Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
11:19
Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
Published on: October 21, 2016
Regional US carbon sinks from three-dimensional atmospheric CO2 sampling
Cyril Crevoisier1, Colm Sweeney, Manuel Gloor
1Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France. cyril.crevoisier@lmd.polytechnique.fr
Summary
North American carbon budget estimates vary. This study uses atmospheric CO(2) profiles to estimate a moderate land-atmosphere carbon sink for the US, with significant uptake in the Midwest and Southeast.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Ecology
- Climate Science
Background:
- Accurate North American carbon budget quantification is challenging due to data limitations and complex flux modeling.
- Existing studies show substantial divergence on the precise magnitude of the carbon budget.
- Understanding regional carbon fluxes is crucial for climate change mitigation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate land-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes across North America using a budgeting approach.
- To infer the three-dimensional CO2 distribution over the continent using atmospheric vertical profiles.
- To validate findings against existing carbon cycle reports and identify key regions of carbon uptake.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a simple budgeting approach by balancing tropospheric CO2 inflow and outflow.
- Employed atmospheric CO2 vertical profile data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Earth System Research Laboratory aircraft network.
- Inferred continental-scale CO2 distribution to estimate land-atmosphere fluxes.
Main Results:
- Estimated a moderate sink of 0.5 ± 0.4 Petagrams of Carbon per year (PgC y(-1)) for the coterminous United States during 2004-2006.
- Found good agreement between the estimated sink and the first North American State of the Carbon Cycle Report.
- Identified the Midwest and Southeast as regions with the highest carbon uptake, consistent with crop uptake and forest regrowth estimates.
Conclusions:
- The study provides an independent method for estimating North American carbon budgets.
- Regional carbon uptake is significantly influenced by agricultural activities in the Midwest and forest regrowth in the Southeast.
- Continued atmospheric profile measurements are essential for linking regional carbon uptake to climate drivers.
Related Concept Videos
01:14The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
01:19Carbon Dioxide Transport in the Blood
Carbon dioxide (CO2) transport in the blood is critical to human physiology. On average, our body cells produce around 200 mL of CO2 per minute, precisely the quantity expelled by the lungs. This process involves the transportation of CO2 from the tissue cells to the lungs in three primary forms.
Forms of CO2 Transport
1. Dissolved in plasma: A small percentage (7-10%) of CO2 is transported and dissolved directly in the plasma.
2. Carbaminohemoglobin: Just over 20% of CO2 is chemically bound to...
Forms of CO2 Transport
1. Dissolved in plasma: A small percentage (7-10%) of CO2 is transported and dissolved directly in the plasma.
2. Carbaminohemoglobin: Just over 20% of CO2 is chemically bound to...
01:28Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...