Articles | Volume 23, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14349-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14349-2023
Research article
 | 
20 Nov 2023
Research article |  | 20 Nov 2023

Sources and long-term variability of carbon monoxide at Mount Kenya and in Nairobi

Leonard Kirago, Örjan Gustafsson, Samuel Mwaniki Gaita, Sophie L. Haslett, Michael J. Gatari, Maria Elena Popa, Thomas Röckmann, Christoph Zellweger, Martin Steinbacher, Jörg Klausen, Christian Félix, David Njiru, and August Andersson

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Cited articles

Andersson, A.: Mechanisms for log normal concentration distributions in the environment, Sci. Rep., 11, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96010-6, 2021. 
Andersson, A.: Air pollution status and sources of black carbon aerosols in Nairobi, Kenya, Bolin Centre database [data set], https://doi.org/10.17043/andersson-2022-nairobi-1, 2023. 
Andersson, A., Kirillova, E. N., Decesari, S., DeWitt, L., Gasore, J., Potter, K. E., Prinn, R. G., Rupakheti, M., de Dieu Ndikubwimana, J., Nkusi, J., and Safari, B.: Seasonal source variability of carbonaceous aerosols at the Rwanda Climate Observatory, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 4561–4573, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-4561-2020, 2020. 
Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M.: Measurement of the abundance of 14CO in the atmosphere and the 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratio of atmospheric CO with applications in New Zealand and Antarctica, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 10595–10614, https://doi.org/10.1029/93jd00587, 1993. 
Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M. and Röckmann, T.: Principal factors determining the 18O/16O ratio of atmospheric CO as derived from observations in the southern hemispheric troposphere and lowermost stratosphere, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 102, 25477–25485, https://doi.org/10.1029/97jd02291, 1997. 
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This study provides ground-observational evidence that supports earlier suggestions that savanna fires are the main emitters and modulators of carbon monoxide gas in Africa. Using isotope-based techniques, the study has shown that about two-thirds of this gas is emitted from savanna fires, while for urban areas, in this case Nairobi, primary sources approach 100 %. The latter has implications for air quality policy, suggesting primary emissions such as traffic should be targeted.
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