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Hartmut Sartorius

Bio: Hartmut Sartorius is an academic researcher from IAR Systems. The author has contributed to research in topics: Monsoon & Ionization. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 23 publications receiving 945 citations.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Radon-Tracer-Method is applied to quantify fossil fuel derived CO2 concentrations at a regional polluted site, and at a continental mountain station in south-west Germany.
Abstract: Long-term atmospheric 14CO2 observations are deployed to quantify fossil fuel derived CO2 concentrations at a regional polluted site, and at a continental mountain station in south-west Germany. Fossil fuel CO2 emission rates for the relevant catchment areas are obtained by applying the Radon-Tracer-Method. They are shown to compare well with statistical emissions inventories but reveal a larger seasonality than assumed earlier, thus contributing significantly to the observed CO2 seasonal cycle over Europe. Based on the present approach, emissions reductions on the order of 5-10% are detectable for catchment areas of several hundred kilometres radius, as anticipated within a five-years commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Still no significant change of fossil fuel CO2 emissions is observed at the two sites over the last 16 years.

263 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1996-Tellus B
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the 4.4-year records of gas chromatographic carbon dioxide and methane observations from the continental mountain station Schauinsland in the Black Forest (Germany).
Abstract: 4-year records of gas chromatographic carbon dioxide and methane observations from the continental mountain station Schauinsland in the Black Forest (Germany) are presented. These data are supplemented by continuous atmospheric 222 Radon observations. The raw data of CO 2 concentration show a large seasonal cycle of about 16 ppm with monthly mean wintertime enhancements up to 10 ppm higher and summer minima up to 5 ppm lower than the maritime background level in this latitude. These offsets are caused by regional and continental scale CO 2 sources and sinks. The mean CH 4 concentration at Schauinsland is 31 ppb higher than over the Atlantic ocean, due to the European continent acting as a net source of atmospheric CH 4 throughout the year. No significant seasonal cycle of methane has been observed. The long term CO 2 and CH 4 increase rates at Schauinsland are found to be similar to background stations in the northern hemisphere, namely 1.5 ppm CO 2 yr −1 and 8 ppb CH 4 yr −1 . On the time scale of hours and days, the wintertime concentrations of all three trace gases are highly correlated, the mean ratio of CH 4 /CO 2 is 7.8 ± 1.0 ppb/ ppm. The wintertime monthly mean concentration offsets relative to the maritime background level show a CH 4 /CO 2 ratio of 6.5 ± 1.1 ppb/ ppm, thus, not significantly different from the short term ratio. Using the wintertime regressions of CO 2 and 222 Radon respectively CH 4 and 222 Radon we estimate winter time CO 2 flux densities of 10.4 ± 4.3 mmol CO 2 m −2 h −1 (from monthly mean offsets) and 6.4 ± 2.5 mmol CO 2 m −2 h −1 (from short term fluctuations) and winter time methane flux densities of 0.066 ± 0.034 mmol CH 4 m −2 h −1 (from monthly mean offsets) and 0.057 ± 0.022 mmole CH 4 m −2 h −1 (from short-term fluctuations). These flux estimates are in close agreement to CO 2 respectively CH 4 emission inventories reported for Germany from statistical data. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1994.t01-2-00002.x-i1

84 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a 3-year record of continuous gas chromatographic nitrous oxide (N2O) observations performed at the urban station Heidelberg (Germany) together with weekly flask data from a remote continental site, Schauinsland (Black Forest, Germany), and two-weekly integrated data from the maritime background station Izana (Canary Islands).
Abstract: We present a 3 year record of continuous gas chromatographic nitrous oxide (N2O) observations performed at the urban station Heidelberg (Germany) together with weekly flask data from a remote continental site, Schauinsland (Black Forest, Germany), and two-weekly integrated data from the maritime background station Izana (Canary Islands). These data are supplemented by continuous atmospheric radon 222 observations. Mean rates of increase of N2O of 0.70–0.78 ppb yr−1 were observed over the continent and in maritime background air (Izana). The well-mixed continental mixing ratio was found to be higher by only 1.1 ppb (Schauinsland) and 2.4 ppb (Heidelberg) than for maritime background air. Specially tailored data selection of the Heidelberg record allowed the changing influence of a regional N2O point source (adipic acid production, BASF AG) to be clearly identified. The radon (222Rn) tracer method was applied to nighttime N2O observations at Heidelberg to estimate mean regional emissions, which changed from (161 ± 32) μg N2O-N m−2 h−1 in 1996–1997 to (77 ± 10) μg N2O-N m−2 h−1 in 1998 as a consequence of 90% emission reduction from BASF. An estimate of the continental N2O flux from southwestern Europe based on further selected Heidelberg data (only well-mixed, late afternoon situations) and observations from the Schauinsland station yielded mean N2O fluxes of (43 ± 5) μg N2O-N m−2 h−1 and (42 ± 4) μg N2O-N m−2 h−1. These results compare well with statistical emissions inventories, when taking into account possible systematic errors of the radon tracer method of 30–35%.

