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Differences between carbon dioxide levels over suburban and rural sites in Northern Spain

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Abstract

Purpose

A comparison between suburban and rural atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in Northern Spain is made.

Method

Measurements were carried out from April 2006 to November 2007 using MIR 9000 continuous analyzers based on the infrared technique. Two locations were established: a suburban site in Valladolid, a medium-sized city, and a rural location at CIBA, approximately 24 km northwest of Valladolid.

Results and conclusions

Mean suburban CO2 concentrations are 4.5 ppm higher than rural levels. Frequencies of suburban concentrations from 400 to 450 ppm were around twice the rural frequencies. The suburban daily evolution presented two maxima in the predawn hours and at 1900–2000 GMT, mainly associated to anthropogenic emissions which also affected maximum concentrations recorded in autumn–winter and minimum levels in summer. The rural variation with minimum values during the day and high levels at night is mainly related to vegetation activity which also impacts the highest CO2 concentrations obtained in spring, coinciding with maximum vegetation growth. Boundary layer processes also affected variability of concentrations recorded at both sites. Air quality at the rural site was also influenced by air mass transport from the urban plume (S, SSE, and ESE), which had a mean CO2 value of 402 ppm. By contrast, concentrations were low when SW–W and NW winds prevailed and brought cleaner air. The relationship between rural CO2 concentrations and wind speed using a mathematical fit provides a valuable estimation of the background level at the site, 384.8 ppm.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, ERDF funds, and the Regional Government of Castilla y León.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, c/ Prado de la Magdalena s/n, 47071, Valladolid, Spain

    Ma Ángeles García, Ma Luisa Sánchez & Isidro A. Pérez

Authors
  1. Ma Ángeles García
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  2. Ma Luisa Sánchez
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  3. Isidro A. Pérez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ma Ángeles García.

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Responsible editor: Euripides Stephanou

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García, M.Á., Sánchez, M.L. & Pérez, I.A. Differences between carbon dioxide levels over suburban and rural sites in Northern Spain. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 432–439 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0575-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0575-4

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