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Estimation of Long-Term Trends in the Tropospheric 14CO2 Activity Concentration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

I Svetlik*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Na Truhlarce 39/64, CZ-180 86 Prague, Czech Republic
P P Povinec
Affiliation:
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, SK-842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia
M Molnár
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (ATOMKI), Bem tér 18/c, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
F Meinhardt
Affiliation:
Federal Environmental Agency, Schauinsland station, P.O. 1229, 79196 Kirchzarten, Germany
V Michálek
Affiliation:
National Radiation Protection Institute, Bartoskova 28, CZ-140 00 Prague, Czech Republic
J Simon
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina, SK-010 26 Žilina, Slovakia
É Svingor
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (ATOMKI), Bem tér 18/c, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary
*
Corresponding author. Email: svetlik@ujf.cas.cz
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Abstract

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Fossil CO2 emissions have been diluting the global 14C/C ratio of atmospheric CO2 (Suess effect). We estimated the 14CO2 amount in the atmosphere (and its trend) utilizing the calculated 14CO2 activity concentration in the atmosphere (aacn, reported in mBq m–3). This parameter, calculated from Δ14CO2 and the CO2 mixing ratio (reported in micromoles of CO2 per mole of air), is connected with the 14CO2 quantity in the volume or mass unit of air, which is not influenced by the Suess effect. This parameter can only be influenced by processes linked to 14CO2 emissions/uptake, e.g. associated with atmosphere-biosphere or atmosphere-ocean CO2 exchange as well as by anthropogenic emissions of 14CO2. Results obtained from measurements at Schauinsland station, Germany, indicate a stable amount of 14CO2 in the atmosphere since the early 1990s.

Type
Methods, Applications, and Developments
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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