The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O 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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ftpubman:oai:pure.mpg.de:item_919581 2023-08-20T04:01:41+02:00 The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. 2003-03-21 http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0011-8F1D-4 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/http://www.atmos-chem-phys.org/acp/3/315/ http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0011-8F1D-4 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2003 ftpubman 2023-08-01T22:26:27Z 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‰ yr -1 for 1 δ 15 N, -0.046‰ yr -1 for 2 δ 15 N and -0.025‰ yr -1 for δ 18 O. The total decrease since pre-industrial times is estimated to be about -1.8‰ for 1 δ 15 N at both positions and -2.2‰ for 2 δ 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Max Planck Society: MPG.PuRe Antarctic |
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Max Planck Society: MPG.PuRe |
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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‰ yr -1 for 1 δ 15 N, -0.046‰ yr -1 for 2 δ 15 N and -0.025‰ yr -1 for δ 18 O. The total decrease since pre-industrial times is estimated to be about -1.8‰ for 1 δ 15 N at both positions and -2.2‰ for 2 δ 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 |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. |
spellingShingle |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
author_facet |
Röckmann, T. Kaiser, J. Brenninkmeijer, C. |
author_sort |
Röckmann, T. |
title |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
title_short |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
title_full |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
title_fullStr |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
title_full_unstemmed |
The isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic N 2 O source |
title_sort |
isotopic fingerprint of the pre-industrial and the anthropogenic n 2 o source |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0011-8F1D-4 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_source |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/http://www.atmos-chem-phys.org/acp/3/315/ http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0011-8F1D-4 |
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1774724927086133248 |