, M.; Ganesan, A.; Kim, J.; Western, L. M.; Mühle, J.; Park, S.; Park, H.; Weiss, R. F.; et al. Increases in global and East Asian nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) emissions inferred from atmospheric observations. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2024, 58 (30), 13318-13326. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04507
Mayer, L.; Degrendele, C.; Šenk, P.; Kohoutek, J.; Přibylová, P.; Kukučka, P.; Melymuk, L.; Durand, A.; Ravier, S.; Alastuey, A.; et al. Widespread pesticide distribution in the European atmosphere questions their degradability in air. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2024, 58 (7), 3342-3352. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c08488
Pardo Cantos, I.; Mahieu, E.; Chipperfield, M. P.; Servais, C.; Reimann, S.; Vollmer, M. K. First HFC-134a retrievals from ground-based FTIR solar absorption spectra, comparison with TOMCAT model simulations, in-situ AGAGE observations, and ACE-FTS satellite data for the Jungfraujoch station. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 2024, 318, 108938 (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jqsrt.2024.108938
Rust, D.; Vollmer, M. K.; Henne, S.; Frumau, A.; van den Bulk, P.; Hensen, A.; Stanley, K. M.; Zenobi, R.; Emmenegger, L.; Reimann, S. Effective realization of abatement measures can reduce HFC-23 emissions. Nature 2024, 633, 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07833-y
Thompson, R. L.; Montzka, S. A.; Vollmer, M. K.; Arduini, J.; Crotwell, M.; Krummel, P. B.; Lunder, C.; Mühle, J.; O'doherty, S.; Prinn, R. G.; et al. Estimation of the atmospheric hydroxyl radical oxidative capacity using multiple hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2024, 24 (2), 1415-1427. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1415-2024
Western, L. M.; Daniel, J. S.; Vollmer, M. K.; Clingan, S.; Crotwell, M.; Fraser, P. J.; Ganesan, A. L.; Hall, B.; Harth, C. M.; Krummel, P. B.; et al. A decrease in radiative forcing and equivalent effective chlorine from hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Nat. Clim. Chang. 2024, 14, 805-807. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02038-7
Publications 2023
Apel, E. C.; Baldan, A.; Claude, A.; Englert, J.; Fjaeraa, A. M.; Guillevic, M.; Helmig, D.; Hoerger, C. C.; Hopkins, J.; Lewis, A. C.; et al. Guidelines for measurements of non-methane hydrocarbons in the troposphere; GAW report; Report No.: 281; World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Geneva, 2023; 70 p.
Katharopoulos, I.; Rust, D.; Vollmer, M. K.; Brunner, D.; Reimann, S.; O'Doherty, S. J.; Young, D.; Stanley, K. M.; Schuck, T.; Arduini, J.; et al. Impact of transport model resolution and a priori assumptions on inverse modeling of Swiss F-gas emissions. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2023, 23 (22), 14159-14186. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14159-2023
Redington, A. L.; Manning, A. J.; Henne, S.; Graziosi, F.; Western, L. M.; Arduini, J.; Ganesan, A. L.; Harth, C. M.; Maione, M.; Mühle, J.; et al. Western European emission estimates of CFC-11, CFC-12 and CCl4 derived from atmospheric measurements from 2008 to 2021. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2023, 23 (13), 7383-7398. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7383-2023
Rust, D.; Vollmer, M. K.; Henne, S.; Bühlmann, T.; Frumau, A.; van den Bulk, P.; Emmenegger, L.; Zenobi, R.; Reimann, S. First atmospheric measurements and emission estimates of HFO-1336mzz(Z). Environ. Sci. Technol. 2023, 57 (32), 11903-11912. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01826
Solberg, S.; Claude, A.; Reimann, S.; Walker, S. E. VOC measurements 2021; EMEP/CCC-report; Report No.: 4/2023; NILU: Kjeller, 2023; 49 p. https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3090370
Western, L. M.; Vollmer, M. K.; Krummel, P. B.; Adcock, K. E.; Fraser, P. J.; Harth, C. M.; Langenfelds, R. L.; Montzka, S. A.; Mühle, J.; O’Doherty, S.; et al. Global increase of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons from 2010 to 2020. Nat. Geosci. 2023, 16 (4), 309-313. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01147-w
Publications 2022
Daniel, J. S.; Reimann, S.; Ashford, P.; Fleming, E. L.; Hossaini, R.; Lickley, M. J.; Schofield, R.; Walter-Terrinoni, H. Scenarios and information for policymakers. In Scientific assessment of ozone depletion 2022; GAW report, Vol. 278; World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Geneva, 2022; pp 387-434.
