Reconstructing Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Using Its Relationship with Carbon Isotope Variations in Annual Tree Ring of Red Pine

Carbon isotope ratio ($^{13}C/^{12}C$, expressed as ${\delta}^{13}C$) of tree ring can be proxy of atmospheric $CO_2$ concentration ([$CO_2$]) due to the inter-correlation between atmospheric [$CO_2$], ${\delta}^{13}C$ of atmospheric $CO_2$, and ${\delta}^{13}C$ of plant tissue that assimilates atmospheric $CO_2$. This study was conducted to investigate if ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring of Pinus densiflora in polluted area may show a lower value than that in unpolluted area and to explore the possibility of reconstructing atmospheric [$CO_2$] using its relationship with ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring. During the period between 1999 and 2005, ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree annual ring tended to decrease over time, and the ${\delta}^{13}C$ in polluted area (-27.2‰ in 2009 to -28.3‰ in 2005) was significantly (P<0.001) lower than that (-26.0‰ in 1999 to -27.1‰ in 2005) in unpolluted area. This reflects a greater emission of $CO_2$ depleted in $^{13}C$ in the polluted area. Atmospheric [$CO_2$] was significantly (P<0.01) correlated with ${\delta}^{13}C$ of tree ring in a linear fashion. Using the linear regression equation, atmospheric [$CO_2$] in the polluted area was estimated to range from 392.3 ppm in 1999 to 410.9 ppm in 2005, and these values were consistently higher than the national atmospheric [$CO_2$] monitored at the Anmyoundo meteorological station (from 370.7 ppm in 1999 to 387.2 ppm in 2005). Our study suggested that it is possible to reconstruct atmospheric [$CO_2$] in a certain area using the relationship between tree ring ${\delta}^{13}C$ and atmospheric [$CO_2$].