79 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Emissions of all known reprocessing facilities, which are the main sources of (85)Kr in the atmosphere since 1945, for the years 1945 until 2000 are given, indicating that the emission inventory is realistic.

74 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a global radon emission map is put together using regional fluxes reported recently in the literature, and the radon-related ionization rate is calculated and compared to that caused by cosmic rays.
Abstract: . The radioactive decay of radon and its progeny can lead to ionization of air molecules and consequently influence aerosol size distribution. In order to provide a global estimate of the radon-related ionization rate, we use the global atmospheric model ECHAM5 to simulate transport and decay processes of the radioactive tracers. A global radon emission map is put together using regional fluxes reported recently in the literature. Near-surface radon concentrations simulated with this new map compare well with measurements. Radon-related ionization rate is calculated and compared to that caused by cosmic rays. The contribution of radon and its progeny clearly exceeds that of the cosmic rays in the mid- and low-latitude land areas in the surface layer. During cold seasons, at locations where high concentration of sulfuric acid gas and low temperature provide potentially favorable conditions for nucleation, the coexistence of high ionization rate may help enhance the particle formation processes. This suggests that it is probably worth investigating the impact of radon-induced ionization on aerosol-climate interaction in global models.

68 citations


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article presented a compilation of tropospheric 14 CO 2 for the period 1950-2010, based on published radiocarbon data from selected records of atmospheric CO 2 sampling and tree-ring series.
Abstract: We present a compilation of tropospheric 14 CO 2 for the period 1950–2010, based on published radiocarbon data from selected records of atmospheric CO 2 sampling and tree-ring series. This compilation is a new version of the compilation by Hua and Barbetti (2004) and consists of yearly summer data sets for zonal, hemispheric, and global levels of atmospheric 14 C. In addition, compiled (and extended) monthly data sets for 5 atmospheric zones (3 in the Northern Hemisphere and 2 in the Southern Hemisphere) are reported. The annual data sets are for use in regional and global carbon model calculations, while the extended monthly data sets serve as calibration curves for 14 C dating of recent, short-lived terrestrial organic materials. DOI: 10.2458/azu_js_rc.v55i2.16177

828 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the state of scientific understanding in relation to global and regional air quality is outlined in this article, in terms of emissions, processing and transport of trace gases and aerosols.

760 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the use of fraction modern with a new symbol F{sup 14}C to prevent confusion with the previously used Fm, which may or may not have been fractionation corrected.
Abstract: The definitive paper by Stuiver and Polach (1977) established the conventions for reporting of {sup 14}C data for chronological and geophysical studies based on the radioactive decay of {sup 14}C in the sample since the year of sample death or formation. Several ways of reporting {sup 14}C activity levels relative to a standard were also established, but no specific instructions were given for reporting nuclear weapons testing (post-bomb) {sup 14}C levels in samples. Because the use of post-bomb {sup 14}C is becoming more prevalent in forensics, biology, and geosciences, a convention needs to be adopted. We advocate the use of fraction modern with a new symbol F{sup 14}C to prevent confusion with the previously used Fm, which may or may not have been fractionation corrected. We also discuss the calibration of post-bomb {sup 14}C samples and the available datasets and compilations, but do not give a recommendation for a particular dataset.

640 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Jan 2009-Science
TL;DR: Using radiocarbon measurements of winter monsoon aerosols from western India and the Indian Ocean, it is determined that biomass combustion produced two-thirds of the bulk carbonaceous aerosols, as well as one-half and two- thirds of two black carbon subfractions, respectively.
Abstract: Carbonaceous aerosols cause strong atmospheric heating and large surface cooling that is as important to South Asian climate forcing as greenhouse gases, yet the aerosol sources are poorly understood. Emission inventory models suggest that biofuel burning accounts for 50 to 90% of emissions, whereas the elemental composition of ambient aerosols points to fossil fuel combustion. We used radiocarbon measurements of winter monsoon aerosols from western India and the Indian Ocean to determine that biomass combustion produced two-thirds of the bulk carbonaceous aerosols, as well as one-half and two-thirds of two black carbon subfractions, respectively. These constraints show that both biomass combustion (such as residential cooking and agricultural burning) and fossil fuel combustion should be targeted to mitigate climate effects and improve air quality.

633 citations