Evaluation of the isotopic disequilibrium in the terrestrial biosphere by a global carbon isotope model

Assessing the global budget for atmospheric CO 2 through analyses of observed atmospheric and oceanic data sets, some approaches rely partially upon estimates on the magnitude of the isotopic disequilibrium between the terrestrial biosphere and the perturbed atmosphere. To test if these estimates agree with the results of grid-based global carbon cycle models, we developed a module that considers the carbon cycle of the stable isotope 13 C, besides 12 C, and coupled it with the high-resolution biosphere model. The module describes the fluxes of carbon in the system compartments phytomass, litter, soil, and atmosphere, separately for 13 C and 12 C. It enables us to predict the changes of the isotope ratios in historical times. Based on a transient model run since preindustrial times forced by observed atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and its 13 C/ 12 C ratios we find a global mean terrestrial biosphere 13 C disequilibrium of 0.41‰ (18 Pg C‰ yr -1 ) for the period 1970-1987. This result is consistent with the estimates used in global carbon budget analyses.