On the isotopic composition of carbon in soil carbon dioxide

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(91)90498-T· OSTI ID:5246044

Cerling, T E; Solomon, D K; Quade, J; Bowman, J R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City (United States)

In this study it is shown that the isotopic composition of carbon in soil Co{sub 2} differs from the isotopic composition of carbon in soil-respired CO{sub 2}. Soil CO{sub 2} collected from a montane soil has an endmember {delta}{sup 13}C value of {minus}23.3% whereas soil-respired CO{sub 2} in this system has a {delta}{sup 13}C value of {minus}27.5%. This difference is very close to the theoretical difference of 4.4% which is predicted by the difference in the diffusion coefficients for {sup 12}CO{sub 2} and {sup 13}CO{sub 2}. Because of the measured and the theoretical difference between the isotopic composition of carbon in soil CO{sub 2} and soil-respired CO{sub 2} it is suggested that, in the future, a distinction should be made between them.

• OSTI ID: 5246044
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 55:11; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
AIR FLOW
CARBON 13
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DIFFUSION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
STABLE ISOTOPES