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A novel approach for independent budgeting of fossil fuel CO 2 over Europe by 14 CO 2 observations
Author(s) -
Levin Ingeborg,
Kromer Bernd,
Schmidt Martina,
Sartorius Hartmut
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018477
Subject(s) - fossil fuel , environmental science , seasonality , tracer , atmospheric emissions , radon , atmospheric sciences , physical geography , meteorology , climatology , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , geography , chemistry , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , biology , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics
Long‐term atmospheric 14 CO 2 observations are used to quantify fossil fuel‐derived CO 2 concentrations at a regional polluted site, and at a continental mountain station in southwest Germany. Fossil fuel CO 2 emission rates for the relevant catchment areas are obtained by applying the Radon‐Tracer‐Method. They compare well with statistical emissions inventories but reveal a larger seasonality than earlier assumed, thus contributing significantly to the observed CO 2 seasonal cycle over Europe. Based on the present approach, emissions reductions on the order of 5–10% are detectable for catchment areas of several hundred kilometres radius, as anticipated within a five‐years commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Still, no significant change of fossil fuel CO 2 emissions is observed at the two sites over the last 16 years.