scholarly journals Reconstruction of historic fossil CO₂ emissions using radiocarbon measurements from tree rings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Margaret Norris
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Chestnut Tree ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Annual Growth Rings ◽  
Clean Air

<p>This project aims to reconstruct historic fossil fuel derived CO₂ (CO₂ff) emissions from two closely located point sources in Taranaki, New Zealand. The Vector gas processing plant and the Ballance agri-nutrients ammonia urea plant have combined emissions of ~0.16 TgC yr⁻¹ since 1970 and 1982 respectively. Previous work found 2–5 ppm CO₂ff in short term integrated samples collected 600m downwind of the Vector plant. This study extends the dataset back 30 years using radiocarbon measurements in tree rings.  Trees incorporate CO₂ from the local atmosphere into their annual growth rings. Measurements of ¹⁴C in polluted and clean air trees were compared to the Baring Head Δ¹⁴CO₂ atmospheric record. As CO₂ff emissions are devoid of ¹⁴C addition of CO₂ff will cause a decrease in ¹⁴C directly related to the amount of CO₂ff present.  Trees growing immediately downwind of the Vector plant and from clean air locations in Taranaki and Baring Head Wellington, were cored and cut into one year growth increments. Two cellulose preparation methods were tested to confirm effectiveness at removing mobile extractive components and lignin. Radiocarbon and stable isotope results showed that the ANSTO method was more effective than the Rafter method. The clean air trees compare well with the Baring Head atmospheric record whereas trees growing downwind of the Vector plant demonstrate lower ¹⁴C content consistent with CO₂ff addition. Historic CO₂ff emissions were reconstructed for the polluted trees, with 1–3ppm of CO₂ff in the Luscombe chestnut tree and 4–7 ppm CO₂ff in the Vector pine tree. CO₂ff observations were compared with reported emissions from the Vector and Ballance plants. Observed CO₂ff increased by 10% in the Vector pine tree for the period 1994–2012 relative to pre-1994 levels, whereas combined CO₂ff emissions increased by 64%. No increase was observed in the Luscombe chestnut tree for the same time period. Meteorological analysis was performed to assess the relative contribution of CO₂ff from the sources to the trees. It is proposed that the trend observed in the Vector pine is due to the dominance of emissions from the Ballance plant and a relatively minor contribution from the Vector plant.</p>

scholarly journals Reconstruction of historic fossil CO₂ emissions using radiocarbon measurements from tree rings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Margaret Norris
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Chestnut Tree ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Annual Growth Rings ◽  
Clean Air

<p>This project aims to reconstruct historic fossil fuel derived CO₂ (CO₂ff) emissions from two closely located point sources in Taranaki, New Zealand. The Vector gas processing plant and the Ballance agri-nutrients ammonia urea plant have combined emissions of ~0.16 TgC yr⁻¹ since 1970 and 1982 respectively. Previous work found 2–5 ppm CO₂ff in short term integrated samples collected 600m downwind of the Vector plant. This study extends the dataset back 30 years using radiocarbon measurements in tree rings.  Trees incorporate CO₂ from the local atmosphere into their annual growth rings. Measurements of ¹⁴C in polluted and clean air trees were compared to the Baring Head Δ¹⁴CO₂ atmospheric record. As CO₂ff emissions are devoid of ¹⁴C addition of CO₂ff will cause a decrease in ¹⁴C directly related to the amount of CO₂ff present.  Trees growing immediately downwind of the Vector plant and from clean air locations in Taranaki and Baring Head Wellington, were cored and cut into one year growth increments. Two cellulose preparation methods were tested to confirm effectiveness at removing mobile extractive components and lignin. Radiocarbon and stable isotope results showed that the ANSTO method was more effective than the Rafter method. The clean air trees compare well with the Baring Head atmospheric record whereas trees growing downwind of the Vector plant demonstrate lower ¹⁴C content consistent with CO₂ff addition. Historic CO₂ff emissions were reconstructed for the polluted trees, with 1–3ppm of CO₂ff in the Luscombe chestnut tree and 4–7 ppm CO₂ff in the Vector pine tree. CO₂ff observations were compared with reported emissions from the Vector and Ballance plants. Observed CO₂ff increased by 10% in the Vector pine tree for the period 1994–2012 relative to pre-1994 levels, whereas combined CO₂ff emissions increased by 64%. No increase was observed in the Luscombe chestnut tree for the same time period. Meteorological analysis was performed to assess the relative contribution of CO₂ff from the sources to the trees. It is proposed that the trend observed in the Vector pine is due to the dominance of emissions from the Ballance plant and a relatively minor contribution from the Vector plant.</p>

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Calibration around AD 1900 from Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) tree rings from Northern Norway

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1775-1784
Author(s):  
Helene Svarva ◽  
Pieter Grootes ◽  
Martin Seiler ◽  
Terje Thun ◽  
Einar Værnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Northern Norway ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Us

ABSTRACTTo resolve an inconsistency around AD 1895 between radiocarbon (14C) measurements on oak from the British Isles and Douglas fir and Sitka spruce from the Pacific Northwest, USA, we measured the 14C content in single-year tree rings from a Scots pine tree (Pinus sylvestris L.), which grew in a remote location in Saltdal, northern Norway. The dataset covers the period AD 1864–1937 and its results are in agreement with measurements from the US Pacific coast around 1895. The most likely explanation for older ages in British oak in this period seems to be 14C depletion associated with the combustion of fossil fuels.

scholarly journals Stable Carbon Isotopic Composition in Annual Rings of a Pine Tree (Pinus Densiflora) from Yeongwol, Korea: Possible Application to Climate Study

