Mixing ratio and carbon isotopic composition investigation of atmospheric CO2 in Beijing, China

The stable isotope composition of atmospheric CO2 can be used as a tracer in the study of urban carbon cycles, which are affected by anthropogenic and biogenic CO2 components. Continuous measurements of the mixing ratio and delta C-13 of atmospheric CO2 were conducted in Beijing from Nov. 15, 2012 to Mar. 8, 2014 including two heating seasons and a vegetative season. Both delta C-13 and the isotopic composition of source CO2 (delta C-13(s)) were depleted in the heating seasons and enriched in the vegetative season. The diurnal variations in the CO2 mixing ratio and delta C-13 contained two peaks in the heating season, which are due to the effects of morning rush hour traffic. Seasonal and diurnal patterns of the CO2 mixing ratio and delta C-13 were affected by anthropogenic emissions and biogenic activity. Assuming that the primary CO2 sources at night (22:00-04:00) were coal and natural gas combustion during heating seasons I and II, an isotopic mass balance analysis indicated that coal combustion had average contributions of 83.83 +/- 14.11% and 86.84 +/- 12.27% and that natural gas had average contributions of 16.17 +/- 14.11% and 13.16 +/- 12.27%, respectively. The delta C-13 of background CO2 in air was the main error source in the isotopic mass balance model. Both the mixing ratio and delta C-13 of atmospheric CO2 had significant linear relationships with the air quality index (AQI) and can be used to indicate local air pollution conditions. Energy structure optimization, for example, reducing coal consumption, will improve the local air conditions in Beijing. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved