Taduesz Kuc

Abstract

Systematic investigations of the isotopic composition in atmospheric C02 and its concentration in Cracow urban area have been carried on at the Environmental Physics De-partment, Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Tbchniques. Continuous sampling at biweekly intervals was supplemented by series of samples representing four-hour periods. Comparison with the similar researches from the other world reference stations enabled estimation of the anthropogenic changes in one of the most degraded region of Poland. Besides this our observations indicate that world isotopic trends noticed by "clean" stations are also registered in Cracow. Concentration of the atmospheric C02 in Cracow along the last ten years is almost constant reaching very high value: 372.5 ppmv if compared with the station at Mauna Loa, Hawaii (ca. 345 ppmv), and does not indicate the remarkable increasing tendency. One can explain this situation by constant level or even decrease in total volume of the burned fossil fuels in Poland, and neighbouring countries.

Keywords: fossil fuels, radiocarbon, CO2 concentration, stable isotopes

Taduesz Kuc, Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Tbchniques University of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow
Mirosław Zimnoch, Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Techniques The Academy of Mining and Metallurgy Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland