Ground-based monitoring of CO and H2O total content in the atmosphere over Beijing

Measurements of CO and H2O total content in the atmosphere by using ground-based solar spectroscopic system were conducted in Beijing since 1992. Measurements have been done every year during time period of late autumn and early winter when the heating activities started in the most places of Northern China. So the impact of human activities on CO variation can be assessed based on the obtained results. Brief description of the used spectroscopic method is introduced. Some variation characteristics of CO and H2O total content in the atmosphere over Beijing, the background value of CO content in Beijing area and variation trend of CO and H2O content in the last 8 years are given and discussed in this paper. Results show evident daily and seasonal variations of CO and H2O content, and heating activities in Northern China have a remarkable influence on CO content in the atmosphere. On average, CO total content in the atmosphere over Beijing area maintains a high level (about 0.130-0.150 atm-cm) all along, and no clear annual variation tendency of CO column content was observed since 1996 in Beijing area.