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Two-Year Observation of Fossil Fuel Carbon Dioxide Spatial Distribution in Xi’an City

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Abstract

The need for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction in the context of global warming is widely acknowledged by the global scientific community. Fossil fuel CO2 (CO2ff) emissions occur mainly in cities, and can be monitored directly with radiocarbon (14C). In this research, annual plants [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] were collected from 26 sites in 2013 and 2014 in the central urban district of Xi’an City. The Δ14C content of the samples were analyzed using a 3 MV Accelerator Mass Spectrometer, and CO2ff concentrations were calculated based on mass balance equations. The results showed that the CO2ff mixing ratio ranged from 15.9 to 25.0 ppm (part per million, equivalent to µmol mol−1), with an average of 20.5 ppm in 2013. The range of measured values became larger in 2014, from 13.9 ppm to 33.1 ppm, with an average of 23.5 ppm. The differences among the average CO2ff concentrations between the central area and outer urban areas were not statistically significant. Although the year-to-year variation of the CO2ff concentration was significant (P < 0.01), there was a distinctly low CO2ff value observed in the northeast corner of the city. CO2ff emissions from vehicle exhaust and residential sources appeared to be more significant than two thermal power plants, according to our observed CO2ff spatial distribution. The variation of pollution source transport recorded in our observations was likely controlled by southwesterly winds. These results could assist in the optimal placement of regional CO2 monitoring stations, and benefit the local government in the implementation of efficient carbon emission reduction measures.

摘要

由全球变暖引发的一系列环境、生态问题日益凸显, 为了应对气候变化, 碳减排已成为全球共识. 城市是化石源二氧化碳(CO2ff)排放的主要区域, 也是碳减排的关键区域, 又是14C示踪大气CO2ff研究的热点区域. 本文以西安为研究对象, 分别于2013年和2014年在西安中心城区采集了26个地点的狗尾草【Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.)】样品, 利用3MV加速器质谱仪(AMS)测定其Δ14C, 再根据质量平衡方程获得大气CO2ff浓度. 结果表明:2013年西安中心城区大气CO2ff浓度变化范围为15.9-25.0 ppm (part per million, 相当于μmol/mol), 平均值为20.5ppm;2014年, CO2ff波动浓度有所增大, 为13.9-33.1ppm, 平均值升至23.5ppm;环城路以内、环城路-二环及二环-绕城高速三个区域内CO2ff平均浓度没有显著差异;CO2ff的年际变化差异显著(P<0.01), 但市区东北角CO2ff浓度始终处于较低水平. 进一步分析了各种CO2ff排放源及气象条件的影响, 发现机动车尾气和居民生活排放对CO2ff浓度空间分布影响较市区的两座热电厂大, 而中心城区CO2ff污染来源的变化很可能受控于西南风. 我们的观测结果将有助于区域CO–2观测站点分布的优化和当地政府部门碳减排政策的有效实施.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and Dr. George S. BURR for their helpful comments. This work was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. NSFC41730108, 41773141, 41573136, and 41991250), National Research Program for Key Issues in Air Pollution Control (Grant No. DQGG0105-02), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA23010302), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (Grant No.2016360) and the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (Program No. 2019JCW-20).

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Correspondence to Xiaohu Xiong.

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Article Highlights

• The spatial distribution of CO2ff indicated by plant Δ14C measurements in Xi’an is presented.

• The year-to-year variation of CO2ff from different sites in Xi’an was significant.

• The northeast corner of Xi’an central area featured distinctly lower CO2ff values.

• Vehicle exhaust emissions and residential emissions appeared to control the spatial differences.

• Weather conditions (wind direction in particular) also influenced regional temporal CO2ff variations.

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Xiong, X., Zhou, W., Wu, S. et al. Two-Year Observation of Fossil Fuel Carbon Dioxide Spatial Distribution in Xi’an City. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 37, 569–575 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-020-9241-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-020-9241-4

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