Mar 24, 2014 - Human activities are altering global climate by emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)to the at-
Special Seminar Fingerprints of Human Impact: Isotopic Insight into Carbon Emissions from Soils to Cities Dr. Francesca Hopkins University of California, Irvine Human activities are altering global climate by emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. These carbon emissions can be detected by their unique isotopic signatures. I use isotopes to measure the impact of human activities on CO2 and CH4 emissions in urban and natural systems. I demonstrate how isotopes and other tracers are used to determine sources and spatial patterns of emissions in cities, and how isotopes provide insights into processes controlling carbon cycle feedbacks to climate. As future climate change is highly dependent on current and future C emissions, this research provides a quantitative basis for climate prediction and mitigation policy.
