New insights into the global carbon cycle from measurements of CO2 stable isotopes: methodological improvements and interpretation of a new EPICA Dome C ice core d13C record ...

• Main Author: Elsig, Joachim
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: :unas 2009
• Subjects: 530 Physics; Antarctic; Concordia Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; EPICA; ice core
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48350/192491; https://boris.unibe.ch/192491/

In this work, the isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the last 22’000 years is analyzed. For that purpose, measurements of δ13 C and δ18 O on CO2 extracted from air bubbles enclosed in Antarctic ice were performed. The ice core was drilled at Concordia Station (Dome C) in the framework of the EPICA project (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica). Other ice core analyses revealed past atmospheric CO2 variations from 180 ppmv during glacial to 300 ppmv during interglacial periods respectively (1-3). The mechanisms behind these changes however, are still not fully understood. Since the reservoirs of the carbon cycle (atmosphere, biosphere, ocean and sediments) have different carbon isotope signatures, measurements of δ13 C on atmospheric CO 2 have the potential to assess past variations in the carbon cycle and its portioning to reservoir exchange fluxes. The thesis is divided in five main chapters as follows. Chapter 1 In Chapter 1 a general introduction on ice cores, isotopes and ...