CRUX-1.0: an automatic GHG and Ozone observation system for inland Antarctica Plateau

Abstract. Antarctic inland regions, as critical hubs for global climate change monitoring, suffer from a lack of reliable long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) observation systems due to extremely low temperatures, strong winds, and limited logistical/energy support. To address this gap, the CRUX-1.0 automatic observation system was developed and deployed at Taishan Station (inland Antarctic Plateau) during the 39th and 40th CHINARE (Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition), targeting simultaneous monitoring of CO2 and surface ozone (O3). Integrating four core subsystems – analysis, calibration, temperature control, and data communication – the system is specifically engineered for harsh polar environments with low power consumption (<350 W) and autonomous operation capability. The operational analysis based on a 1-month continuous field experiment showed its stable performance: CO2 measurements achieved a coefficient of variation (CV) <5.6 % (nearing 0 % post-calibration), while O3 measurements maintained a CV <5.6 %. The average mixing ratios (CO2: 420.7 ± 0.7 ppm; O3: 20.1 ± 0.8 ppb) closely aligned with regional background levels and South Pole Station data, confirming high reliability. As an unattended system with synchronous CO2/O3 measurement, low-power temperature control and automatic calibration, CRUX-1.0 shows good potential for long-term deployment in data-scarce polar inland regions.