Lickley, M. J.; Daniel, J. S.; Fleming, E. L.; Reimann, S.; Solomon, S. Bayesian assessment of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and halon banks suggest large reservoirs still present in old equipment. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2022, 22 (17), 11125-11136. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11125-2022
Reimann, S.; Vollmer, M. K. Halogenierte Spurengase in der Umwelt - ein historischer Überblick. Oekoskop, 2022, pp 17-22.
Rust, D.; Katharopoulos, I.; Vollmer, M. K.; Henne, S.; O'Doherty, S.; Say, D.; Emmenegger, L.; Zenobi, R.; Reimann, S. Swiss halocarbon emissions for 2019 to 2020 assessed from regional atmospheric observations. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2022, 22 (4), 2447-2466. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2447-2022
Solberg, S.; Claude, A.; Reimann, S.; Sauvage, S.; Walker, S. E. VOC measurements 2020; EMEP/CCC-report; Report No.: 4/2022; NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research: Kjeller, Norway, 2022; 57 p. https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2777304
Solberg, S.; Claude, A.; Reimann, S. VOC measurements 2022; EMEP/CCC-report; Report No.: 4/2024; NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research: Kjeller, Norway, 2022; 65 p. https://nilu.brage.unit.no/nilu-xmlui/handle/11250/3163464
Western, L. M.; Redington, A. L.; Manning, A. J.; Trudinger, C. M.; Hu, L.; Henne, S.; Fang, X.; Kuijpers, L. J. M.; Theodoridi, C.; Godwin, D. S.; et al. A renewed rise in global HCFC-141b emissions between 2017-2021. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2022, 22 (14), 9601-9616. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9601-2022
Publications 2018 - 2021
Behringer, D.; Heydel, F.; Gschrey, B.; Osterheld, S.; Schwarz, W.; Warncke, K.; Freeling, F.; Nödler, K.; Henne, S.; Reimann, S.; et al. Persistent degradation products of halogenated refrigerants and blowing agents in the environment: type, environmental concentrations, and fate with particular regard to new halogenated substitutes with low global warming potential; Report No.: FB000452/ENG; German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau, 2021; 258 p. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/persistent-degradation-products-of-halogenated
Behringer, D.; Heydel, F.; Gschrey, B.; Osterheld, S.; Schwarz, W.; Warncke, K.; Freeling, F.; Nödler, K.; Henne, S.; Reimann, S.; et al. Persistente Abbauprodukte halogenierter Kälte- und Treibmittel in der Umwelt: Art, Umweltkonzentrationen und Verbleib unter besonderer Berücksichtigung neuer halogenierter Ersatzstoffe mit kleinem Treibhauspotenzial; Umweltbundesamt: Texte; Report No.: 36; Umweltbundesamt: Dessau-Roßlau, 2021; 267 p. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/persistente-abbauprodukte-halogenierter-kaelte
Chipperfield, M. P.; Hegglin, M. I.; Montzka, S. A.; Newman, P. A.; Park, S.; Reimann, S.; Rigby, M.; Stohl, A.; Velders, G. J. M.; Walter-Terrinoni, H.; et al. Report on the unexpected emissions of CFC-11. A report of the scientific assessment panel of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer; WMO; Report No.: 1268; World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Geneva, 2021; 70 p. https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=10748