Radiocarbon ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-381
Author(s):  
Chi-Hwan Kim ◽  
Jang Hoon Lee ◽  
Jin Kang ◽  
Sujin Song ◽  
Myung-ho Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Pinus Densiflora ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Carbon Isotopic Composition ◽  
Precipitation Data ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Carbon Isotopic ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Paleoclimate Proxy

AbstractStable carbon isotope ratios were measured on the alpha-cellulose in tree rings of a pine tree (Pinus densiflora) from Yeongwol, Korea. We developed an annual-resolution δ13C series (1835–1905) by correcting the measured data for changes in δ13C of air to minimize non-climatic influences. To investigate the climatic signal in the δ13C series, we performed correlation analysis between δ13C and the Cheugugi climate data. The Cheugugi precipitation data were first recorded by King Sejong (1397–1450) of the Joseon Dynasty. However, the longest set of precipitation data available is the one collected in Seoul (1776–1907). Although many studies support the reliability of the Cheugugi data, no previous studies have investigated the potential of the δ13C signal in tree rings as paleoclimate proxy using the Cheugugi data. Recent precipitation trends in Yeongwol are quite similar to that of Seoul, and we found significant correlations between the Cheugugi data and the δ13C series. We suggest further studies to replicate these results and confirm whether comparing δ13C variations in tree rings and Cheugugi data is a useful method of investigating the potential of the δ13C signal as a paleoclimate proxy in or near the Korean peninsula.

Annual Variations of 14C Concentration in the Tree Rings in the Vicinity of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1227-1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Žilvinas Ežerinskis ◽  
Justina Šapolaitė ◽  
Algirdas Pabedinskas ◽  
Laurynas Juodis ◽  
Andrius Garbaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Concentration Changes

ABSTRACTIn this paper we analyze the radiocarbon (14C) concentration changes over the whole operational period of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) including the post-shutdown decommissioning. Environmental samples from the vicinity of the INPP and a rural area as background of pine tree rings were analyzed with the single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS). The analysis shows the local influence of the INPP from 3 to 7 pMC. The whole time span from 1983 to 2015 is divided into three periods representing the early and late operational and post-shutdown stages of the INPP with different 14C profiles in analyzed samples. The influence of the maintenance of the INPP and radioactive waste management activities are indicated and discussed.

scholarly journals Carbon Isotopic Research of Pinus Sylvestris L. Growing in the Southern Poland (near Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Dąbrowa GÓrnicza Katowice and Olesno)

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-502
Author(s):  
Barbara Sensuła ◽  
Natalia Piotrowska
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Stable Isotope Composition ◽  
Carbon Isotopic ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
Important Branch

ABSTRACTIn this paper we present data from the measurements of carbon isotopes (Δ14C and δ13C) from α-cellulose extracted from pine tree-rings. The samples were collected in four forests located in the most industrialized part of Poland, where coal mining and coal-based energy are an important branch of industry. The investigated period of time (1975–2012) covers the period of development in coal mining and other industry sectors. Stable isotope composition has been determined with using IRMS and radiocarbon concentration was determinate by AMS.

Ponderosa Pine Tree Rings as Historical Monitors of Zinc and Cadmium Pollution

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 851-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Schaumloffel ◽  
Royston H. Filby ◽  
Barry C. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Cadmium Pollution ◽  
Pine Tree

scholarly journals Stable carbon isotopes in scots pine tree rings preserve a record of flow of the river Ob

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (21) ◽  
pp. 3529-3532 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Waterhouse ◽  
A. C. Barker ◽  
A. H. C. Carter ◽  
L. I. Agafonov ◽  
N. J. Loader
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Pine Tree

Modeling the numerical relationships between chronic ambient sulphur dioxide exposures and tree growth

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.H. Legge ◽  
M. Nosal ◽  
S.V. Krupa
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Basal Area Increment ◽  
Sampling Location ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Increment Growth

An exponential growth curve model was developed for Pinuscontorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm. × Pinusbanksiana Lamb, (lodgepole × jack pine) trees from basal area increment data collected from five ecologically analogous sampling locations (AI to AV) in the vicinity of a sulphur recovery sour gas processing plant emitting sulphur (S) gases (mainly SO2) in the West Whitecourt study area near the town of Whitecourt in west-central Alberta, Canada. The mean basal area increment growth declined by 1.2%, 1.4%, 0.8%, and 0.6% between 1959 and 1981 at sampling locations AI AII, AIII and AIV, respectively, in comparison to the reference sampling location, AV. Since 1974 there has been an increase in wood production at the impacted sites, AI to AIV. This was most likely the result of the significant and progressive reductions in total sulphur gas emissions from 1963 to 1981, of 58 403 to 6782 t S/year, respectively. A multivariate nonlinear, polynomial Fourier regression model was applied to explain the relationships between the ambient SO2 exposures at the five sampling locations and changes in pine tree basal area increment growth. The regression model included the ambient SO2 exposure parameters: (1) number of episodes (an episode is equivalent to single or successive occurrences of 0.5-h mean concentrations of ≥10 ppb); (2) cumulative integral of exposures (concentration with respect to time); and (3) peak episodal concentrations. The model parameters were estimated using the least squares approach. The MPF regression model captured the actual effects of the episodicity of SO2 exposures on radial tree growth of pine species and provided a high degree of forecasting power because of the use of the integral of the SO2 exposures. Peak episodal SO2 concentrations or the number of episodes appeared not to play as important a role in the model as the integral.

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