China Meteorological Administration (CMA) released China's Greenhouse Gas Bulletin 2020 on Thursday, reporting major greenhouse gases (GHGs) monitoring data of China in 2020.  

China has established seven national atmosphere watch stations, of which Waliguan station in northwest China's Qinghai Province is one of the global atmosphere watch stations deployed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to Waliguan station, the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were 414.3±0.2 parts per million (ppm), 1944±0.7 parts per billion (ppb) and 333.8±0.1 ppb, respectively, which were similar to the average concentrations in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The increase of carbon dioxide concentration was about 2.5 ppm compared with 2019, which was in line with the global increase. Compared with 2019, the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane monitored by the other six stations all increased.

According to the WMO GHG Bulletin 2020 released on October 25, 2021, the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were 413.2±0.2 ppm parts, 1889±2 ppb and 333.2±0.1 ppb. The increase of carbon dioxide concentration was about 2.5 ppm compared with 2019, continuously exceeding the highest point on record.

An atmosphere watch station is in charge of monitoring the variability and trends in atmospheric composition, covering GHGs, ozone, and other related reactive gases.

GHGs are capable of absorbing infrared radiation reflected from Earth to space, and therefore trapping the heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.

China will further improve its atmosphere monitoring ability by building more national atmosphere watch stations during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and adopting several satellite-based monitoring measures, to provide concrete statistical support for realizing "dual carbon" goals.

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