Vulcan version 4.0 high-resolution annual fossil fuel and cement production carbon dioxide emissions in the United States for the 2010-2022 time period

Vulcan version 4.0 is a dataset representing annual United States carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel and cement production at high spatial resolution for the 2010-2022 time period. It provides an update and improvements to the Vulcan version 3.0 data product previously available and reported in the literature. Emissions are separately reported as a total and by economic sector and fuel type. While the “native” spatial resolution of Vulcan is at the point, line, and US Census block spatial scale, we report here on the results placed into a 1 km x 1 km spatial grid at an annual time resolution. The approach uses multiple federal, state, and local data sources to estimate the CO₂ emission magnitude and distribute those emissions in space and time associated with patterns related to the underlying combustion technology, infrastructure, and human behavior. Given the increased interest in greenhouse gas mitigation at sub-national scales, particularly cities, this data offers the opportunity to better understand the emitting landscape and craft more targeted, efficient policy instruments. The Vulcan output also offers the scientific community CO₂ emissions applicable to a wide range of study fields, including carbon cycle science, climate science, environmental policy, urban planning, and socioeconomic research.