A synthesis of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel combustion

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Biogeosciences Discussions

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-9-1299-2012· OSTI ID:1038508

Andres, Robert Joseph ^[1]; Boden, Thomas A ^[1]; Breon, F -M ^[2]; Ciais, P ^[3]; Davis, S ^[4]; Erickson, D ^[5]; Gregg, J S ^[6]; Jacobson, Andrew ^[7]; Marland, Gregg ^[8]; Miller, J ^[7]; Oda, T ^[9]; Oliver, J G. J. ^[10]; Raupach, Michael ^[11]; Rayner, P ^[12]; Treanton, K ^[13]

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1. ORNL
2. CEA/DSM/LSCE, Gif sur Yvette, France
3. LSCE/CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
4. Carnegie Institution of Washington
5. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
6. Riso National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark
7. NOAA ESRL and CIRES
8. Appalachian State University
9. NOAA ESRL/Boulder, CO/Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State Univ.
10. PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
11. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
12. University of Melbourne, Australia
13. Energy Statistics Division, International Energy Agency, Paris, France

This synthesis discusses the emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel combustion and cement production. While much is known about these emissions, there is still much that is unknown about the details surrounding these emissions. This synthesis explores 5 our knowledge of these emissions in terms of why there is concern about them; how they are calculated; the major global efforts on inventorying them; their global, regional, and national totals at different spatial and temporal scales; how they are distributed on global grids (i.e. maps); how they are transported in models; and the uncertainties associated with these different aspects of the emissions. The magnitude of emissions 10 from the combustion of fossil fuels has been almost continuously increasing with time since fossil fuels were first used by humans. Despite events in some nations specifically designed to reduce emissions, or which have had emissions reduction as a byproduct of other events, global total emissions continue their general increase with time. Global total fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions are known to within 10% uncertainty (95% 15 confidence interval). Uncertainty on individual national total fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions range from a few percent to more than 50 %. The information discussed in this manuscript synthesizes global, regional and national fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions, their distributions, their transport, and the associated uncertainties.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1038508
• Journal Information: Biogeosciences Discussions, Journal Name: Biogeosciences Discussions Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 9; ISSN 1810-6285
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CEMENTS
COMBUSTION
FOSSIL FUELS
PRODUCTION
SYNTHESIS
TRANSPORT
cement production
emissions
fossil-fuel combustion