Sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane: An inventory and mathematical model of temporal trends
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Southern California Edison Co., Rosemead, CA (United States)
Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the greenhouse effect are well-documented facts, but the timing and magnitude of the resultant global warming are subject to some debate. To resolve this debate, there is a need to know how fast global sinks have been removing atmospheric CO{sub 2}, during the time when human activities have had an effect on the carbon cycle. If the historical removal rates are known for atmospheric CO{sub 2}, one can predict how long it will take to remove anthropogenic CO{sub 2} from the atmosphere. It may also be possible to infer a mechanism for this C removal. The inventory of atmospheric CO{sub 2} sources forms the basis of a simple mathematical model that has been developed to describe the quantitative nature of the global CO{sub 2} sink. The model uses equations to describe the course of atmospheric CO{sub 2} removal over time. This approach is analogous to kinetic models for chemical reactions and lives insight into the mechanisms for the processes involved. The source inventory includes temporal trends in CO{sub 2} emissions from methane oxidation and volcanism. The calculation of annual methane oxidation rates that were comparable with emission rates from other sources required the estimation of annual CH{sub 4} emission rates back to A.D. 1850, about the time of the industrial revolution.
- OSTI ID:
- 182794
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940426-; ISBN 0-923204-11-3; TRN: IM9608%%159
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International conference on global climate change: science, policy and mitigation strategies, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 5-8 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Global climate change: Science, policy, and mitigation strategies. Proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association international specialty conference; Mathai, C.V. [ed.] [Arizona Public Service Co., Phoenix, AZ (United States)]; Stensland, G. [ed.] [Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL (United States)]; PB: 1117 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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