Abstract
Since the publication of a paper by Peng et al. (1983) regarding the analysis of the tree-ring-based δ13C record,* a number of reports giving new measurements of δ13C in tree rings have emerged (Leavitt and Long 1983; Stuiver et al. 1984; Freyer, this volume; Stuiver, this volume). The results of the original analysis were based on a global 13C/12C trend compiled by Freyer and Belacy (1983). Freyer (this volume) recalculated the 13C/12C trend of the Northern Hemisphere using measurements on 65 trees, including those presented in the publication of Leavitt and Long (1983), and he concluded that no long-term trend exists during the period of a few centuries before 1800 AD. By contrast, a clear trend of decreasing 13C was observed after 1800 AD. Freyer estimated the overall decrease of δ13C from 1800 to 1980 AD to be about −1.5‰, which is 0.5‰ less than that obtained from the composite 13C trend used by Peng et al. (1983). Therefore, a reevaluation of the terrestrial biosphere contribution to the lowering of δ13C in the atmospheric CO2 seems appropriate. This is the main objective of this chapter.
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Peng, TH., Freyer, H.D. (1986). Revised Estimates of Atmospheric CO2 Variations Based on the Tree-Ring 13C Record. In: Trabalka, J.R., Reichle, D.E. (eds) The Changing Carbon Cycle. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1915-4_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1915-4_8
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