Isotopic Composition of Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide

California Institute Of Technology, Pasadena CA

Investigators

Abstract

The project is extending work on isotopic fractionation of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the purpose of elucidating the budgets and the processes that contribute to the sources and sinks of these greenhouse gases. A combination of two- and three-dimensional models are being applied to relate the observed atmospheric isotopic fractionations to various biospheric processes that will help constrain the values of their sources and sinks. This work is contributing to the understanding of two atmospheric trace gases that are likely to play a major role in future climate change.