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- The Cape Grim Air Archive (CGAA) was established in 1978 to preserve atmospheric air samples for future analysis.
- Cylinders used initially were repurposed from WWII military oxygen containers; later purpose-made electropolished cylinders were used.
- The archive has enabled measurements of over 100 trace gas species, aiding studies of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances.
- CGAA records are used in IPCC and Ozone Assessment reports, and link direct measurements with ice core data.
- Recent discoveries, like HCFC-133a, were traced back to 1978 using the archive.