The carbon isotope composition of atmospheric CO 2 in Paris

摘要: One characteristic of air pollution in the urban environment is high CO2 concentrations resulting from human activities. Determining relative contributions different sources can be addressed simply and elegantly by combining isotope concentration measurements. Using this approach on atmospheric samples collected Paris, its suburbs open country provides fairly accurate conclusions. Our results show that within first few metres above ground basically binary mixtures among which road traffic main contributor and, particular, vehicles using unleaded gasoline (∼90% total). Heating sources, account for 50% input below inversion level, diesel contribute very little. Human respiration has a recognisable signature at street level under certain circumstances. The combined analysis sensitive tracer local variations, even detecting occasional prevalence onset actions natural gas burnt. It also detects surprising inlets ‘clean air’ (CO2-wise) centre city.