Gressent, A.; Rigby, M.; Ganesan, A. L.; Prinn, R. G.; Manning, A. J.; Mühle, J.; Salameh, P. K.; Krummel, P. B.; Fraser, P. J.; Steele, L. P.; et al. Growing atmospheric emissions of sulfuryl fluoride. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmos. 2021, 126 (9), e2020JD034327 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD034327
Guillevic, M.; Guillevic, A.; Vollmer, M. K.; Schlauri, P.; Hill, M.; Emmenegger, L.; Reimann, S. Automated fragment formula annotation for electron ionisation, high resolution mass spectrometry: application to atmospheric measurements of halocarbons. J. Cheminfo. 2021, 13 (1), 78 (27 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13321-021-00544-w
Manning, A. J.; Redington, A. L.; Say, D.; O'Doherty, S.; Young, D.; Simmonds, P. G.; Vollmer, M. K.; Mühle, J.; Arduini, J.; Spain, G.; et al. Evidence of a recent decline in UK emissions of hydrofluorocarbons determined by the InTEM inverse model and atmospheric measurements. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2021, 21 (16), 12739-12755. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12739-2021
Park, S.; Western, L. M.; Saito, T.; Redington, A. L.; Henne, S.; Fang, X.; Prinn, R. G.; Manning, A. J.; Montzka, S. A.; Fraser, P. J.; et al. A decline in emissions of CFC-11 and related chemicals from eastern China. Nature 2021, 590, 433-437. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03277-w
Say, D.; Manning, A. J.; Western, L. M.; Young, D.; Wisher, A.; Rigby, M.; Reimann, S.; Vollmer, M. K.; Maione, M.; Arduini, J.; et al. Global trends and European emissions of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), hexafluoroethane (C2F6) and octafluoropropane (C3F8). Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2021, 21 (3), 2149-2164. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2149-2021
Vollmer, M. K.; Mühle, J.; Henne, S.; Young, D.; Rigby, M.; Mitrevski, B.; Park, S.; Lunder, C. R.; Rhee, T. S.; Harth, C. M.; et al. Unexpected nascent atmospheric emissions of three ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2021, 118 (5), e2010914118 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2010914118
Chipperfield, M. P.; Hossaini, R.; Montzka, S. A.; Reimann, S.; Sherry, D.; Tegtmeier, S. Renewed and emerging concerns over the production and emission of ozone-depleting substances. Nat. Rev. Earth & Environ. 2020, 1, 251-263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0048-8
Meinshausen, M.; Nicholls, Z. R. J.; Lewis, J.; Gidden, M. J.; Vogel, E.; Freund, M.; Beyerle, U.; Gessner, C.; Nauels, A.; Bauer, N.; et al. The shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) greenhouse gas concentrations and their extensions to 2500. Geosci. Model Dev. 2020, 13 (8), 3571-3605. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-3571-2020
Reimann, S.; Vollmer, M. K.; Hill, M.; Schlauri, P.; Guillevic, M.; Brunner, D.; Henne, S.; Rust, D.; Emmenegger, L. Long-term observations of atmospheric halogenated organic trace gases. Chimia 2020, 74 (3), 136-141. https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2020.136
Reimann, S.; Claude, A.; Hill, M.; Solberg, S. Recent developments for enhancing the quality assurance of VOCs in Europe. In Transboundary particulate matter, photo-oxidants, acidifying and eutrophying components; EMEP status report, Vol. 1; Norwegian meteorological institute: Oslo, Norway, 2020; pp 173-177.
