Stable carbon isotope variation in C3 and C4 plants along the Amazon River

Nature ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 353 (6339) ◽  
pp. 57-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz A. Martinelli ◽  
Allan H. Devol ◽  
Reynaldo L. Victoria ◽  
Jeffrey E. Richey
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
C4 Plants ◽  
Amazon River ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
C3 And C4 Plants ◽  
Isotope Variation

Stable carbon isotopic composition of biomass burning emissions – implications for estimating the contribution of C3 and C4 plants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Dusek ◽  
Roland Vernooij ◽  
Anupam Shaikat ◽  
Chenxi Qiu ◽  
Elena Popa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Carbon Isotopic Composition ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
C4 Plants ◽  
C3 Plants ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
C3 And C4 Plants ◽  
First Results

<p>Biomass burning on the African continent emits large amounts of CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, and aerosols. Our aim is to use measurements of the stable carbon isotope <sup>13</sup>C in organic carbon, CO and CO<sub>2</sub> in biomass burning smoke to estimate the contribution of C3 plants (trees and bushes) and C4 plants (mainly Savannah grass), which have very distinct <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios. This is possible, if <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios are not significantly altered by the combustion process. This assumption is investigated in a series of laboratory experiments, where C3 and C4 plants (corn and willow wood), or C3-C4 plant mixtures are burned. The laboratory results are used to interpret the results of pilot studies of smoke sampled in African savannah fires.</p><p> </p><p>First results from the laboratory studies indicate that organic carbon (OC) from combustion of willow or corn shows <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios comparable to the burned plant material. For combustion of willow (C3), the <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios in OC tend to be slightly higher than in the wood fuel, depending on combustion conditions. For combustion of corn <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios of OC tend to be slightly lower than in the fuel. For mixtures of willow and corn the relationship between <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratios in the emitted organic carbon and the fuel mixture is slightly non-linear: For a 50-50% oak wood and corn mixture the <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratio in OC is closer to that of corn than that of willow. First results from pilot field studies indicate that a larger fraction of OC comes from trees and bushes, although mainly Savannah grass is burned in the investigated fires.</p>

Stable carbon isotope variation of n-alkanes in Central Graben oils

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 355-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malvin Bjorøy ◽  
Peter B. Hall ◽  
Rita P. Moe
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Isotope Variation
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