A novel approach for independent budgeting of fossil fuel CO2 over Europe by 14CO2 observations
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.
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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
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...The long-term mean of 14C-free fossil- fuel CO2 contribution to this record is 1.4 ppm (1 ppm in summer and 1.7 ppm in winter) for the period 1986–2001, which is equivalent to a dilution effect of ~4‰ (Levin et al. 2003)....
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University of Leicester1, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences2, Centre national de la recherche scientifique3, Earth System Research Laboratory4, Norwegian Institute for Air Research5, United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs6, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology7, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis8, Danish Meteorological Institute9, Paul Scherrer Institute10, ETH Zurich11, University of California, Irvine12, University of Leeds13, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki14, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne15, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory16, National Center for Atmospheric Research17, Stockholm University18, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology19, Forschungszentrum Jülich20, University of Oslo21, Max Planck Society22, University of Helsinki23, Joseph Fourier University24, Blaise Pascal University25, University of York26, University of Toulouse27, University of Urbino28, University of Manchester29, National University of Ireland, Galway30, University of Edinburgh31, Heidelberg University32, University of East Anglia33, Weizmann Institute of Science34, Chalmers University of Technology35, Norwegian Meteorological Institute36, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands37, University of Stuttgart38, VU University Amsterdam39
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
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
Cites background from "A novel approach for independent bu..."
...In addition, CO2 from fossil fuel, which Reporting and Calibration of Post-Bomb 14C Data 1301 is depleted in 14C, is non-uniformly distributed and can be a substantial contribution of carbon to a sample (Levin et al. 2003)....
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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
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TL;DR: In this article, standards for reporting C-14 age determinations are discussed, and the statistical uncertainty (plus or minus one standard deviation) expresses counting errors, inaccuracies in voltage, pressure, temperature, dilution, and should include errors in C-13 ratios.
Abstract: Standards for reporting C-14 age determinations are discussed. All dates should be related either directly or indirectly to the NBS oxalic acid standard. Corrections for isotopic fractionation are also desirable. For some materials, particularly marine shell, corrections for reservoir effect are necessary, but these should always be reported separately from the conventional radiocarbon age. The statistical uncertainty (plus or minus one standard deviation) expresses counting errors, inaccuracies in voltage, pressure, temperature, dilution, and should include errors in C-13 ratios. Errors can be significant when isotope ratios are estimated rather than measured directly. The error in the conventional C-14 half life is not included. The article includes tables indicating what data should be reported.
5,579 citations
"A novel approach for independent bu..." refers background in this paper
...…atmosphere (14C Suess effect [Suess, 1955]) and by nuclear bomb tests primarily in the 1950s and 1960s (Figure 1a; the 14C/12C isotope ratio in CO2 is expressed on the 14C scale as deviation from an internationally accepted standard material (NBS Oxalic Acid) in permil [Stuiver and Polach, 1977])....
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560 citations
"A novel approach for independent bu..." refers background in this paper
...…of 14CO2 in the atmosphere has been disturbed by human activities via the ongoing input of fossil fuel CO2 into the atmosphere (14C Suess effect [Suess, 1955]) and by nuclear bomb tests primarily in the 1950s and 1960s (Figure 1a; the 14C/12C isotope ratio in CO2 is expressed on the 14C scale…...
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Book•
05 Jul 1994
TL;DR: Workbook of Atmosphere Dispersion Estmiates as discussed by the authors, a workbook of atmosphere dispersion in buildings, is a popular reference book for urban planning. ǫ.
Abstract: Workbook of Atmosphere Dispersion Estmiates , Workbook of Atmosphere Dispersion Estmiates , کتابخانه الکترونیک و دیجیتال - آذرسا
352 citations
TL;DR: The role of the terrestrial biosphere as a sink of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is still poorly understood as discussed by the authors, however, it is known that the world oceans are the most important carbon reservoir, with a buffering capacity for atmospheric CO2 largest on time scales of centuries and longer.
Abstract: Climate on earth strongly depends on the radiative balance of its atmosphere, and, thus, on the abundance of the radiatively active greenhouse gases. Largely due to human activities since the Industrial Revolution, the atmospheric burden of many greenhouse gases has increased dramatically. Direct measurements during the last decades and analysis of ancient air trapped in ice from polar regions allow to quantify the change of these trace gas concentrations in the atmosphere. From a presumably "undisturbed" pre-industrial situation several hundred years ago until today, the CO2 mixing ratio increased by almost 30%. In the last decades this increase was nearly exponential, leading to a global mean CO2 mixing ratio of almost 370 ppm by the turn of the millenium. The atmospheric abundance of CO2 the main greenhouse gas containing carbon, is strongly controlled by exchange with the organic and inorganic carbon reservoirs. The world oceans are definitely the most important carbon reservoir, with a buffering capacity for atmospheric CO2 largest on time scales of centuries and longer. In contrast, the buffering capacity of the terrestrial biosphere is largest on shorter time scales from decades to centuries. Although today equally important, the role of the terrestrial biosphere as a sink of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is still poorly understood. Any prediction of future climate strongly relies on an accurate knowledge of the greenhouse gas concentrations in the present day atmosphere, and of their development in the future. This implies the need to quantitatively understand their natural geophysical and biochemical cycles including the important perturbations by man's impact. In attempting to disentangle the complexity of these cycles, Radiocarbon observations have played a crucial role as an experimental tool enlightening the spatial and temporal variability of carbon sources and sinks. Studies of the “undisturbed” natural carbon cycle profit from the radioactive decay of 14C in using it as a dating tracer, e.g. to determine the turnover time of soil organic matter or to study internal mixing rates of the global oceans. Moreover, the anthropogenic disturbance of 14C through atmospheric bomb tests has served as an invaluable tracer to get insight into the global carbon cycle on the decadal time scale.
349 citations