Rapid response of tree cellulose radiocarbon content to changes in atmospheric 14CO2 concentration

P. M. Grootes; G. W. Farwell; F. H. Schmidt; D. D. Leach; M. Stuiver

doi:10.3402/tellusb.v41i2.15062

Rapid response of tree cellulose radiocarbon content to changes in atmospheric 14CO2 concentration

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 41 (1989): Issue 2

By: P. M. Grootes, G. W. Farwell, F. H. Schmidt, D. D. Leach and M. Stuiver

Open Access

|Jan 1989

Abstract

A detailed radial profile for the ¹⁴C concentration in tree stem cellulose, covering growth rings for the years 1962—1964, was obtained for a Sitka spruce of the US Pacific Coast using accelerator mass spectrometry. The tree cellulose ¹⁴C closely follows atmospheric ¹⁴CO₂ concentrations, responding to changes with an apparent delay of 5 to 6 weeks. The delay in response is mostly due to the addition of between 13% and 28% of biospheric CO₂ to the canopy-air CO₂ used by the tree for stem cellulose. Delayed incorporation and the use of stored photosynthate of the previous fall appear less important.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v41i2.15062 | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889

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Language: English

Page range: 134 - 148

Submitted on: Aug 26, 1986

Accepted on: Feb 8, 1988

Published on: Jan 1, 1989

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 1989 P. M. Grootes, G. W. Farwell, F. H. Schmidt, D. D. Leach, M. Stuiver, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 41 (1989): Issue 2