The annual cycle of fossil‐fuel carbon dioxide emissions in the United States

• Published in: Tellus. Series B, Chemical and physical meteorology Vol. 57; no. 2; pp. 107 - 115
• Main Authors: BLASING, T. J., BRONIAK, C. T., MARLAND, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 9600 Garsington Road , Oxford OX4 2DQ , UK , USA Munksgaard International Publishers 01.04.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Carbon; Carbon cycle; Carbon dioxide; carbon dioxide emissions; Coal; Combustion and energy production; Emission analysis; Environmental engineering; Estimates; Exact sciences and technology; Miljöteknik; Natural gas; Other technology; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; TECHNOLOGY; TEKNIKVETENSKAP; Winter; Övriga teknikvetenskaper; United States; North America; America; USA; Energy consumption; Annual variation; Power production; Carbon dioxide; Troposphere; Pollutant emission; Petroleum; Emission inventory; Seasonal variation; Greenhouse gas; Coal; Pollution source; Fossil fuel; Air pollution; Natural gas; Anthropogenic factor
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2005.00136.x
• ISSN: 0280-6509; 1600-0889

ABSTRACT Time‐series of estimated monthly carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of coal, petroleum and natural gas in the United States from 1981 to 2002 have been derived from energy consumption data. The data series for coal and natural gas each reveal a consistent seasonal pattern, with a winter peak for gas and two peaks (summer and winter) for coal. The annual cycle of total emissions has an amplitude of about 20 Tg‐C, and is dominated by CO2 released from consumption of natural gas. Summation of the monthly estimates to obtain annual values reveals good agreement with other estimates of CO2 emissions. The varying proportions of CO2 emitted from each fuel type over the course of a year lead to an annual cycle in the carbon isotope ratio (δ13C), with a range of about 2 ‰. These monthly carbon emissions estimates should be helpful in understanding the carbon cycle by providing (1) monthly/seasonal input for carbon cycle models, (2) estimates of the annual cycle of the 13C isotope ratio in fossil‐fuel CO2 emissions and (3) data at fine enough time intervals to investigate effects of seasonal climate variations and changes in seasonally dependent use patterns of certain appliances (e.g. air conditioners) on fossil‐fuel carbon emissions.