Radiocarbon observations in atmospheric CO2: determining fossil fuel CO2 over Europe using Jungfraujoch observations as background

Ingeborg Levin; Samuel Hammer; Bernd Kromer; Frank Meinhardt

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.019

Radiocarbon observations in atmospheric CO2: determining fossil fuel CO2 over Europe using Jungfraujoch observations as background

Sci Total Environ. 2008 Mar 1;391(2-3):211-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.019. Epub 2007 Nov 26.

Authors

Ingeborg Levin¹, Samuel Hammer, Bernd Kromer, Frank Meinhardt

Affiliation

¹ Institut für Umweltphysik, University of Heidelberg, INF 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Ingeborg.Levin@iup.uni-heidelberg.de

PMID: 18037473
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.019

Abstract

Monthly mean 14CO2 observations at two regional stations in Germany (Schauinsland observatory, Black Forest, and Heidelberg, upper Rhine valley) are compared with free tropospheric background measurements at the High Alpine Research Station Jungfraujoch (Swiss Alps) to estimate the regional fossil fuel CO2 surplus at the regional stations. The long-term mean fossil fuel CO2 surplus at Schauinsland is 1.31+/-0.09 ppm while it is 10.96+/-0.20 ppm in Heidelberg. No significant trend is observed at both sites over the last 20 years. Strong seasonal variations of the fossil fuel CO2 offsets indicate a strong seasonality of emissions but also of atmospheric dilution of ground level emissions by vertical mixing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Carbon Dioxide / analysis*
Carbon Radioisotopes / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Fossil Fuels*
Germany
Switzerland

Substances

Air Pollutants
Carbon Radioisotopes
Fossil Fuels
Carbon Dioxide