Vertical profiles of biospheric and fossil fuel-derived CO2 and fossil fuel CO2 : CO ratios from airborne measurements of Δ14C, CO2 and CO above Colorado, USA

Measurements of  Δ¹⁴C  in atmospheric CO₂ are an effective method of separating CO₂ additions from fossil fuel and biospheric sources or sinks of CO₂. We illustrate this technique with vertical profiles of CO₂ and  Δ¹⁴C  analysed in whole air flask samples collected above Colorado, USA in May and July 2004. Comparison of lower tropospheric composition to cleaner air at higher altitudes (>5 km) revealed considerable additions from respiration in the morning in both urban and rural locations. Afternoon concentrations were mainly governed by fossil fuel emissions and boundary layer depth, also showing net biospheric CO₂ uptake in some cases. We estimate local industrial CO₂:CO emission ratios using in situ measurements of CO concentration. Ratios are found to vary by 100% and average 57 mole CO₂:1 mole CO, higher than expected from emissions inventories. Uncertainty in CO₂ from different sources was ±1.1 to ±4.1 ppm for addition or uptake of −4.6 to 55.8 ppm, limited by  Δ¹⁴C  measurement precision and uncertainty in background  Δ¹⁴C  and CO₂ levels.     

东亚地区二氧化碳体积分数变化特征

利用2004年以来东亚地区10个本底观测站大气φ(CO₂)观测资料,分析了各站大气φ(CO₂)的变化特征及其各站之间的差异,讨论了下垫面特征、源汇作用等对φ(CO₂)变化的影响.结果表明:10个本底站大气月均φ(CO₂)有明显的季节变化,高值多出现在冬春等寒冷季节,而低值则多出现在6—9月,属于北半球的夏季;大气φ(CO₂)日变化趋势较为一致,15时(当地时间)前后达到全天最低,随后φ(CO₂)升高,并在日落后继续积累,至清晨7时(当地时间)前后达到全天最高,之后φ(CO₂)随着太阳辐射的增强而逐渐降低,且平均φ(CO₂)水平与下垫面植被量成反比,φ(CO₂)日变化的幅度与下垫面植被量成反比.作为全球基准站之一的瓦里关山站,2004—2008年φ(CO₂)年均值逐年增加,年增长率为2.28×10^-6/a.