About the Cape Grim program

The Cape Grim program, established by the Australian Government to monitor and study global atmospheric composition, is a joint responsibility of the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). A Management Group, consisting of one senior staff member from each of the two major collaborative institutions, supervises the program's two components:

• The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station (CGBAPS) facility. The Bureau is responsible for the funding and management of the station's operation and liaison with the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme on relevant policy and program coordination aspects.

• The associated research component which combines the collaborative efforts of a number of Australian and international institutions. The major scientific leadership is centred on the relevant activities of CSIRO Atmospheric Research.

A Working Group, consisting of the station Officer in Charge (OiC), lead scientists and other specialists appointed by the Management Group provides advice to the OiC and the Management Group concerning the overall program. Each lead scientist is responsible for a defined scientific program. The station's activities, data and research results are reported annually in the program publication "Baseline".

The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station began taking samples of the atmosphere over twenty years ago. Since the first sampling began in April 1976, there have been more that 3 billion measurements taken. Among these are measurements of green house gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide as well as chemicals which deplete the ozone layer.

Since the station first began in 1976, a 10% increase in carbon dioxide (one of the main greenhouse gases) has been measured. In addition long term records of aerosol particulates, radon and solar radiation have been obtained. As well as monitoring a wide range of atmospheric trace gases, Cape Grim measures concentrations of natural and anthropogenic particles, and meteorological parameters 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.