Measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), carbon monoxide (CO) and a suite of halocarbons and other trace gases have been taken at Tacolneston tall tower as part of the UK DECC (Deriving Emissions linked to Climate Change) Network.

Tacolneston (TAC) is a rural UK site located on the in the east of England, 16 km south-west of Norwich (population ~200,000), and 32 km east of Thetford (population ~20,000), in Norfolk, UK.

Three gas chromatography instruments measured atmospheric N2O, SF6, CO, H2 and other trace gas species from an inlet positioned at a height of 100 m above ground level between 2012-01-01 and 2017-03-09. The inlet height was then changed to 185 m above ground level. Two instruments (GC-RGA and GC-ECD) were decommissioned on 2018-03-13. The remaining two continue to operate. Two laser-based instruments have been used to measure CO2, CH4, N2O and CO from inlet heights of 54 m, 100 m, and 185 m above ground level. Due to the location of the site, far from strong sources of local pollution, measurements from this site can be used to calculate emission maps of trace gas species in the UK in combination with other measurement stations in the UK (Bilsdale, Ridge Hill and Heathfield) and Ireland (Mace Head).

This work was funded by Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) contracts TRN1028/06/2015 and TRN1537/06/2018 to the University of Bristol.