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Title: Estimate of the biotic contribution to the atmospheric CO/sub 2/ increase based on direct measurements at Mauna Loa Observatory

Abstract

The CO/sub 2/ concentrations recorded at Mauna Loa Observatory from 1958-1983 were examined to detect the existence of any significant sources of CO/sub 2/ other than fossil fuel combustion. The observed annual CO/sub 2/ concentrations were compared with concentrations calculated assuming a number of hypothetical constant, nonfossil fuel emission scenarios added to the fossil fuel emissions. It was found that constant nonfossil fuel sources must have been 10% or less of the fossil fuel sources. This conclusion assumes that a constant fraction of the total emissions went into the oceans and that the nonfossil fuel emissions were invariant from year to year. When this latter restriction was relaxed, almost any nonfossil fuel source was possible if its history closely matched that of the fossil fuel emissions. We conclude that it is unlikely that biotic or other nonfossil fuel sources could have exceeded about 0.5 GT of carbon per year except in the unlikely event that they grew at a rate close to that of the fossil fuel emissions.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NOAA, Air Resources Laboratory, Silver Spring, Maryland
OSTI Identifier:
5667451
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 90:D2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; CARBON DIOXIDE; BIOSPHERE; FOSSIL FUELS; HAWAII; QUANTITY RATIO; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; ENERGY SOURCES; ENVIRONMENT; FEDERAL REGION IX; FUELS; NORTH AMERICA; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; USA; 500200* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Elliott, W P, Machta, L, and Keeling, C D. Estimate of the biotic contribution to the atmospheric CO/sub 2/ increase based on direct measurements at Mauna Loa Observatory. United States: N. p., 1985. Web. doi:10.1029/JD090iD02p03741.
Elliott, W P, Machta, L, & Keeling, C D. Estimate of the biotic contribution to the atmospheric CO/sub 2/ increase based on direct measurements at Mauna Loa Observatory. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/JD090iD02p03741
Elliott, W P, Machta, L, and Keeling, C D. 1985. "Estimate of the biotic contribution to the atmospheric CO/sub 2/ increase based on direct measurements at Mauna Loa Observatory". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/JD090iD02p03741.
@article{osti_5667451,
title = {Estimate of the biotic contribution to the atmospheric CO/sub 2/ increase based on direct measurements at Mauna Loa Observatory},
author = {Elliott, W P and Machta, L and Keeling, C D},
abstractNote = {The CO/sub 2/ concentrations recorded at Mauna Loa Observatory from 1958-1983 were examined to detect the existence of any significant sources of CO/sub 2/ other than fossil fuel combustion. The observed annual CO/sub 2/ concentrations were compared with concentrations calculated assuming a number of hypothetical constant, nonfossil fuel emission scenarios added to the fossil fuel emissions. It was found that constant nonfossil fuel sources must have been 10% or less of the fossil fuel sources. This conclusion assumes that a constant fraction of the total emissions went into the oceans and that the nonfossil fuel emissions were invariant from year to year. When this latter restriction was relaxed, almost any nonfossil fuel source was possible if its history closely matched that of the fossil fuel emissions. We conclude that it is unlikely that biotic or other nonfossil fuel sources could have exceeded about 0.5 GT of carbon per year except in the unlikely event that they grew at a rate close to that of the fossil fuel emissions.},
doi = {10.1029/JD090iD02p03741},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5667451}, journal = {J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 90:D2,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Apr 20 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Sat Apr 20 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}