Determination of greenhouse gases in five capitals in different Brazilian biomes

Abstract

In a world in constant change, the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG), the processes leading to CO2 capture and the mitigation of GHG concentrations to control global warming, are relevant. In this study, the concentrations of CO2, CH4 e N2O were determined in five capitals located in the three main Brazilian biomes: Curitiba, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Mata Atlântica, Brasília in Cerrado and Belém in Amazônia. The sampling and chemical analysis was performed using a low-cost analytical method developed by some of the authors of this study. The CO2, CH4 e N2O concentrations were in the intervals 391- 542 ppmv, 1,74-2,31 ppmv e 263-342 ppbv, respectively. The determined values are in good agreement with values reported for other urban areas around the world and do not present an important difference for samples collected, in the same city, for vegetated and no-vegetated areas, which is probably due to the rapid transport of air masses and the global effect of green areas as carbon quenchers. Nevertheless, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, CO2 concentrations were clearly lower than in the other cities, suggesting the importance of compacted forested areas, mainly secondary forest and re-forested areas, in the process of carbon capture.