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  1. null (Ed.)
    Abstract. Important uncertainties remain in our understanding of the spatial andtemporal variability of atmospheric hydroxyl radical concentration ([OH]).Carbon-14-containing carbon monoxide (14CO) is a useful tracer that canhelp in the characterization of [OH] variability. Prior measurements ofatmospheric 14CO concentration ([14CO] are limited in both theirspatial and temporal extent, partly due to the very large air sample volumes that have been required for measurements (500–1000 L at standardtemperature and pressure, L STP) and the difficulty and expense associatedwith the collection, shipment, and processing of such samples. Here wepresent a new method that reduces the air sample volume requirement to≈90 L STP while allowing for [14CO] measurement uncertainties that are on par with or better than prior work (≈3 % or better, 1σ). The method also for the first time includes accurate characterization of the overall procedural [14CO] blank associated with individual samples, which is a key improvement over prior atmospheric 14CO work. The method was used to make measurements of [14CO] at the NOAA Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, USA, between November 2017 and November 2018. The measurements show the expected [14CO] seasonal cycle (lowest in summer)and are in good agreement with prior [14CO] results from anotherlow-latitude site in the Northern Hemisphere. The lowest overall [14CO]uncertainties (2.1 %, 1σ) are achieved for samples that aredirectly accompanied by procedural blanks and whose mass is increased to≈50 µgC (micrograms of carbon) prior to the 14Cmeasurement via dilution with a high-CO 14C-depleted gas. 
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