Abstract
THE 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric carbon dioxide has decreased by approximately 0.6‰ over 22 yr according to new direct measurements reported here. Our results offer a way of establishing whether 13C/12C ratios of tree rings1–6 are representative of atmospheric 13CO2 variations. We have carried out both isotopic (at Groningen) and concentration (at La Jolla) measurements of atmospheric CO2 on air samples obtained during 1977 and 1978 at three widely spaced locations: La Jolla, California (33°N, 117°W), Fanning Island (4°N, 159°W) and the South Pole. Sampling, instrumental, and analytical procedures closely matched a similar study carried out 22 yr earlier by Keeling7,8.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Farmer, J. G. & Baxter, M. S. Nature 247, 273–275 (1974).
Freyer, H. D. & Wiesberg, L. Nature 252, 757 (1974).
Pearman, G. I., Francey, R. J. & Fraser, P. J. B. Nature 260, 771–772 (1976).
Rebello, A. & Wagener, K. in Environmental Biogeochemistry (ed. Nriagu, J. O.) Vol. 1, 13–23 (Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1976).
Stuiver, M. Science 199, 253–258 (1978).
Tans, P. P. thesis, Univ Groningen (1978).
Keeling, C. D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 13, 322–334 (1958).
Keeling, C. D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 24, 277–298 (1961).
Craig, H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 12, 133–149 (1957).
Mook, W. G. thesis, Univ Groningen (1968).
Keeling, C. D. et al. Tellus 28, 538–551 (1976).
Craig, H. & Keeling, C. D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 27, 549–551 (1963).
Weiss, R. F. & Craig, H. Geophys. Res. Lett. 3, 751–753 (1976).
Keeling, C. D., Adams, J. A., Ekdahl, C. A. & Guenther, P. R. Tellus 28, 552–564 (1976).
Keeling, C. D., Bacastow, R. B. & Tans, P. P. Geophys. Res. Lett. (submitted).
Oeschger, H., Siegenthaler, U., Schotterer, U. & Gugelmann, A. Tellus 27, 168–192 (1975).
Keeling, C. D. & Bacastow, R. B. in Energy and Climate 72–95 (Natn. Acad. Sciences, Washington D. C. 1977).
Keeling, C. D. in Chemistry of the Lower Atmosphere (ed. Rasool, S.I.) 251–329 (Plenum, New York, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KEELING, C., MOOK, W. & TANS, P. Recent trends in the 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Nature 277, 121–123 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277121a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277121a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
