Atmospheric molecular hydrogen (H2) at the Shangdianzi regional background station in China

Abstract

Atmospheric molecular hydrogen (H2) mole fractions have been continuously measured at the Shangdianzi regional station in China. In this study, we present the atmospheric H2 time series from January 2015 to April 2016, and investigate the diurnal and seasonal cycles, and the impact of meteorological factors on the observed values. Atmospheric H2 mole fractions at Shangdianzi vary from a minimum of 381 ppb (parts per billion, 10−9 dry air mole fraction) to a maximum of 1535 ppb, with a median of 510 ppb and a mean (± standard deviation) of 555 ± 113 ppb during the observation period. The results indicate that H2 mole fractions at Shangdianzi are frequently influenced by local sources and sinks. Regionally representative conditions account for 44.7% of the total records with a mean mole fraction of 488 ± 20 ppb. The highest regionally representative H2 mole fraction is observed in July, while the lowest is observed in October. Peak-to-trough amplitude in the seasonal cycle is 63 ± 3 ppb. H2 mole fractions show nighttime depletion in all seasons, with the lowest values in the morning (7:00–10:00 local time). The H2 mole fractions are also influenced by local surface wind direction at Shangdianzi. Winds from NW-NNW-N-NNE-NE-ENE-E directions are always associated with negative contribution to atmospheric H2 loading, whereas winds from SSW-SW-WSW-W directions generally enhance the H2 values. The results of trajectory clustering analysis demonstrate that air masses from a southerly direction induce high H2 mole fractions. Conversely, mean H2 mole fractions are low when air masses are from the north, northwest, and east directions.