Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores
This work presents a new, field-deployable technique for continuous, high-resolution measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores. The technique is based on a continuous flow analysis system, where ice core samples cut along the long axis of an ice core are melted continuously. The past atmo...
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ftunivbern:oai:boris.unibe.ch:17996 2023-08-20T04:06:53+02:00 Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores Stowasser, C. Buizert, C. Gkinis, V. Chappellaz, J. Schüpbach, S. Bigler, M. Faïn, X. Sperlich, P. Baumgartner, M. Schilt, A. Blunier, T. 2012 application/pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/1/amt-5-999-2012.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/ eng eng Copernicus Publications https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Stowasser, C.; Buizert, C.; Gkinis, V.; Chappellaz, J.; Schüpbach, S.; Bigler, M.; Faïn, X.; Sperlich, P.; Baumgartner, M.; Schilt, A.; Blunier, T. (2012). Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT), 5(5), pp. 999-1013. Göttingen: Copernicus Publications 10.5194/amt-5-999-2012 <http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-999-2012> 530 Physics info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion PeerReviewed 2012 ftunivbern https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-999-2012 2023-07-31T20:42:08Z This work presents a new, field-deployable technique for continuous, high-resolution measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores. The technique is based on a continuous flow analysis system, where ice core samples cut along the long axis of an ice core are melted continuously. The past atmospheric air contained in the ice is separated from the melt water stream via a system for continuous gas extraction. The extracted gas is dehumidified and then analyzed by a Wavelength Scanned-Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer for methane mixing ratios. We assess the performance of the new measurement technique in terms of precision (±0.8 ppbv, 1σ), accuracy (±8 ppbv), temporal (ca. 100 s), and spatial resolution (ca. 5 cm). Using a firn air transport model, we compare the resolution of the measurement technique to the resolution of the atmospheric methane signal as preserved in ice cores in Greenland. We conclude that our measurement technique can resolve all climatically relevant variations as preserved in the ice down to an ice depth of at least 1980 m (66 000 yr before present) in the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling ice core. Furthermore, we describe the modifications, which are necessary to make a commercially available spectrometer suitable for continuous methane mixing ratio measurements from ice cores. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland ice core North Greenland BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) Greenland Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 5 5 999 1013 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivbern |
language |
English |
topic |
530 Physics |
spellingShingle |
530 Physics Stowasser, C. Buizert, C. Gkinis, V. Chappellaz, J. Schüpbach, S. Bigler, M. Faïn, X. Sperlich, P. Baumgartner, M. Schilt, A. Blunier, T. Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
topic_facet |
530 Physics |
description |
This work presents a new, field-deployable technique for continuous, high-resolution measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores. The technique is based on a continuous flow analysis system, where ice core samples cut along the long axis of an ice core are melted continuously. The past atmospheric air contained in the ice is separated from the melt water stream via a system for continuous gas extraction. The extracted gas is dehumidified and then analyzed by a Wavelength Scanned-Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer for methane mixing ratios. We assess the performance of the new measurement technique in terms of precision (±0.8 ppbv, 1σ), accuracy (±8 ppbv), temporal (ca. 100 s), and spatial resolution (ca. 5 cm). Using a firn air transport model, we compare the resolution of the measurement technique to the resolution of the atmospheric methane signal as preserved in ice cores in Greenland. We conclude that our measurement technique can resolve all climatically relevant variations as preserved in the ice down to an ice depth of at least 1980 m (66 000 yr before present) in the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling ice core. Furthermore, we describe the modifications, which are necessary to make a commercially available spectrometer suitable for continuous methane mixing ratio measurements from ice cores. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stowasser, C. Buizert, C. Gkinis, V. Chappellaz, J. Schüpbach, S. Bigler, M. Faïn, X. Sperlich, P. Baumgartner, M. Schilt, A. Blunier, T. |
author_facet |
Stowasser, C. Buizert, C. Gkinis, V. Chappellaz, J. Schüpbach, S. Bigler, M. Faïn, X. Sperlich, P. Baumgartner, M. Schilt, A. Blunier, T. |
author_sort |
Stowasser, C. |
title |
Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
title_short |
Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
title_full |
Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
title_fullStr |
Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
title_full_unstemmed |
Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
title_sort |
continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/1/amt-5-999-2012.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/ |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland ice core North Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland ice core North Greenland |
op_source |
Stowasser, C.; Buizert, C.; Gkinis, V.; Chappellaz, J.; Schüpbach, S.; Bigler, M.; Faïn, X.; Sperlich, P.; Baumgartner, M.; Schilt, A.; Blunier, T. (2012). Continuous measurements of methane mixing ratios from ice cores. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT), 5(5), pp. 999-1013. Göttingen: Copernicus Publications 10.5194/amt-5-999-2012 <http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-999-2012> |
op_relation |
https://boris.unibe.ch/17996/ |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-999-2012 |
container_title |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
999 |
op_container_end_page |
1013 |
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1774718240314884096 |