Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and its isotopic composition in southern Poland: comparison of high-altitude mountain site and a near-by urban environment

Abstract

Abstract. The results of regular observations of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios and its carbon isotope composition (δ13C, Δ14C), carried out at two continental sites located in central Europe are presented and discussed. The sites (Kasprowy Wierch, 49°14' N, 19°59' E, 1989 m a.s.l.; Krakow, 50°04' N, 19°55' E, 220 m a.s.l.), are located in two contrasting environments: (i) high-altitude mountaneous area, relatively free of anthropogenic influences, and (ii) typical urban environment with numerous local sources of carbon dioxide. Despite of relative proximity of those sites (ca. 100 km), substantial differences in both the recorded CO2 levels and their isotopic composition were detected. The CO2 mixing ratios measured in the urban atmosphere revealed quasi-permanent excess concentration of this gas when compared with near-by background atmosphere. The annual mean CO2 concentration recorded in Krakow in 2004 was almost 10% higher than that recorded at high-altitude mountain site (Kasprowy Wierch). Such effect is occuring probably in all urban centers. Carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 proved to be efficient tool for identification the surface CO2 fluxes into the atmosphere related to fossil fuel burning and their influence on the recorded levels of this gas in the local atmosphere. The available records of Δ14C for Krakow and Kasprowy Wierch suggest gradual reduction of 14C-free CO2 fluxes into the urban atmosphere of Krakow in the past several years.

Near Surface Carbon Dioxide and Methane in Urban Areas of Costa Rica

“…Typically, these concentrations diminished from the city center towards the outlying rural areas and their presence is related with air temperature inversions at night and in the early morning, but also with local atmospheric features, such as air mass circulation patterns [7] [8] [16]. Isotopic analysis of CO 2 has been useful to study such phenomenon and to identify the sources of local emission, the influence of atmospheric stability as well as the height of the atmospheric mixing layer on CO 2 levels [17]- [19]. However, while the urban sources of CO 2 have been extensively studied, there has been a paucity of observational studies of CH 4 emissions and other less-abundant GHG in urban environments [6].…”

Effects of Forests on Amounts of CO2: Case Study of Kastamonu and Ilgaz Mountain National Parks

“…CO 2 amounts in city centers have been analyzed by various studies. Studies in the literature reported CO 2 amounts in city centers as follows: 411 ppm in Kraków, Poland [12]; 477 ppm in Rome [13]; 384 ppm in the Spanish Plateau [14]; 478 ppm in Korea [15]; 373 ppm in Hawaii [16]; 475 ppm in Dallas [17]; 555 ppm in Phoenix, Arizona [18]; 384 ppm in Chicago [19]; 397 ppm in California [20]; 590 ppm in Tel-Aviv [21]; 425 ppm in Vilathur, India [22]; and 384 ppm in Brazil [23]. In addition, one of our studies is assessing forests and lands with carbon storage amount by trees in the state of Delaware, USA, calculated and mapping it by geographic information systems (GIS).…”

Anthropogenic changes of CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CCl2FCClF2, CHCl3, CH3CCl3, CCl4, SF6 and SF5CF3 mixing ratios in the atmosphere over southern Poland

“…Since Kasprowy Wierch is sit u ated within the tran si tion zone be tween the free tro po sphere and the plan e tary bound ary layer (PBL) and is rel a tively free of lo cal in flu ences, this site is con sid ered a re gional ref er ence sta tion for trace gas mea surements in the lower at mo sphere over Cen tral and East ern Europe. Since 1994, reg u lar ob ser va tions of at mo spheric mix ing ra tios of CO 2 and CH 4 have been per formed at this site (Necki et al, 2003;Chmura et al, 2008;Nêcki et al, 2013). From Septem ber 1994 till June 1996 weekly com pos ite sam ples of air were col lected and the CO 2 and CH 4 con cen tra tion was measured at the In sti tute of En vi ron men tal Phys ics, Uni ver sity of Hei del berg, Ger many.…”