Simmonds, P. G.; Rigby, M.; Manning, A. J.; Park, S.; Stanley, K. M.; McCulloch, A.; Henne, S.; Graziosi, F.; Maione, M.; Arduini, J.; et al. The increasing atmospheric burden of the greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2020, 20 (12), 7271-7290. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-7271-2020
Solberg, S.; Claude, A.; Reimann, S.; Sauvage, S. VOC measurements 2018; EMEP/CCC; Report No.: 4; NILU - Norwegian institute for air research: Kjeller, Norway, 2020; 65 p.
Yu, D.; Yao, B.; Lin, W.; Vollmer, M. K.; Ge, B.; Zhang, G.; Li, Y.; Xu, H.; O'Doherty, S.; Chen, L.; et al. Atmospheric CH3CCl3 observations in China: historical trends and implications. Atmos. Res. 2020, 231, 104658 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.104658
Fang, X.; Yao, B.; Vollmer, M. K.; Reimann, S.; Liu, L.; Chen, L.; Prinn, R. G.; Hu, J. Changes in HCFC emissions in China during 2011–2017. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2019, 46 (16), 10034-10042. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083169
Hossaini, R.; Atlas, E.; Dhomse, S. S.; Chipperfield, M. P.; Bernath, P. F.; Fernando, A. M.; Mühle, J.; Leeson, A. A.; Montzka, S. A.; Feng, W.; et al. Recent trends in stratospheric chlorine from very short‐lived substances. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmos. 2019, 124 (4), 2318-2335. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029400
Mühle, J.; Trudinger, C. M.; Western, L. M.; Rigby, M.; Vollmer, M. K.; Park, S.; Manning, A. J.; Say, D.; Ganesan, A.; Steele, L. P.; et al. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFC-318, c-C4F8) in the global atmosphere. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2019, 19 (15), 10335-10359. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10335-2019
Rigby, M.; Park, S.; Saito, T.; Western, L. M.; Redington, A. L.; Fang, X.; Henne, S.; Manning, A. J.; Prinn, R. G.; Dutton, G. S.; et al. Increase in CFC-11 emissions from eastern China based on atmospheric observations. Nature 2019, 569 (7757), 546-550. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1193-4
Vollmer, M. K.; Bernard, F.; Mitrevski, B.; Steele, L. P.; Trudinger, C. M.; Reimann, S.; Langenfelds, R. L.; Krummel, P. B.; Fraser, P. J.; Etheridge, D. M.; et al. Abundances, emissions, and loss processes of the long-lived and potent greenhouse gas octafluorooxolane (octafluorotetrahydrofuran, c-C4F8O) in the atmosphere. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2019, 19, 3481-3492. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-3481-2019
Yao, B.; Fang, X.; Vollmer, M. K.; Reimann, S.; Chen, L.; Fang, S.; Prinn, R. G. China's hydrofluorocarbon emissions for 2011–2017 inferred from atmospheric measurements. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2019, 6 (8), 479-486. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00319
Bergamaschi, P.; Danila, A.; Weiss, R. F.; Ciais, P.; Thompson, R. L.; Brunner, D.; Levin, I.; Meijer, Y.; Chevallier, F.; Janssens-Maenhout, G.; et al. Atmospheric monitoring and inverse modelling for verification of greenhouse gas inventories; JRC Science for policy report; Report No.: EUR 29276 EN; Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg, 2018; 109 p. https://doi.org/10.2760/759928
Conen, F.; Bukowiecki, N.; Gysel, M.; Steinbacher, M.; Fischer, A.; Reimann, S. Low number concentration of ice nucleating particles in an aged smoke plume. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 2018, 144 (715), 1991-1994. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3312
Dalsøren, S. B.; Myhre, G.; Hodnebrog, Ø.; Myhre, C. L.; Stohl, A.; Pisso, I.; Schwietzke, S.; Höglund-Isaksson, L.; Helmig, D.; Reimann, S.; et al. Discrepancy between simulated and observed ethane and propane levels explained by underestimated fossil emissions. Nat. Geosci. 2018, 11 (3), 178-184. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0073-0
