The network was created in 2011 by Professor Simon O'Doherty as an extension to long-term measurements at Mace Head, Ireland, that have been made since 1987 and is at the forefront of atmospheric greenhouse gas measurements within the UK.

The £4.6 million contract, awarded to ARCG group members Dr Kieran Stanley, Professor O'Doherty, Professor Matt Rigby, Dr Joe Pitt and a number of collaborators from other institutions, will verify and be included in the UK's national greenhouse gas inventory which is used by the UK government and is submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as part of the Paris Agreement.