A globally aggregated reconstruction of cycles of carbon and its isotopes

Atul K. Jain, Haroon S. Kheshgi, Donald J. Wuebbles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A globally aggregated model of the carbon cycle with an upwelling/diffusion ocean and a 6-box biosphere is developed to consistently reconstruct the carbon cycle and isotopic variation in the atmosphere and oceans. The calculated atmospheric δ13C trend, based on a model that reproduces the CO2 concentration record, agrees well with the observed ice core and tree-ring δ13C records. The model has also been used to estimate the δ13C of oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon, and our model results match observations well within the range of observational uncertainty. This model is found to also match measured values (within measurement error) of the pre-bomb decrease in 14C in the atmosphere and the mixed layer due to the Suess Effect, the bomb-14C in the mixed layer, the bomb-14C penetration depth, the bomb-14C ocean inventory, and the vertical distribution of total dissolved carbon and 14C. In addition, the model is used to close the balance between the rates of increase of global inventory and of bomb production of radiocarbon. Our confidence in both the global aggregation of data and our understanding of global carbon cycle is strengthened by the consistency between carbon isotope concentration data and model results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)583-600
Number of pages18
JournalTellus, Series B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology
Volume48
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A globally aggregated reconstruction of cycles of carbon and its isotopes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this