A Study of the Abundance and 13C/12C Ratio of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Oceanic Carbon in Relation to the Global Carbon Cycle

1957- 1958年国际地球物理年（IGY） 斯克里普斯海洋研究所的基林教授 启动了一个高精度的大气二氧化碳 在夏威夷莫纳罗亚山的测量计划，以研究 地球化学碳循环 该测量程序已 从那时起，它一直在发展和扩大。 60年代初 从该计划中获得的数据集表明， 结论是， 大气层以大约三分之一 每年1%。 大气中碳的增加 二氧化碳主要由化石燃料的燃烧引起。 由于二氧化碳是一种“温室气体”， 在几十年内，它的大气浓度增加， 会导致气候变化。 在《公约》的核心问题中， 二氧化碳的问题是预测的可靠性， 未来的浓度。 这种预测需要一个 了解地球化学的二氧化碳汇， 源优势。 在这个研究项目中，重点将放在 碳的碳同位素组成测定 大气和海洋中的二氧化碳作为空间的函数， 时间 此外，高精度测量溶解的 碳 二氧化碳将在地表和地下的关键位置产生 海水 这些以及支持性的化学测量将 用于帮助评估海洋吸收碳的能力 化石燃料燃烧释放到大气中的二氧化碳 燃料.

During the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957-8 Professor Keeling of Scripps Institution of Oceanography initiated a high precision atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements program at Mauna Loa, Hawaii to study the biogeochemical carbon cycle. This measurement program has been continued and expanded since that time. In the early 1960's the data set available from this program demonstrated conclusively that the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was increasing at a rate of approximately a third of one percent per year. This increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels. Since carbon dioxide is a "greenhouse gas" it is expected that within a few decades its increased atmospheric concentration will lead to climatic changes. Among the central issues of the carbon dioxide question is the reliability of predictions of future concentrations. Such predictions require an understanding of the biogeochemical carbon dioxide sink and source strengths. In this research project emphasis will be on the measurement of the carbon isotopic composition of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans as a function of space and time. Additionally, high precision measurements of dissolved carbon dioxide will be made at key locations in surface and subsurface ocean water. These, and supporting chemical measurements, will be used to help evaluate the oceans ability to absorb carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels.