Open AccessConcentration and stable carbon isotopic composition of ethane and benzene using a global three‐dimensional isotope inclusive chemical tracer model
Author(s) -
Thompson Alexandra,
Rudolph Jochen,
Rohrer Franz,
Stein Olaf
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2002jd002883
Subject(s) - benzene , tracer , atmospheric chemistry , carbon fibers , isotopes of carbon , stable isotope ratio , isotope , fractionation , atmosphere (unit) , mass independent fractionation , isotope fractionation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , kinetic isotope effect , materials science , meteorology , deuterium , ozone , total organic carbon , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , composite number , composite material
A three‐dimensional global chemical tracer model of the atmosphere has been adapted to include the stable carbon isotopic composition and isotopic fractionation of ethane and benzene. For computational efficiency the chemistry was based on a prescribed OH‐radical concentration field, and therefore the feedback of ethane and benzene chemistry on the atmospheric OH‐radical concentrations was not considered. The Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) V2.0 emission database used needed to be scaled by a factor of 2.22 in order to have good agreement between observed and modeled concentrations. Modeled isotopic compositions were consistent with the few published observations. The global distribution of modeled stable carbon isotope ratios and the derived mean photochemical ages of ethane and benzene are presented. The model predicts distinct regimes of photochemical aging and air mass mixing for polar regions.