Detection of Fossil and Biogenic Methane at Regional Scales Using Atmospheric Radiocarbon.

ABSTRACT: Regional emissions of methane and their attribution to a variety of sources presently have large uncertainties. Measurements of radiocarbon (¹⁴C) in methane (CH₄) may provide a method for identifying regional CH₄ emissions from fossil versus biogenic sources because adding ¹⁴C-free fossil carbon reduces the ¹⁴C/C ratio (Δ¹⁴CH₄) in atmospheric CH₄ much more than biogenic carbon does. We describe an approach for estimating fossil and biogenic CH₄ at regional scales using atmospheric Δ¹⁴CH₄ observations. As a case study to demonstrate expected Δ¹⁴CH₄ and Δ¹⁴CH₄-CH₄ relationships, we simulate and compare Δ¹⁴CH

SUBMITTER: Graven H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6559284 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature