C-2 C-5 HYDROCARBONS IN RURAL SOUTH NORWAY

Measurements for the year from May 1987 to May 1988 of individual light hydrocarbons sampled at a rural site close to the coast in south Norway are presented. Spot samples were taken approx. every second day in steel canisters and analysed for C2-C5 hydrocarbons. Alkanes dominated in the samples, with ethane and propane making up about 50% of the total on a C-basis. The concentrations of the alkanes and acetylene peaked in February 1988, while the alkenes had a secondary summer maximum as well. The maximum sum C2-C5 concentration measured was 52.6 ppbC while the average of the samples was 19.1 ppbC. The individual hydrocarbons are quite well correlated with primary pollutants (NO2 and SO2) while there is no correlation with O3 or sulphate aerosol.