Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 25 August 1995:
Vol. 269. no. 5227, pp. 1098 - 1102
DOI: 10.1126/science.269.5227.1098
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

A Large Northern Hemisphere Terrestrial CO2 Sink Indicated by the 13C/12C Ratio of Atmospheric CO2

P. Ciais 1, P. P. Tans 2, M. Trolier 3, J. W. C. White 4, and R. J. Francey 5

1 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (NOAA/CMDL), R/E/CG1, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303, USA, and LMCE-DSM Commissariat a I'Energie Atomique, L'Orme des Meurisiers, 91191, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
2 NOAA/CMDL, R/E/CG1, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
3 NOAA/CMDL, R/E/CG1, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303, USA, and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
4 INSTAAR, and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
5 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Atmospheric Research, Mordialloc, Victoria 3195, Australia

Measurements of the concentrations and carbon-13/carbon-12 isotope ratios of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be used to quantify the net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the oceans and terrestrial plants. A study of weekly samples from a global network of 43 sites defined the latitudinal and temporal patterns of the two carbon sinks. A strong terrestrial biospheric sink was found in the temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in 1992 and 1993, the magnitude of which is roughly half that of the global fossil fuel burning emissions for those years. The challenge now is to identify those processes that would cause the terrestrial biosphere to absorb carbon dioxide in such large quantities.

Submitted on February 13, 1995
Accepted on June 12, 1995


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
PREDICTION OF ATMOSPHERIC {delta}13CO2 USING PLANT CUTICLE ISOLATED FROM FLUVIAL SEDIMENT: TESTS ACROSS A GRADIENT IN SALT CONTENT.
A. H. JAHREN and N. C. ARENS (2009)
Palaios 24, 394-401
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Determination of Carbon Dioxide Concentration Using Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry/Isotopic Dilution and Errors in Concentration Measurements Caused by Dryers.
B. G. DeLacy and A. R. Bandy (2008)
J. Environ. Qual. 37, 1354-1359
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Stable isotopes, ecological integration and environmental change: wolves record atmospheric carbon isotope trend better than tree rings.
J. K Bump, K. Fox-Dobbs, J. L Bada, P. L Koch, R. O Peterson, and J. A Vucetich (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 2471-2480
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Stable isotopes of carbon and sulphur as indicators of environmental change: past and present.
R. Newton and S. Bottrell (2007)
Journal of the Geological Society 164, 691-708
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Weak Northern and Strong Tropical Land Carbon Uptake from Vertical Profiles of Atmospheric CO2.
B. B. Stephens, K. R. Gurney, P. P. Tans, C. Sweeney, W. Peters, L. Bruhwiler, P. Ciais, M. Ramonet, P. Bousquet, T. Nakazawa, et al. (2007)
Science 316, 1732-1735
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of Smelter Sulfur Dioxide Emissions: A Spatiotemporal Perspective Using Carbon Isotopes in Tree Rings.
M. M. Savard, C. Begin, M. Parent, A. Smirnoff, and J. Marion (2004)
J. Environ. Qual. 33, 13-26
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Europe's Terrestrial Biosphere Absorbs 7 to 12% of European Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions.
I. A. Janssens, A. Freibauer, P. Ciais, P. Smith, G.-J. Nabuurs, G. Folberth, B. Schlamadinger, R. W. A. Hutjes, R. Ceulemans, E.-D. Schulze, et al. (2003)
Science 300, 1538-1542
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Response of a Deciduous Forest to the Mount Pinatubo Eruption: Enhanced Photosynthesis.
L. Gu, D. D. Baldocchi, S. C. Wofsy, J. W. Munger, J. J. Michalsky, S. P. Urbanski, and T. A. Boden (2003)
Science 299, 2035-2038
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Carbon dioxide emissions from fumarolic ice towers, Mount Erebus volcano, Antarctica.
L. J. Wardell, P. R. Kyle, and A. R. Campbell (2003)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 213, 231-246
   Abstract »    PDF »
Establishing a grassland signature in veins: 18O in the leaf water of C3 and C4 grasses.
B. R. Helliker and J. R. Ehleringer (2000)
PNAS 97, 7894-7898
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Global Carbon Sinks and Their Variability Inferred from Atmospheric O2 and 13C.
M. Battle, M. L. Bender, P. P. Tans, J. W. White, J. T. Ellis, T. Conway, and R. J. Francey (2000)
Science 287, 2467-2470
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Contribution of Increasing CO2 and Climate to Carbon Storage by Ecosystems in the United States.
D. Schimel, J. Melillo, H. Tian, A. D. McGuire, D. Kicklighter, T. Kittel, N. Rosenbloom, S. Running, P. Thornton, D. Ojima, et al. (2000)
Science 287, 2004-2006
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Can C3 plants faithfully record the carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide?.
(2000)
Paleobiology 26, 137-164
Changes in the Carbon Balance of Tropical Forests: Evidence from Long-Term Plots.
O. L. Phillips, Y. Malhi, N. Higuchi, W. F. Laurance, P. V. Núñez, R. M. Vásquez, S. G. Laurance, L. V. Ferreira, M. Stern, S. Brown, et al. (1998)
Science 282, 439-442
   Abstract »    Full Text »
A Large Terrestrial Carbon Sink in North America Implied by Atmospheric and Oceanic Carbon Dioxide Data and Models.
S. Fan, M. Gloor, J. Mahlman, S. Pacala, J. Sarmiento, T. Takahashi, and P. Tans (1998)
Science 282, 442-446
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Primary Production of the Biosphere: Integrating Terrestrial and Oceanic Components.
C. B. Field, M. J. Behrenfeld, J. T. Randerson, and P. Falkowski (1998)
Science 281, 237-240
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Sensitivity of Boreal Forest Carbon Balance to Soil Thaw.
M. L. Goulden, S. C. Wofsy, J. W. Harden, S. E. Trumbore, P. M. Crill, S. T. Gower, T. Fries, B. C. Daube, S. Fan, D. J. Sutton, et al. (1998)
Science 279, 214-217
   Abstract »    Full Text »
The Response of Global Terrestrial Ecosystems to Interannual Temperature Variability.
B. H. Braswell, D. S. Schimel, E. Linder, and B. Moore III (1997)
Science 278, 870-873
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Direct observation of the oceanic CO2 increase revisited.
P. G. Brewer, C. Goyet, and G. Friederich (1997)
PNAS 94, 8308-8313
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tree rings, carbon dioxide, and climatic change.
G. C. Jacoby and R. D. D'Arrigo (1997)
PNAS 94, 8350-8353
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Global Climate Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
J. A. Patz, P. R. Epstein, T. A. Burke, and J. M. Balbus (1996)
JAMA 275, 217-223
   Abstract »    PDF »
Influence of Carbonic Anhydrase Activity in Terrestrial Vegetation on the 18O Content of Atmospheric CO2.
J. Gillon and D. Yakir (2001)
Science 291, 2584-2587
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)