Scientific Resources

For individuals looking to find scientific publications relating to: (1) carbon isotopes of carbon dioxide, (2) stable isotope measurement methods, (3) radiocarbon measurement methods, and (4) isotope modeling, the following list provides an initial source of references. Measurement methods described in the following methodology papers relate specifically to the methods employed at INSTAAR (University of Colorado's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research) for NOAA's Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Group.

Selected scientific references:

Stable isotope measurement methods at NOAA/INSTAAR

  • Vaughn, B. H., D. F. Ferretti, J. B. Miller, and J. W. C. White (2004), Stable isotope measurements of atmospheric CO2 and CH4, in Handbook of stable isotope analytical techniques, edited, Elsevier BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Trolier, M., J. W. C. White, P. P. Tans, K. A. Masarie, and P. A. Gemery (1996), Monitoring the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2: measurements from the NOAA global air sampling network, J. Geophys. Res., 101(D20), 25897-25916.

Radiocarbon measurement methods at NOAA/INSTAAR

  • Turnbull, J. C., S. J. Lehman, J. B. Miller, R. J. Sparks, J. R. Southon, and P. P. Tans (2007), A new high precision 14CO2 time series for North American continental air, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D11310.
  • Turnbull, J. C., S. J. Lehman, S. Morgan, and C. Wolak (2010), A new automated extraction system for 14C measurement in atmospheric CO2, Radiocarbon, in press.
  • Lehman, S.J., Miller, J., Turnbull, J., Southon, J., Tans, P., and C. Sweeney, (in press). 14CO2 measurements in the NOAA/ESRL Global Co-operative Sampling Network: An update on measurements and data quality.  Expert Group Recommendations from the 15th WMO/IAEA Meeting of Experts on Carbon Dioxide, _Other Greenhouse Gases, and Related Tracer _Measurement Techniques, Jena.

Stable isotopes in CO2

Radiocarbon in CO2

14CO2 as a tracer for fossil fuel CO2
14CO2 modeling
  • Turnbull, J. C., P. J. Rayner, J. B. Miller, T. Naegler, P. Ciais, and A. Cozic (2009), On the use of 14CO2 as a tracer for fossil fuel CO2: quantifying uncertainties using an atmospheric transport model, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D22302.
  • Randerson, J., I. G. Enting, E. A. G. Schuur, K. Caldeira, and I. Y. Fung (2002), Seasonal and latitudinal variability of troposphere Δ14CO2: post bomb contributions from fossil fuels, oceans, the stratosphere, and the terrestrial biosphere, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 16(4), 1112.