The spatial distribution of fossil fuel CO2 traced by Δ(14)C in the leaves of gingko (Ginkgo biloba L.) in Beijing City, China

Zhenchuan Niu; Weijian Zhou; Xiaoshan Zhang; Sen Wang; Dongxia Zhang; Xuefeng Lu; Peng Cheng; Shugang Wu; Xiaohu Xiong; Hua Du; Yunchong Fu

doi:10.1007/s11356-015-5211-2

The spatial distribution of fossil fuel CO2 traced by Δ(14)C in the leaves of gingko (Ginkgo biloba L.) in Beijing City, China

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016 Jan;23(1):556-62. doi: 10.1007/s11356-015-5211-2. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

Authors

Zhenchuan Niu^{1

2

3

4}, Weijian Zhou^{5

6}, Xiaoshan Zhang⁷, Sen Wang⁸, Dongxia Zhang^{5

6}, Xuefeng Lu^{5

6}, Peng Cheng^{5

6}, Shugang Wu^{5

6}, Xiaohu Xiong^{5

6}, Hua Du^{5

6}, Yunchong Fu^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China. niuzc@ieecas.cn.
² Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China. niuzc@ieecas.cn.
³ Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. niuzc@ieecas.cn.
⁴ Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, National Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry in Xi'an, Xi'an, China. niuzc@ieecas.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China.
⁶ Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, National Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry in Xi'an, Xi'an, China.
⁷ Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁸ Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.

PMID: 26330310
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5211-2

Abstract

Atmospheric fossil fuel CO2 (CO2ff ) information is an important reference for local government to formulate energy-saving and emission reduction in China. The CO2ff spatial distribution in Beijing City was traced by Δ(14)C in the leaves of gingko (Ginkgo biloba L.) from late March to September in 2009. The Δ(14)C values were in the range of -35.2 ± 2.8∼15.5 ± 3.2 ‰ (average 3.4 ± 11.8 ‰), with high values found at suburban sites (average 12.8 ± 3.1 ‰) and low values at road sites (average -8.4 ± 18.1 ‰). The CO2ff concentrations varied from 11.6 ± 3.7 to 32.5 ± 9.0 ppm, with an average of 16.4 ± 4.9 ppm. The CO2ff distribution in Beijing City showed spatial heterogeneity. CO2ff hotspots were found at road sites resulted from the emission from vehicles, while low CO2ff concentrations were found at suburban sites because of the less usage of fossil fuels. Additionally, CO2ff concentrations in the northwest area were generally higher than those in the southeast area due to the disadvantageous topography.

Keywords: Beijing City; Fossil fuel CO2; Gingko leaves; Spatial distribution; Δ14C.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Beijing
Carbon Dioxide / analysis*
Carbon Isotopes / analysis
Cities
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Fossil Fuels / analysis*
Ginkgo biloba / chemistry*
Plant Leaves / chemistry*

Substances

Air Pollutants
Carbon Isotopes
Fossil Fuels
Carbon Dioxide