Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station.

Cape Grim, Tas (Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station)

The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, funded and managed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, detects atmospheric changes as part of a scientific research program jointly supervised by CSIRO's Marine & Atmospheric Research Division and the Bureau.

• 13 February 2008 | Updated 17 January 2012

• Greenhouse gas observations
• Meteorological monitoring
• Key objectives of the research at Cape Grim

The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, located in remote north-western Tasmania, provides vital information about changes to the atmospheric composition of the Southern Hemisphere.

Greenhouse gas observations

Extensive data is collected for studies of sources and sinks of greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases.

Uses for this information include assessments of likely future atmospheric concentrations.

As well as monitoring a wide range of atmospheric trace gases, scientists at Cape Grim measure concentrations of natural and pollutant particles.

Meteorological monitoring

Meteorological information is collected including wind speed and direction, rainfall, temperature, humidity and air pressure.

Sophisticated measurements of solar radiation, including harmful UV-B radiation are also carried out.

Key objectives of the research at Cape Grim

Key objectives of the research at Cape Grim include:

• the maintenance of long-term high precision measurements of atmospheric composition
• identification of the processes that influence atmospheric composition at Cape Grim, and their spatial scales
• testing current hypotheses concerning tropospheric chemistry through comprehensive measurements and modelling.

Find out more about how CSIRO is Researching our climate and weather.