Seasonal and latitudinal variation of /sup 14/CO and the tropospheric concentration of OH radicals

Journal Article · Sat Jun 20 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC086iC06p05163· OSTI ID:6225436

Volz, A; Ehhalt, D H; Derwent, R G

Ground-based measurements of the concentration of /sup 14/CO are reported. The data exhibit a well-defined seasonal variation at mid-latitudes with a maximum of 25 +- 2 molecule cm/sup -3/ during winter and a minium of 11 +- 1 molecule cm/sup -3/ during summer. The measurements also indicate a strong latitudinal variation, with the lower concentrations occurring in the tropics. The data are interpreted using a 2-D time-dependent model. To balance the sources of both /sup 14/CO and /sup 12/CO, an average tropospheric OH concentration of (6.5/sup +3//sub -/2) x 10/sup 5/ molecule cm/sup -3/ is required. In addition, the /sup 12/CO production rate from biological processes including the oxidation of nonmethane hydrocarbons is found to be 1250 x 10/sup 12/ g CO yr/sup -1/.

• Research Organization: Institut fuer Chemie III, Atmosphaerische Chemie, Kernforschungsanlage, 5170 Juelich, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 6225436
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:C6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABUNDANCE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON 14
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
ISOTOPES
LATITUDE EFFECT
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADICALS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TROPOSPHERE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES