CO/sub 2/ and Randon 222 as tracers for atmospheric transport

Journal Article · Sat Feb 19 23:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC088iC02p01309· OSTI ID:6307763

Doerr, H; Kromer, B; Levin, I; Muennich, K O; Volpp, H

Time variations of the CO/sub 2/ concentration and the randon 222 daughter activity in the atmosphere are observed 16 m above the ground in the outskirts of Heidelberg (Germany), situated in the rather densely populated and intensively cultivated upper Rhine valley. These parallel recorded data series are used to estimate the CO/sub 2/ respiration rate from the soil and from plant leaves. Atmospheric concentration variations of both gases appear to be merely due to variations in atmospheric mixing. From direct measurements of concentration variations of both gases appear to be merely due to variations in atmospheric mixing. From direct measurements of concentration profiles in the soil air we deduce the /sup 222/Rn exhalation rate, which is nearly constant with time and about 4000 dpm m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/. This flux is consistent with the one derived from observed pileup of the /sup 222/Rn activity of an air mass during passage over the continent. The constant /sup 222/Rn exhalation rate quoted serves as a reference for atmospheric dilution of the soilborne CO/sub 2/. The comparison of the two concentrations leads to a total CO/sub 2/ respiration flux to the atmosphere of 21 mmol CO/sub 2/ m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ for a short time period in August 1980. Direct measurements derived from CO/sub 2/ concentration profiles in the soil yield an average regional CO/sub 2/ flux from the soil alone of 12 mmol m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ with a maximum of 20 mmol m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ in June and July and a minimum of 3 mmol m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ or less in winter. The different /sup 222/Rn exhalation rates from the continent and ocean (where it is smaller by 2 orders of magnitude) are further used to identify the continental or the maritime origin of air masses.

• Research Organization: Institute fuer Umweltphysik, University of Heidelberg, D-6900 Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 6307763
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:C2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOSPHERE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEGASSING
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MIXING
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
SURFACE AIR
WIND