The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source
We have performed high-precision measurements of the 18 O and position dependent 15 N isotopic composition of N 2 O from Antarctic firn air samples. By comparing these data to simulations carried out with a firn air diffusion model, we have reconstructed the temporal evolution of the N 2 O isotope s...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/315/2003/ |
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:acp3486 2023-05-15T13:55:27+02:00 The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M. 2018-06-29 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/315/2003/ eng eng doi:10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/315/2003/ eISSN: 1680-7324 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 2019-12-24T09:59:34Z We have performed high-precision measurements of the 18 O and position dependent 15 N isotopic composition of N 2 O from Antarctic firn air samples. By comparing these data to simulations carried out with a firn air diffusion model, we have reconstructed the temporal evolution of the N 2 O isotope signatures since pre-industrial times. The heavy isotope content of atmospheric N 2 O is presently decreasing for all signatures at rates of about -0.038 %o yr -1 for 1 d 15 N, -0.046 %o yr -1 for 2 d 15 N and -0.025 %o yr -1 for d 18 O. The total decrease since pre-industrial times is estimated to be about -1.8%o for 1 d 15 N at both positions and -2.2%o for 2 d 15 N. Isotope budget calculations using these trends and recent stratospheric measurements allow to isotopically characterize the present and the pre-industrial global average N 2 O source, as well as the additional N 2 O emissions that have caused the global N 2 O increase since pre-industrial times. The increased fluxes from the depleted surface sources alone are insufficient to explain the inferred temporal isotope changes. In addition, the global average N 2 O source signature is calculated to be significantly depleted today relative to the pre-industrial value, in agreement with recent indications from soil emission measurements. Text Antarc* Antarctic Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Antarctic Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 3 2 315 323 |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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English |
description |
We have performed high-precision measurements of the 18 O and position dependent 15 N isotopic composition of N 2 O from Antarctic firn air samples. By comparing these data to simulations carried out with a firn air diffusion model, we have reconstructed the temporal evolution of the N 2 O isotope signatures since pre-industrial times. The heavy isotope content of atmospheric N 2 O is presently decreasing for all signatures at rates of about -0.038 %o yr -1 for 1 d 15 N, -0.046 %o yr -1 for 2 d 15 N and -0.025 %o yr -1 for d 18 O. The total decrease since pre-industrial times is estimated to be about -1.8%o for 1 d 15 N at both positions and -2.2%o for 2 d 15 N. Isotope budget calculations using these trends and recent stratospheric measurements allow to isotopically characterize the present and the pre-industrial global average N 2 O source, as well as the additional N 2 O emissions that have caused the global N 2 O increase since pre-industrial times. The increased fluxes from the depleted surface sources alone are insufficient to explain the inferred temporal isotope changes. In addition, the global average N 2 O source signature is calculated to be significantly depleted today relative to the pre-industrial value, in agreement with recent indications from soil emission measurements. |
format |
Text |
author |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M. |
spellingShingle |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M. The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
author_facet |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M. |
author_sort |
Röckmann, T. |
title |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
title_short |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
title_full |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
title_fullStr |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
title_full_unstemmed |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N2O source |
title_sort |
isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic n2o source |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/315/2003/ |
geographic |
Antarctic |
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Antarctic |
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Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_source |
eISSN: 1680-7324 |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/315/2003/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-315-2003 |
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Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
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3 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
315 |
op_container_end_page |
323 |
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1766262075089223680 |