Mace Head

-CO-

Station Characteristics Name : Mace Head Country : Ireland GAW Category : Global Platform : Ground base Location : 53.33ºN   9.90ºW   8m a.m.s.l. Time Zone : UTC Address : Organization : National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI) Description : Located on the west coast of Ireland, the Atmospheric Research Station at Mace Head, Carna, County Galway is unique in Europe, offering westerly exposure to the North Atlantic ocean (clean sector, 180 degrees through west to 300 degrees) and the opportunity to study atmospheric composition under Northern Hemispheric background conditions as well as European continental emissions when the winds favour transport from that region. The meteorological records show that on average, over 60% of the air masses arrive at the station via the clean sector. These air masses are ideal for carrying out background aerosol and trace gas measurements. Significant pollution events also occur at the site when European continental air masses, generally originating from an easterly direction, reach Mace Head. The Mace Head research station, is uniquely positioned for resolving these different air masses and for comparative studies of their constituents and characteristics.