Stable carbon isotopic composition of tree rings from a pine tree from Augustów Wilderness,Poland, as a temperature and local environment conditions indicator

Tree rings can be used as archives of climatic and environmental data with annual resolution. Tree rings widths, maximum late wood density and other parameters as stable composition in tree rings can be used for the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental changes. Stable carbon isotope ratios in tree rings may provide valuable information on past climatic conditions. ¹³C/¹²C ratios of plant organic matter can reflect corresponding ¹³C/¹²C ratio of atmospheric CO₂ during formation of the rings. Investigations of isotopic carbon composition in tree rings from in the ecologically clean the Augustów Wilderness region in the north-eastern part of Poland (22°58′E, 53°51′N) (nowadays a sanctuary) were undertaken. Series of δ¹³C in α-cellulose and in wholewood were acquired. Those measurements constituted a part of more complex investigations of carbon isotope composition in tree rings including the measurements of radiocarbon concentration and tree ring widths. This article presents preliminary results. It is argued that contrary to the tree ring widths and δ¹³C in wholewood that do not reveal significant correlation with temperature, the variation of δ¹³C in the latewood α-cellulose is correlated with combined July and August temperatures.     

Stable carbon isotopes of glucose received from pine tree-rings as bioindicators of local industrial emission of CO2 in Niepołomice Forest (1950–2000)

The mass spectrometric investigations of carbon isotope composition of glucose received from α-cellulose samples derived from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in Niepo?omice Forest were the main aim of this study. The annual rings covered the time span from 1950 to 2000. α-Cellulose samples were extracted from increment cores of four representative trees, and then acid hydrolysis was performed. The number of sunshine hours, thermal and pluvial conditions of the growing season and in the preceding months had a significant effect on pine. Also non-climatic factors, most likely by industrial pollution signal, have been recorded in the isotopic composition of glucose. The relationship between climatic conditions, carbon dioxide emission and annual tree-rings carbon isotopic composition was analysed, using methods of correlation and response function, and multiple regression function.     

Isotopic composition of sulphates from meteoric precipitation as an indicator of pollutant origin in Wrocław (SW Poland)

This paper describes the results of isotopic analyses of (i) hydrogen and oxygen in water (delta DH2O and delta18OH2O ) and (ii) sulphur and oxygen in sulphates (delta34Ssulphate and delta18Osulphate) from atmospheric precipitation collected within a one-year period between 25 May 2004 and 25 May 2005 in Wroc?aw (SW Poland). The resulting equation of Local Meteoric Water Line for Wroc?aw is delta D=6.373xdelta18O-0.047, (r2=0.97, n=32). The delta34Ssulphate varies from 1.1 to 4.2 per thousand (with an average of 2.5 per thousand), delta18Osulphate varies from 9.0 to 16.7 per thousand (with an average of 13.8 per thousand) and delta18OH2O varies from-0.8 to-16.3 per thousand (with an average of-8.2 per thousand). The above results indicate two main sources of sulphates in Wroc?aw precipitation: (i) low-temperature secondary sulphates forming in situ in Wroc?aw from the atmospheric SO2 as well as precipitation water (heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways oxidation) and (ii) high-temperature primary sulphates forming in rapid high-temperature hydratation of SO3- in an immediate proximity of industrial chimneys. We hypothesise that the secondary low-temperature type of sulphates is probably formed from the local sulphur and oxygen reservoirs, whereas the primary high-temperature type is allochthonous and it is probably transported from industrial areas located outside of Wroc?aw.     

Diurnal variability of delta13C and delta18O of atmospheric CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Kraków, Poland

This article presents the results of measurements of the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, performed on air samples from Kraków (Southern Poland) in different seasons of the year. A simple isotope mass balance model has been applied to determine the contributions of different sources of CO2 to the urban atmosphere of Kraków city: the latitudinal/regional background, biospheric contributions and anthropogenic emissions. The calculations show that during the summer and early autumn the dominant contribution to local CO2 peaks is the biosphere, making up to 20% of atmospheric CO2 during the nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower troposphere. During early spring and winter, anthropogenic emissions are the main local source.     

Diurnal variability of δ13C and δ18O of atmospheric CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Kraków,Poland

This article presents the results of measurements of the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, performed on air samples from Kraków (Southern Poland) in different seasons of the year. A simple isotope mass balance model has been applied to determine the contributions of different sources of CO₂ to the urban atmosphere of Kraków city: the latitudinal/regional background, biospheric contributions and anthropogenic emissions. The calculations show that during the summer and early autumn the dominant contribution to local CO₂ peaks is the biosphere, making up to 20% of atmospheric CO₂ during the nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower troposphere. During early spring and winter, anthropogenic emissions are the main local source.     

Experimental study of the E(m, λ)/E(m, 1064) ratio as a function of wavelength,fuel type,height above the burner and temperature

The optical properties of soot have been studied for many years with a particular attention focused on refractive index. In the present study, the two-excitation wavelength laser-induced incandescence technique has been applied to determine the ratio of the soot absorption function as a function of the wavelength. The advantage of this technique is to provide the determination of the E(m) ratio using a non-intrusive laser-based method without being disturbed by scattering. Measurements have been carried out in a methane premixed flat flame and in a diesel turbulent spray one. Four pairs of wavelength have been used to evaluate the spectral behavior of E(m) ratios from ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR). The two-excitation wavelength LII method implies heating soot the same way using two different laser excitations. Particular operating conditions must be selected to insure the equality of the LII signals, such an equality being necessary to derive the E(m) ratio. A laser excitation at 1064 nm has been chosen as a reference, and the obtained results have been compared with those issued from the use of UV and visible wavelengths of 266, 355, 532 and 660 nm. Results show a significant decrease of the E(m) ratio from UV to visible while it tends to become constant from 532 nm to NIR. The use of different experimental conditions allows to analyze the dependence of the E(m) ratios with the height above the burner, the fuel type and the soot temperature. No significant influence of these parameters has been pointed out on the relative E(m) values determined in the flame conditions investigated here.