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UBC Theses and Dissertations
Observation and simulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide in Vancouver Reid, Kenneth Howard
Abstract
Climate change expected from increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations has been studied widely (IPCC, 1990). Further, it is recognized that cities are a major source of anthropogenic CO₂. However, few studies of CO₂ concentrations in, or near, cities have been conducted. A LI-COR infrared gas analyzer was operated at the Sunset Tower in a suburban region of Vancouver during different time periods in 1993 and 1994. Sampling revealed important information on seasonal and diurnal variations. The observed summertime concentrations show a clear diurnal signal around the expected upwind background concentration, and are described by a late afternoon minimum, and overnight maximum. The afternoon CO₂ minimum is attributed to the strength of biospheric photosynthesis and strong mixing of local anthropogenic sources within a large mixed layer. Poor nighttime mixing, lower mixed depths, and biospheric respiration account for the observed nighttime maximum, often more than 80 ppmv greater than the background concentration. A simple numerical multiple-box transport model was developed to simulate the observed diurnal pattern of CO₂ concentration at the suburban site. CO₂ emissions inventories for important mobile sources, stationary sources, and biospheric sources and sinks are calculated as input to the model for upwind fetch areas. Other CO₂ inputs include advection, entrainment from above the mixed layer and determination of the mixed layer depth. Results of both observations and modelling show large diurnal variation in CO₂ concentrations, and the importance of boundary layer structure (as defined by the mixed layer) on concentrations at a specific location. In terms of CO₂, the role of the city is placed in it global context.
Item Metadata
Title |
Observation and simulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide in Vancouver
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1995
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Description |
Climate change expected from increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations has been
studied widely (IPCC, 1990). Further, it is recognized that cities are a major source of
anthropogenic CO₂. However, few studies of CO₂ concentrations in, or near, cities have
been conducted. A LI-COR infrared gas analyzer was operated at the Sunset Tower in a
suburban region of Vancouver during different time periods in 1993 and 1994. Sampling
revealed important information on seasonal and diurnal variations. The observed summertime
concentrations show a clear diurnal signal around the expected upwind background
concentration, and are described by a late afternoon minimum, and overnight
maximum. The afternoon CO₂ minimum is attributed to the strength of biospheric photosynthesis
and strong mixing of local anthropogenic sources within a large mixed layer.
Poor nighttime mixing, lower mixed depths, and biospheric respiration account for the
observed nighttime maximum, often more than 80 ppmv greater than the background
concentration.
A simple numerical multiple-box transport model was developed to simulate the observed
diurnal pattern of CO₂ concentration at the suburban site. CO₂ emissions inventories
for important mobile sources, stationary sources, and biospheric sources and sinks
are calculated as input to the model for upwind fetch areas. Other CO₂ inputs include
advection, entrainment from above the mixed layer and determination of the mixed layer
depth.
Results of both observations and modelling show large diurnal variation in CO₂ concentrations,
and the importance of boundary layer structure (as defined by the mixed
layer) on concentrations at a specific location. In terms of CO₂, the role of the city is
placed in it global context.
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Extent |
10590927 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-01-27
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0052637
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1995-11
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.