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Detection and variability of combustion-derived vapor in an urban basin
oleh: R. P. Fiorella, R. Bares, J. C. Lin, J. C. Lin, J. R. Ehleringer, J. R. Ehleringer, G. J. Bowen, G. J. Bowen
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Copernicus Publications 2018-06-01 |
Deskripsi
Water emitted during combustion may comprise a significant portion of ambient humidity (> 10 %) in urban areas, where combustion emissions are strongly focused in space and time. Stable water vapor isotopes can be used to apportion measured humidity values between atmospherically transported and combustion-derived water vapor, as combustion-derived vapor possesses an unusually negative deuterium excess value (d-excess, <i>d</i> = <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H − 8<i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O). We investigated the relationship between the d-excess of atmospheric vapor, ambient CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations, and atmospheric stability across four winters in Salt Lake City, Utah. We found a robust inverse relationship between CO<sub>2</sub> excess above background and d-excess on sub-diurnal to seasonal timescales, which was most prominent during periods of strong atmospheric stability that occur during Salt Lake City winter. Using a Keeling-style mixing model approach, and assuming a molar ratio of H<sub>2</sub>O to CO<sub>2</sub> in emissions of 1.5, we estimated the d-excess of combustion-derived vapor in Salt Lake City to be −179 ± 17 ‰, consistent with the upper limit of theoretical estimates. Based on this estimate, we calculate that vapor from fossil fuel combustion often represents 5–10 % of total urban humidity, with a maximum estimate of 16.7 %, consistent with prior estimates for Salt Lake City. Moreover, our analysis highlights that changes in the observed d-excess during periods of high atmospheric stability cannot be explained without a vapor source possessing a strongly negative d-excess value. Further refinements in this humidity apportionment method, most notably empirical validation of the d-excess of combustion vapor or improvements in the estimation of the background d-excess value in the absence of combustion, can yield more certain estimates of the impacts of fossil fuel combustion on urban humidity and meteorology.