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On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} and its carbon isotopes

Abstract

The recent proposals to estimate the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} by monitoring the oceanic change in {sup 13}C/{sup 12}C isotope ratio or the air-sea {sup 13}C/{sup 12}C isotopic disequilibrium is reviewed. Because the history of atmospheric CO{sub 2} and {sup 13}CO{sub 2} since preindustrial times is almost the same, the oceanic penetration depth of both tracers must be the same. This dynamic constraint permits the establishment of yet a third method to estimate the global ocean uptake of CO{sub 2} from {sup 13}C measurements. Using available observations in conjunction with canonical values for the global carbon cycle parameters the three methods yield inconsistent oceanic CO{sub 2} uptake rates for the time period 1970-1990, ranging from 0 to over 3 GtC year{sup -1}. However, uncertainties in the available carbon cycle data must be taken into account. Using a non-linear estimation procedure, a consistent scenario with an oceanic CO{sub 2} uptake rate of 2.2{+-}0.8 GtC year{sup -1} can be established. The method also permits an investigation of the sensitivities of the different approaches. An analysis of the results of two three-dimensional simulations with the Hamburg Model of the Oceanic Carbon Cycle shows that the {sup 13}C isotope indeed tracks the oceanic  More>>
Publication Date:
Nov 01, 1994
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
INIS-mf-15095
Reference Number:
SCA: 540120; 540320; PA: DEN-95:0F3034; EDB-95:046469; SN: 95001351460
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Nov 1994
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON CYCLE; SEAS; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON 13; CARBON 12; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS; CLIMATES; 540120; 540320; CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
OSTI ID:
10125518
Research Organizations:
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Meteorologie, Hamburg (Germany)
Country of Origin:
Germany
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE95752145; TRN: DE95F3034
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
DEN
Size:
41 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 04, 2005

Citation Formats

Heimann, M, and Maier-Reimer, E. On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} and its carbon isotopes. Germany: N. p., 1994. Web.
Heimann, M, & Maier-Reimer, E. On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} and its carbon isotopes. Germany.
Heimann, M, and Maier-Reimer, E. 1994. "On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} and its carbon isotopes." Germany.
@misc{etde_10125518,
title = {On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} and its carbon isotopes}
author = {Heimann, M, and Maier-Reimer, E}
abstractNote = {The recent proposals to estimate the oceanic uptake of CO{sub 2} by monitoring the oceanic change in {sup 13}C/{sup 12}C isotope ratio or the air-sea {sup 13}C/{sup 12}C isotopic disequilibrium is reviewed. Because the history of atmospheric CO{sub 2} and {sup 13}CO{sub 2} since preindustrial times is almost the same, the oceanic penetration depth of both tracers must be the same. This dynamic constraint permits the establishment of yet a third method to estimate the global ocean uptake of CO{sub 2} from {sup 13}C measurements. Using available observations in conjunction with canonical values for the global carbon cycle parameters the three methods yield inconsistent oceanic CO{sub 2} uptake rates for the time period 1970-1990, ranging from 0 to over 3 GtC year{sup -1}. However, uncertainties in the available carbon cycle data must be taken into account. Using a non-linear estimation procedure, a consistent scenario with an oceanic CO{sub 2} uptake rate of 2.2{+-}0.8 GtC year{sup -1} can be established. The method also permits an investigation of the sensitivities of the different approaches. An analysis of the results of two three-dimensional simulations with the Hamburg Model of the Oceanic Carbon Cycle shows that the {sup 13}C isotope indeed tracks the oceanic penetration of anthropogenic CO{sub 2}. Because of its different time history, bomb produced radiocarbon, as measured at the time of GEOSECS, correlates much less well to excess carbon. (orig.)}
place = {Germany}
year = {1994}
month = {Nov}
}