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

在1957-2008年的国际地球物理年(IGY)期间，斯克里普斯海洋研究所的基林教授在夏威夷莫纳罗亚发起了一个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。自那时以来，这一测量计划一直在继续并得到扩大。在20世纪60年代初，S，从该计划获得的数据集确凿地证明，大气中的二氧化碳浓度正在以每年约三分之一个百分点的速度增加。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的碳循环。然而，目前涉及海洋和陆地生物圈的二氧化碳气体交换过程存在重大不确定性。这一研究项目的目标是收集可用于更可靠地估计海洋和生物圈二氧化碳汇和源强度的数据类型。在这一研究项目中，重点将是测量大气和海洋中二氧化碳的碳同位素组成随时间和空间的变化。此外，还将在表层和次表层海水中的关键位置进行高精度的溶解二氧化碳测量。这些，以及辅助的化学测量，将通过化石燃料的燃烧被用于大气。

During the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957-8 Professor Keeling of Scripps Institution of Oceanography initiated a high precision atmospheric CO2 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 CO2 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 CO2 question is the reliability of predictions of future concentrations. Such predictions require an understanding of the biogeochemical carbon cycle. Presently, however, there are major uncertainties about the CO2 gas exchange processes involving the oceans and terrestrial biosphere. The goal of this research project is to gather the type of data which can be used to obtain a more reliable estimate of the oceanic and biospheric carbon dioxide sink and source strengths. In this research project emphasis will be on the measurement of the carbon isotopic composition of CO2 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 atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels.