Distributions of fossil fuel originated CO2 in five metropolitan areas of Korea (Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju) according to the Δ14C in ginkgo leaves

Abstract We collected a batch of ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba Linnaeus ) leaf samples at five metropolitan areas of Korea (Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju) in 2009 to obtain the regional distribution of fossil fuel originated CO 2 (fossil fuel CO 2 ) in the atmosphere. Regions assumed to be free of fossil fuel CO 2 were also selected, namely Mt. Chiak, Mt. Kyeryong, Mt. Jiri, Anmyeon Island, and Jeju Island and ginkgo leaf samples were collected in those areas during the same period. The Δ 14 C values of the samples were measured using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and the fossil fuel CO 2 ratios in the atmosphere were obtained in the five metropolitan areas. The average ratio of fossil fuel CO 2 in Seoul was higher than that in the other four cities. The leaves from the Sajik Tunnel in Seoul recorded the highest FFCTC (fossil fuel CO 2 over total CO 2 in atmosphere), 13.9 ± 0.5%, as the air flow of the surrounding neighborhood of the Sajik Tunnel was blocked.