University of Heidelberg
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
- Institute of Environmental Physics
Carbon Cycle
Members and associates
Methods and Instruments
High precision greenhouse gases observations (CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O), together
with their isotope ratios as well as related tracer (CO, H2, SF6, 222Rn) measurements are
performed on the global, continental and regional scale. These measurements are used in combination with regional and
trajectory models to study respective source and sink processes and with global box models to investigate their global
biogeochemical cycles.
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (MAT-252)
Radiometric counting (14C, 222Rn and progenies)
Gas Chromatography (CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6, H2, CO)
Isotopes
Topics
Determining fossil fuel CO2 in Heidelberg and over Europe
CO2 from burning of fossil fuels, due to its age of several hundred million years, is free of
14C; adding fossil fuel CO2 to the atmosphere, therefore, not only leads to an increase of its
mixing ratio but also to a decrease of the 14C/12C ratio in atmospheric CO2. From a
14CO2 measurement at a polluted sampling site, e.g. in the boundary layer on the European continent,
we can directly calculate the regional fossil fuel CO2 surplus if the undisturbed background
14CO2 level (here Jungfraujoch) is known.
Examples
Monthly mean Δ14CO2 measurements at Heidelberg and at Schauinsland in comparison to the
continental reference level over Europe as derived from observations at Jungfraujoch (upper panel). Fossil fuel
CO2 component at Schauinsland (middle panel) and Heidelberg (lower panel) as calculated from the respective
Δ14C difference to the continental reference level. In the case of Heidelberg also the total CO2
offset compared to background air over the Atlantic Ocean is plotted. Note that the biospheric contribution in Heidelberg
in summer (minimum offsets) extends that from fossil fuels while it is of the same magnitude as the fossil fuel component
during winter.
Lectures