Guillevic, M.; Vollmer, M. K.; Wyss, S. A.; Leuenberger, D.; Ackermann, A.; Pascale, C.; Niederhauser, B.; Reimann, S. Dynamic–gravimetric preparation of metrologically traceable primary calibration standards for halogenated greenhouse gases. Atmos. Meas. Tech. 2018, 11 (6), 3351-3372. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3351-2018
Lunt, M. F.; Park, S.; Li, S.; Henne, S.; Manning, A. J.; Ganesan, A. L.; Simpson, I. J.; Blake, D. R.; Liang, Q.; O'Doherty, S.; et al. Continued emissions of the ozone-depleting substance carbon tetrachloride from Eastern Asia. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2018, 45 (20), 11423-11430. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079500
Park, S.; Li, S.; Mühle, J.; O'Doherty, S.; Weiss, R. F.; Fang, X.; Reimann, S.; Prinn, R. G. Toward resolving the budget discrepancy of ozone-depleting carbon tetrachloride (CCl4): an analysis of top-down emissions from China. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2018, 18 (16), 11729-11738. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11729-2018
Prinn, R. G.; Weiss, R. F.; Arduini, J.; Arnold, T.; DeWitt, H. L.; Fraser, P. J.; Ganesan, A. L.; Gasore, J.; Harth, C. M.; Hermansen, O.; et al. History of chemically and radiatively important atmospheric gases from the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE). ESSD 2018, 10 (2), 985-1018. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-985-2018
Reimann, S.; Vollmer, M. K.; Brunner, D.; Steinbacher, M.; Hill, M.; Henne, S.; Emmenegger, L. Kontinuierliche Messung von Nicht-CO2-Treibhausgasen auf dem Jungfraujoch (HALCLIM-2015-18). Schlussbericht; Empa: Dübendorf, 2018; 84 p.
Reimann, S.; Elkins, J. W.; Fraser, P. J.; Hall, B. D.; Kurylo, M. J.; Mahieu, E.; Montzka, S. A.; Prinn, R. G.; Rigby, M.; Simmonds, P. G.; et al. Observing the atmospheric evolution of ozone-depleting substances. Comptes Rendus 2018, 350 (7), 384-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crte.2018.08.008
Schoenenberger, F.; Henne, S.; Hill, M.; Vollmer, M. K.; Kouvarakis, G.; Mihalopoulos, N.; O'Doherty, S.; Maione, M.; Emmenegger, L.; Peter, T.; et al. Abundance and sources of atmospheric halocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2018, 18 (6), 4069-4092. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-4069-2018
Sherry, D.; McCulloch, A.; Liang, Q.; Reimann, S.; Newman, P. A. Current sources of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in our atmosphere. Environ. Res. Lett. 2018, 13, 024004 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa9c87
Simmonds, P. G.; Rigby, M.; McCulloch, A.; Vollmer, M. K.; Henne, S.; Mühle, J.; O'Doherty, S.; Manning, A. J.; Krummel, P. B.; Fraser, P. J.; et al. Recent increases in the atmospheric growth rate and emissions of HFC-23 (CHF3) and the link to HCFC-22 (CHClF2) production. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2018, 18 (6), 4153-4169. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-4153-2018
Solberg, S.; Claude, A.; Reimann, S. VOC measurements 2016. EMEP co-operative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe; EMEP/CCC; Report No.: 4; NILU (Norwegian Institute for Air Research): Kjeller, 2018; 66 p.
Vollmer, M. K.; Young, D.; Trudinger, C. M.; Mühle, J.; Henne, S.; Rigby, M.; Park, S.; Li, S.; Guillevic, M.; Mitrevski, B.; et al. Atmospheric histories and emissions of chlorofluorocarbons CFC-13 (CClF3), ΣCFC-114 (C2Cl2F4), and CFC-115 (C2ClF5). Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2018, 18 (2), 979-1002. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-979-2018