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

在1957- 1958年国际地球物理年（IGY）期间，斯克里普斯海洋研究所的基林教授在夏威夷的莫纳罗亚发起了一项高精度的大气二氧化碳测量计划，以研究生物地球化学碳循环。从那时起，这个测量程序一直在继续和扩展。在20世纪60年代早期，从这个项目中获得的数据集确凿地表明，大气中的二氧化碳浓度正以每年大约0.3%的速度增长。大气中二氧化碳的增加主要是由化石燃料的燃烧引起的。由于二氧化碳是一种“温室气体”，预计在几十年内，其大气浓度的增加将导致气候变化。二氧化碳问题的核心问题之一是对未来浓度预测的可靠性。这样的预测需要了解生物地球化学二氧化碳汇和源的强度。在这个研究项目中，重点将放在测量大气和海洋中二氧化碳的碳同位素组成作为空间和时间的函数。此外，将在表层和地下水的关键位置对溶解的二氧化碳进行高精度测量。这些以及相关的化学测量将被用来帮助评估海洋吸收化石燃料燃烧释放到大气中的二氧化碳的能力。

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.