Measuring & Analyzing Greenhouse Gases: Behind the Scenes

The picture to the right shows the flasks used to collect samples of ambient air across the world. Most of the time they travel in pairs to the sampling locations because the air samples are taken in pairs. The numbers on the flasks are used to document in the database at the Flask Logistics Lab whether that flask is out in the field or in the lab. Each flask is surrounded with tape or plastic to protect the glass, but sometimes even that is not enough if the flasks are dropped.

All air flasks are shipped in a foam-cushioned box to prevent damage, but unfortunately this isn't always enough when shipping companies treat the boxes with little care. In fact, roughly 2% of the flasks that are shipped out come back damaged every year. Luckily scientists here at the CCGG Boulder Central Facility continue to come up with ways to keep the air flasks safe during transport. The foam packaging is a fairly new technique, and the blue-colored flasks actually have a baked-on insulated coating.

This device is used to actually pull the outside air into the air flasks to take a sample. It consists of an extendable air intake line, a pump, and tubing to connect two air flasks for air sampling. These devices are fairly automated and come with directions that are easy to follow, which is necessary because some of the volunteers that take air samples for the CCGG group are not scientists. In fact, a lady in Mongolia takes surface flasks samples for us every week and takes a train ride 10 hours to have them shipped back to us here at the CCGG Boulder Central Facility.