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Quantifying fossil fuel CO 2 (CO 2 ff) in the atmosphere provides a benchmark method to monitor anthropogenic carbon emissions. Radiocarbon (14C) in atmospheric CO 2 ff has been widely studied using the 14C in plants to document regional CO 2 ff patterns. However, annual CO 2 ff variations, reflecting spatial distributions based on plant samples, are still scarce. In this paper, the spatial distribution and temporal CO 2 ff changes in the Guanzhong Basin is established using Δ14C measurements from maize leaves collected in 2011 and 2012. With regard to spatial distribution, samples collected around Xi'an City showed lower Δ14C values (more CO 2 ff), while sites located near the perimeter of the basin showed higher Δ14C values (less CO 2 ff). This is likely due to the concentration of anthropogenic activities in the center of the Guanzhong Basin. The observed CO 2 ff mole fractions generally matched with PKU CO 2 inventory and the ODIAC CO 2 inventory data in the spatial distribution trend. However, it seems that thermal power plants were not well captured by the PKU CO 2 inventory. Our results provide useful information for the improvement of the inventory and verification of regional carbon cycle models. • The Δ14C in maize leaves for 2011 and 2012 were analyzed in Guanzhong Basin. • Spatial distribution of CO 2 ff mole fractions in Guanzhong Basin were studied. • The spatial pattern of observed CO 2 ff matches with the CO 2 inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]