Dataset Information

Detecting fossil fuel emissions patterns from subcontinental regions using North American in situ CO₂ measurements.

ABSTRACT: The ability to monitor fossil fuel carbon dioxide (FFCO₂) emissions from subcontinental regions using atmospheric CO₂ observations remains an important but unrealized goal. Here we explore a necessary but not sufficient component of this goal, namely, the basic question of the detectability of FFCO₂ emissions from subcontinental regions. Detectability is evaluated by examining the degree to which FFCO₂ emissions patterns from specific regions are needed to explain the variability observed in high-frequency atmospheric CO₂ observations. Analyses using a CO₂ monitoring network of 35 continuous measurement towers over North America show that FFCO₂ emissions are difficult to detect during nonwinter months. We find that the compounding effects of the seasonality of atmospheric transport patterns and the biospheric CO₂ flux signal dramatically hamper the detectability of FFCO₂ emissions. Results from several synthetic data case studies highlight the need for advancements in data coverage and transport model accuracy if the goal of atmospheric measurement-based FFCO₂ emissions detection and estimation is to be achieved beyond urban scales.

Key points

Poor detectability of fossil fuel CO₂ emissions from subcontinental regionsDetectability assessed via attribution of emissions patterns in atmospheric dataLoss in detectability due to transport modeling errors and biospheric signal.

SUBMITTER: Shiga YP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4373169 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Detecting fossil fuel emissions patterns from subcontinental regions using North American in situ CO2 measurements.

Shiga Yoichi P YP Michalak Anna M AM Gourdji Sharon M SM Mueller Kim L KL Yadav Vineet V

Geophysical research letters 20140624 12

The ability to monitor fossil fuel carbon dioxide (FFCO2) emissions from subcontinental regions using atmospheric CO2 observations remains an important but unrealized goal. Here we explore a necessary but not sufficient component of this goal, namely, the basic question of the detectability of FFCO2 emissions from subcontinental regions. Detectability is evaluated by examining the degree to which FFCO2 emissions patterns from specific regions are neede ...[more]

PMID: 25821266

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Project description:BackgroundCities contribute more than 70% of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and are leading the effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable planning and development. However, urban greenhouse gas mitigation often relies on self-reported emissions estimates that may be incomplete and unverifiable via atmospheric monitoring of GHGs. We present the Hestia Scope 1 fossil fuel CO2 (FFCO2) emissions for the city of Baltimore, Maryland-a gridded annual and hourly emissions data product for 2010 through 2015 (Hestia-Baltimore v1.6). We also compare the Hestia-Baltimore emissions to overlapping Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions in Baltimore's self-reported inventory for 2014.ResultsThe Hestia-Baltimore emissions in 2014 totaled 1487.3 kt C (95% confidence interval of 1158.9-1944.9 kt C), with the largest emissions coming from onroad (34.2% of total city emissions), commercial (19.9%), residential (19.0%), and industrial (11.8%) sectors. Scope 1 electricity production and marine shipping were each generally less than 10% of the city's total emissions. Baltimore's self-reported Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions included onroad, natural gas consumption in buildings, and some electricity generating facilities within city limits. The self-reported Scope 1 FFCO2 total of 1182.6 kt C was similar to the sum of matching emission sectors and fuels in Hestia-Baltimore v1.6. However, 20.5% of Hestia-Baltimore's emissions were in sectors and fuels that were not included in the self-reported inventory. Petroleum use in buildings were omitted and all Scope 1 emissions from industrial point sources, marine shipping, nonroad vehicles, rail, and aircraft were categorically excluded.ConclusionsThe omission of petroleum combustion in buildings and categorical exclusions of several sectors resulted in an underestimate of total Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions in Baltimore's self-reported inventory. Accurate Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions, along with Scope 2 and 3 emissions, are needed to inform effective urban policymaking for system-wide GHG mitigation. We emphasize the need for comprehensive Scope 1 emissions estimates for emissions verification and measuring progress towards Scope 1 GHG mitigation goals using atmospheric monitoring.

Dataset Information

Detecting fossil fuel emissions patterns from subcontinental regions using North American in situ CO₂ measurements.

Key points

Publications

Detecting fossil fuel emissions patterns from subcontinental regions using North American in situ CO<sub>2</sub> measurements.

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