EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Cerveny & Coakley 2002
Cerveny, R.S. and Coakley, K.J. (2002). A weekly cycle in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2001GL013952. issn: 0094-8276.

We present a new statistic called the Mean Symmetrized Residual (MSR) for detection and quantification of a weekly cycle in measured daily atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). At the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, we conclude that CO2 concentrations, on average, are significantly lower (0.022 parts per million by volume, ppmv) on weekends (Saturday--Sunday) than during the rest of the week. Over the past twenty-five years, the variation of the mean values of MSR (as a function of day of the week) has been relatively stable. We speculate that the observed weekday/weekend variation in CO2 at Mauna Loa is the result of anthropogenic emissions on Hawaii and nearby sources. We do not detect a weekly cycle in daily CO2 concentration measured at South Pole, Antarctica. This methodology has applicability to a variety of datasets.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Biosphere/atmosphere interactions, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Pollution--urban and regional, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Instruments and techniques, Global Change, Atmosphere (0315, 0325)
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit