One-year spatial and temporal monitoring of concentration and carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 in a Wrocław (SW Poland) city area

• Published in: Applied geochemistry 2013-08, Vol.35, p.7-13
• Main Authors: GORKA, M, LEWICKA-SZCZEBAK, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: atmospheric chemistry; Atmospherics; carbon; Carbon dioxide; Combustion; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; fossil fuels; Geochemistry; heat; Heating; monitoring; Motorways; Pollution, environment geology; qualitative analysis; Sampling; seasonal variation; Seasons; soil respiration; Winter
• ISSN: 0883-2927; 1872-9134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.05.010

•Seasonal variation in CO2 concentration and δ13C value in air urban area was noted.•Spatial distribution of CO2 in Wrocław indicate the anthropogenically changed areas.•Coal or diesel/gasoline dominant CO2 origin was indicated for heating seasons.•Soil respiration dominant biogenic CO2 origin was indicated for vegetative season.•Significant influence of newly opened highway on the atmospheric CO2 was observed. The main aim of this study was to assess the natural and anthropogenic contributions of CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Wrocław City (SW Poland) using combined quantitative (CO2 concentrations) and qualitative analysis (δ13C of CO2). Between 21 January 2011 and 22 December 2011, 17 sampling campaigns were performed at 3-week intervals and in total 255 samples were collected. The mean CO2 concentration was 469±71ppm and the mean δ13C(CO2) was −10.8±1‰.The measured δ13C(CO2) values of major end-members for two winter heating seasons (−25.7‰ in January–March of 2011 and −27.6 ‰ in October–December of 2011) and for one vegetative season (−20.4‰ in April–September of 2011) suggest soil respiration as a main source of atmospheric CO2 during the vegetative season, and a very significant impact of fossil fuel combustion during the winter heating seasons. There were significant increases of CO2 concentrations at many sampling locations after the opening of a new motorway on 31 August 2011. The authors hypothesise that the new motorway contributes to the increase of CO2 across the city.