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Urban Atmospheric 14CO and 14CH4 Measurements by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry∗

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

G A Klouda ,
L A Currie ,
D J Donahue ,
A J T Jull  and
M H Naylor
G A Klouda
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
L A Currie
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
D J Donahue
Affiliation:
NSF Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
A J T Jull
Affiliation:
NSF Facility for Radioisotope Analysis, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
M H Naylor
Affiliation:
Clark County Health District, Las Vegas, Nevada 89127
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Abstract

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Atmospheric gas samples (0.1m3) were collected at ground level during January/February 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada for 14C/13C accelerator mass spectrometry and total abundance measurements of CO and CH4. During winter months in this locale, CO concentrations can occur at 10 to 100 times background, occasionally exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Methane concentrations show a slight enhancement (∼24%) above the background (non-urban troposphere) level. A comparison of CO and CH4 concentrations shows a good linear correlation which may indicate a common source. Preliminary 14C/13C results of the two species suggest that fossil emissions are the predominant source of excess CO and CH4 in the samples taken. Estimates of anthropogenic CO and CH4 are important for source apportionment of combustion emissions. In addition, this information is valuable for understanding the global CO and CH4 cycles and, therefore, human impact on climate and the stratospheric ozone layer.

Type
VI. Anthropogenic Variations
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 28 , Issue 2A , 1986 , pp. 625 - 633
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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