China's implementation of a national carbon trading market to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requires reliable and timely information on GHG sources and impacts. Recent GHG monitoring and modeling studies provide new GHG emission estimates to help policymakers guide progress toward emission reductions.

"Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Application in China," a joint special issue of three journals - Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (AAS), Atmospheric and Ocean Science Letters, and Advances in Climate Change Research - details the latest observations and findings presented by researchers at the First China Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Conference held in Beijing between May 30 to 31 in 2019.

Reportings on carbon dioxide distribution in Xi'an City, ozone flux over a maize field, hydrofluorocarbon emissions in the Yangtze River delta and stratosphere-troposphere exchanges of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide above China, as well as other studies presented in this comprehensive AAS issue reflect China's improved atmospheric GHG measurement techniques.

"As a nation heavily impacted by climate change, China has implemented many actions to respond to this global challenge," said HAN Pengfei, from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. HAN is one of the organizers of the joint special issue.

"These efforts provide scientific understanding, technical support and solutions for major issues such as energy conservation and emissions reduction, carbon market transactions and low-carbon development," said HAN.

Along with this special issue, the China Carbon Monitoring Alliance was set up and a data resources platform was established to provide opportunities for collaborations.

Greenhouse gas emissions in cities (top) can be detected in remote areas (bottom) (Image by AAS)