• \
    Start Submission Become a Reviewer

    Reading: Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use, 1751–1950

    Download

     A- A+
    Alt. Display

    Original Research Papers

    Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use, 1751–1950

    Authors:

    R. J. Andres ,

    Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, US
    X close

    D. J. Fielding,

    Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, US
    X close

    G. Marland,

    Environmental Sciences Division, US
    X close

    T. A. Boden,

    Environmental Sciences Division, US
    X close

    N. Kumar,

    153 East 53rd Street, New York, US
    X close

    A. T. Kearney

    153 East 53rd Street, New York, US
    X close

    Abstract

    Newly compiled energy statistics allow for an estimation of the complete time series of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel use for the years 1751 to the present. The time series begins with 3 × 106 metric tonnes carbon (C). This initial flux represents the early stages of the fossil-fuel era. The CO2 flux increased exponentially until World War I. The time series derived here seamlessly joins the modern 1950 to present time series. Total cumulative CO2 emissions through 1949 were 61.0 × 109 tonnes C from fossil-fuel use, virtually all since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution around 1860. The rate of growth continues to grow during present times, generating debate on the probability of enhanced greenhouse warming. In addition to global totals, national totals and 1° global distributions of the data have been calculated.

    How to Cite: Andres, R.J., Fielding, D.J., Marland, G., Boden, T.A., Kumar, N. and Kearney, A.T., 1999. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use, 1751–1950. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 51(4), pp.759–765. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v51i4.16483
      Published on 01 Jan 1999
    Peer Reviewed
     CC BY 4.0
     Accepted on 28 Dec 1998            Submitted on 8 Jul 1998

    References

    1. Andres , R. J. , Marland , G. , Boden , T. and Bischof , S. 1999 . Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel con-sumption and cement manufacture , 1751 – 1991 ; and an estimate of their isotopic composition and latitudinal distribution. In 1993 Global Change Institute (edited by T. Wigley and D. Schimel ). Cambridge University Press , Oxford , in press .  

    2. Andres , R. J. , Marland , G. , Fung , I. and Matthews , E. 1996 . A one degree by one degree distribution of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption and cement manufacture, 1950-1990 . Glob. Biogeo-chem. Cycles 10 , 419 – 429 .  

    3. Boden , T. A. , Marland , G. and Andres , R. J. 1995 . Estimates of global, regional, and national annual CO, emissions from fossil-fuel burning, hydraulic cement production, and gas flaring: 1950 – 1992 . Oak Ridge National Laboratory. ORNL/CDIAC-90, NDP-030/ R6, Oak Ridge, TN.  

    4. Etemad , B. , Luciani , J. , Bairoch , P. and Toutain , J.-C. 1991 . World energy production 1800-1985 . Librairie DROZ , Geneva .  

    5. Etheridge , D. M. , Steele , L. P. , Langenfelds , R. L. , Francey , R. J. , Barnola , J.-M. and Morgan , V. I. 1996 . Natural and anthropogenic changes in atmospheric CO2 over the last 1000 years from air in Antarctic ice and firn . J. Geophys. Res . 101 , 4115 – 4128 .  

    6. Friedli , H. , Lotscher , H. , Oeschger , H. , Siegenthaler , U. and Stauffer , B. 1986 . Ice core record of “C/12C ratio of atmospheric CO2 in the past two centuries . Nature 324 , 237 – 238 .  

    7. Keeling , C. D. 1973 . Industrial production of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and limestone . Tellus 25 , 174 – 198 .  

    8. Keeling , C. D. , Bacastow , R. B. , Carter A. F. , Piper , S. C. , Whorf , T. P. , Heimann , M. , Mook , W. G. and Roeloffzen , H. 1989a . A three-dimensional model of atmospheric CO2 transport based on observed winds (1). Analysis and observational data. In aspects of climate variability in the Pacific and Western Americas. Geophysical Monograph 55 (edited by D. H. Peterson ). American Geophysical Union , Washington, DC , pp. 165 – 236 .  

    9. Keeling , C. D. , Piper , S. C. and Heimann , M. 1989b . A three-dimensional model of atmospheric CO2 transport based on observed winds (4). Mean annual gradients and interannual variations. In aspects of climate variability in the Pacific and Western Americas. Geo-physical Monograph 55 (edited by D. H. Peterson ). American Geophysical Union , Washington, DC , pp. 305 – 363 .  

    10. Keeling , C. D. , Whorf , T. P. , Wahlen , M. and Van der Plicht , J. 1995 . Interannual extremes in the rate of rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide since 1980 . Nature 375 , 666 – 670 .  

    11. Marland , G. and Boden , T. A. 1993 . The magnitude and distribution of fossil-fuel-related carbon releases . In The global carbon cycle (edited by M. Heimann ). Springer-Verlag , New York , pp. 117 – 138 .  

    12. Marland , G. and Rotty , R. M. 1984 . Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels: A procedure for estimation and results for 1950-1982 . Tellus 36B , 232 – 261 .  

    13. Marland , G. , Andres , R. J. , Boden , T. A. and Johnston , C. 1998 . Global, regional and national CO, emission estimates from fossil fuel burning, cement production, and gas flaring: 1751 – 1995 ( revised January 1998). ORNL/ CDIAC NDP-030/R8, http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/ndps/ndp030.html .  

    14. Mitchell , B. R. 1983 . International historical statistics: the Americas and Australasia 1750-1988 . Gale Research Company , Detroit , pp. 522 – 525 .  

    15. Mitchell , B. R. 1992 . International historical statistics: Europe 1750-1988 . Stockton Press , New York , pp. 465 – 485 .  

    16. Mitchell , B. R. 1993 . International historical statistics: the Americas 1750-1988 . Stockton Press , New York , pp. 405 – 414 .  

    17. Mitchell , B. R. 1995 . International historical statistics: Africa, Asia and Oceania 1750-1988 . Stockton Press , New York , pp. 490 – 497 .  

    18. Neftel , A. , Moor , E. , Oeschger , H. and Stauffer , B. 1985 . Evidence from polar ice cores for the increase in atmo-spheric CO2 in the past two centuries . Nature 315 , 45 – 47 .  

    Jump to Discussions Related content
    comments powered by Disqus