Hydrocarbon measurements at rural Birkenes, South Norway, May 1987 - May 1988.

Analysis of spot samples of air taken approx. every second day at a rural site in south Norway for one year showed that alkanes dominated in the samples. Ethane and propane made up about 50% of the total on a C-basis. The sum of C2 - C5 hydrocarbons peaked at 52.6 ppb C in February 1988. The alkanes and acetylene had a distinct late winter peak. while the alkenes had a secondary summer maximum as well. The individual hydrocarbons are quite well correlated with N02 and SO2 but not with O3 or sulphate in air.