Aspendale CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research opens air archive for first time in 20 years
Ever wanted to smell 40-year-old air? Well you can’t — but you can find out why the CSIRO stores it during their upcoming open day.
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The CSIRO is throwing open the doors on its Aspendale Marine and Atmospheric Research centre for the first time in 20 years.
The open day will showcase work done at the Station St complex, which includes the agency’s priceless air archive.
The collection of air samples from Cape Grim, northwest Tasmania, dates back to the 1970s and provides valuable information about greenhouse and ozone depleting gases.
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Every three months researchers fill stainless steel flasks with about 1000 litres of pristine air, which is then stored at the Cape Grim Air Archive at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Aspendale.
CSIRO research scientist Dr Zoe Loh said the archive was initiated by Dr Paul Fraser in 1978.
“It’s the oldest air archive in the southern hemisphere and the cleanest in the world,” Dr Loh said.
“Without it we wouldn't have a historical record about some ozone depletion chemicals and their replacements.
“We can use that to determine the rate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are depleting and how the atmospheric concentrations of CFC replacement chemicals have grown.”
The archive also houses a scuba tank containing what is thought to be the oldest verifiable air in the world.
That tank was donated by diver John Allport.
Mr Allport had the tank filled in Melbourne in 1968 but never got around to using it.
He later donated it to the CSIRO after hearing about the air archive.
Mr Allports actions sparked a spate of similar donations with many old scuba tanks now forming part of the archive.
The open day is on Friday, March 1 from 3-8pm.
Those attending the free event will be able to see how smoke from bushfires is forecast, discover how bubbles trapped in polar ice are used to learn about ancient atmospheres and talk to experts about climate change as part of a Q and A panel.
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