Version 1
: Received: 11 May 2022 / Approved: 12 May 2022 / Online: 12 May 2022 (14:24:08 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 18 March 2024 / Approved: 19 March 2024 / Online: 19 March 2024 (17:16:13 CET)
How to cite:
Taylor, S. Atmospheric CO2: A Finite Reservoir Model Reproduces 14C / 13C over Two Centuries and Indicates the Fossil-Fuel Anthropogenic Contribution. Preprints2022, 2022050172. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202205.0172.v1
Taylor, S. Atmospheric CO2: A Finite Reservoir Model Reproduces 14C / 13C over Two Centuries and Indicates the Fossil-Fuel Anthropogenic Contribution. Preprints 2022, 2022050172. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202205.0172.v1
Taylor, S. Atmospheric CO2: A Finite Reservoir Model Reproduces 14C / 13C over Two Centuries and Indicates the Fossil-Fuel Anthropogenic Contribution. Preprints2022, 2022050172. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202205.0172.v1
APA Style
Taylor, S. (2022). Atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>: A Finite Reservoir Model Reproduces <sup>14</sup>C / <sup>13</sup>C over Two Centuries and Indicates the Fossil-Fuel Anthropogenic Contribution. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202205.0172.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Taylor, S. 2022 "Atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>: A Finite Reservoir Model Reproduces <sup>14</sup>C / <sup>13</sup>C over Two Centuries and Indicates the Fossil-Fuel Anthropogenic Contribution" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202205.0172.v1
Abstract
Whereas many carbon cycle models track CO2 perturbations relative to a pre-industrial equilibrium, this paper uses absolute quantities to describe atmospheric CO2 sinks, source and flow rates. This method, when combined with the notion of source and sink resistance, and a finite biospheric reservoir, accurately describes 14C levels between 1820 and 2020 using only five external parameters. The inputs are:- global records of fossil-fuel emissions, records of CO2 mixing-ratio and listings of atmospheric atomic weapons tests. Over the same period 13C flows are also accurately described given a ð13C value for fossil fuel and a ð13C value for the initial background. This top-down approach differs from complex climate models since it circumvents the necessity to catalogue individual processes. The paper proceeds to use the method to examine the anthropogenic fossil-fuel emissions contributions during the period 1750 to 2020, deducing that around 24% remains in the atmosphere, while 76% has been absorbed in the land, terrestrial biosphere and surface ocean. During the same period 13% of the total CO2 atmospheric concentration is due to fossil fuels. However, regarding the increase, fossil fuels contributed to 38% of the rise during this period.
CO2 residence-time; CO2 lifetime; carbon cycle; CO2 atmospheric flux; anthropogenic emissions; global warming; climate change
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
