Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model
We use the GEOS-Chem chemistry transport model to interpret the sources and sinks of CO<sub>2</sub> that determine variability of column-averaged volume mixing ratios (CVMRs), as observed by the SCIAMACHY satellite instrument, during the 2003 North American growing season. GEOS-Chem gene...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2008-10-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5855/2008/acp-8-5855-2008.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811275363710402560 |
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| author | P. S. Monks M. P. Barkley P. I. Palmer |
| author_facet | P. S. Monks M. P. Barkley P. I. Palmer |
| author_sort | P. S. Monks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We use the GEOS-Chem chemistry transport model to interpret the sources and sinks of CO<sub>2</sub> that determine variability of column-averaged volume mixing ratios (CVMRs), as observed by the SCIAMACHY satellite instrument, during the 2003 North American growing season. GEOS-Chem generally reproduces the magnitude and seasonal cycle of observed CO<sub>2</sub> surface VMRs across North America and is quantitatively consistent with column VMRs in later years. However, it cannot reproduce the magnitude or variability of FSI-WFM-DOAS SCIAMACHY CVMRs. We use model tagged tracers to show that local fluxes largely determine CVMR variability over North America, with the largest individual CVMR contributions (1.1%) from the land biosphere. Fuel sources are relatively constant while biomass burning makes a significant contribution only during midsummer. We also show that non-local sources contribute significantly to total CVMRs over North America, with the boreal Asian land biosphere contributing close to 1% in midsummer at high latitudes. We used the monthly-mean Jacobian matrix for North America to illustrate that:~1) North American CVMRs represent a superposition of many weak flux signatures, but differences in flux distributions should permit independent flux estimation; and 2) the atmospheric e-folding lifetimes for many of these flux signatures are 3–4 months, beyond which time they are too well-mixed to interpret. These long lifetimes will improve the efficacy of observed CVMRs as surface CO<sub>2</sub> flux constraints. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:36:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4446509c6934e4f9b1d6aa26bb0ab6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:36:33Z |
| publishDate | 2008-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4446509c6934e4f9b1d6aa26bb0ab6d2022-12-22T03:12:07ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242008-10-0181958555868Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport modelP. S. MonksM. P. BarkleyP. I. PalmerWe use the GEOS-Chem chemistry transport model to interpret the sources and sinks of CO<sub>2</sub> that determine variability of column-averaged volume mixing ratios (CVMRs), as observed by the SCIAMACHY satellite instrument, during the 2003 North American growing season. GEOS-Chem generally reproduces the magnitude and seasonal cycle of observed CO<sub>2</sub> surface VMRs across North America and is quantitatively consistent with column VMRs in later years. However, it cannot reproduce the magnitude or variability of FSI-WFM-DOAS SCIAMACHY CVMRs. We use model tagged tracers to show that local fluxes largely determine CVMR variability over North America, with the largest individual CVMR contributions (1.1%) from the land biosphere. Fuel sources are relatively constant while biomass burning makes a significant contribution only during midsummer. We also show that non-local sources contribute significantly to total CVMRs over North America, with the boreal Asian land biosphere contributing close to 1% in midsummer at high latitudes. We used the monthly-mean Jacobian matrix for North America to illustrate that:~1) North American CVMRs represent a superposition of many weak flux signatures, but differences in flux distributions should permit independent flux estimation; and 2) the atmospheric e-folding lifetimes for many of these flux signatures are 3–4 months, beyond which time they are too well-mixed to interpret. These long lifetimes will improve the efficacy of observed CVMRs as surface CO<sub>2</sub> flux constraints.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5855/2008/acp-8-5855-2008.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. S. Monks M. P. Barkley P. I. Palmer Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model |
| title_full | Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model |
| title_fullStr | Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model |
| title_short | Interpreting the variability of space-borne CO<sub>2</sub> column-averaged volume mixing ratios over North America using a chemistry transport model |
| title_sort | interpreting the variability of space borne co sub 2 sub column averaged volume mixing ratios over north america using a chemistry transport model |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5855/2008/acp-8-5855-2008.pdf |
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