Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals
International audience Ancient air trapped inside bubbles in ice cores can now be analysed for methane concentration utilising a laser spectrometer coupled to a continuous melter system. We present a new ultra-high resolution record of atmospheric methane variability over the last 1800 yr obtained f...
Published in: | Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2013
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hal.science/hal-00996075 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 |
id |
ftunivnantes:oai:HAL:hal-00996075v1 |
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record_format |
openpolar |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Université de Nantes: HAL-UNIV-NANTES |
op_collection_id |
ftunivnantes |
language |
English |
topic |
[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics] |
spellingShingle |
[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics] Rhodes, Rachael H. Faïn, Xavier Stowasser, Christopher Blunier, Thomas Chappellaz, Jérôme Mcconnell, Joseph R. Romanini, Daniele Mitchell, Logan E. Brook, Edward J. Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
topic_facet |
[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics] |
description |
International audience Ancient air trapped inside bubbles in ice cores can now be analysed for methane concentration utilising a laser spectrometer coupled to a continuous melter system. We present a new ultra-high resolution record of atmospheric methane variability over the last 1800 yr obtained from continuous analysis of a shallow ice core from the North Greenland Eemian project (NEEM-2011-S1) during a 4-week laboratory-based measurement campaign. Our record faithfully replicates the form and amplitudes of multi-decadal oscillations previously observed in other ice cores and demonstrates the detailed depth resolution (5.3 cm), rapid acquisition time (30 m day-1) and good long-term reproducibility (2.6%, 2σ) of the continuous measurement technique. In addition, we report the detection of high frequency ice core methane signals of non-atmospheric origin. Firstly, measurements of air from the firn-ice transition region and an interval of ice core dating from 1546-1560 AD (gas age) resolve apparently quasi-annual scale methane oscillations. Traditional gas chromatography measurements on discrete ice samples confirm these signals and indicate peak-to-peak amplitudes of ca. 22 parts per billion (ppb). We hypothesise that these oscillations result from staggered bubble close-off between seasonal layers of contrasting density during time periods of sustained multi-year atmospheric methane change. Secondly, we report the detection of abrupt (20-100 cm depth interval), high amplitude (35-80 ppb excess) methane spikes in the NEEM ice that are reproduced by discrete measurements. We show for the first time that methane spikes present in thin and infrequent layers in polar, glacial ice are accompanied by elevated concentrations of carbon- and nitrogen-based chemical impurities, and suggest that biological in-situ production may be responsible. |
author2 |
Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l'environnement (LGGE) Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG) Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Centre for Ice and Climate Copenhagen Niels Bohr Institute Copenhagen (NBI) Faculty of Science Copenhagen University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-Faculty of Science Copenhagen University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH) Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique Saint Martin d’Hères (LIPhy) Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rhodes, Rachael H. Faïn, Xavier Stowasser, Christopher Blunier, Thomas Chappellaz, Jérôme Mcconnell, Joseph R. Romanini, Daniele Mitchell, Logan E. Brook, Edward J. |
author_facet |
Rhodes, Rachael H. Faïn, Xavier Stowasser, Christopher Blunier, Thomas Chappellaz, Jérôme Mcconnell, Joseph R. Romanini, Daniele Mitchell, Logan E. Brook, Edward J. |
author_sort |
Rhodes, Rachael H. |
title |
Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
title_short |
Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
title_full |
Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
title_fullStr |
Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals |
title_sort |
continuous methane measurements from a late holocene greenland ice core: atmospheric and in-situ signals |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://hal.science/hal-00996075 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Greenland ice core ice core North Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland Greenland ice core ice core North Greenland |
op_source |
ISSN: 0012-821X Earth and Planetary Science Letters https://hal.science/hal-00996075 Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2013, 368, pp.9-19. ⟨10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034⟩ |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 hal-00996075 https://hal.science/hal-00996075 BIBCODE: 2013E&PSL.368.9R doi:10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 |
container_title |
Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
container_volume |
368 |
container_start_page |
9 |
op_container_end_page |
19 |
_version_ |
1766018202839547904 |
spelling |
ftunivnantes:oai:HAL:hal-00996075v1 2023-05-15T16:28:33+02:00 Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals Rhodes, Rachael H. Faïn, Xavier Stowasser, Christopher Blunier, Thomas Chappellaz, Jérôme Mcconnell, Joseph R. Romanini, Daniele Mitchell, Logan E. Brook, Edward J. Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l'environnement (LGGE) Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG) Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Centre for Ice and Climate Copenhagen Niels Bohr Institute Copenhagen (NBI) Faculty of Science Copenhagen University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-Faculty of Science Copenhagen University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH) Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique Saint Martin d’Hères (LIPhy) Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 2013-04 https://hal.science/hal-00996075 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 en eng HAL CCSD Elsevier info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 hal-00996075 https://hal.science/hal-00996075 BIBCODE: 2013E&PSL.368.9R doi:10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 ISSN: 0012-821X Earth and Planetary Science Letters https://hal.science/hal-00996075 Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2013, 368, pp.9-19. ⟨10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034⟩ [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics] info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2013 ftunivnantes https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2013.02.034 2023-02-28T23:41:01Z International audience Ancient air trapped inside bubbles in ice cores can now be analysed for methane concentration utilising a laser spectrometer coupled to a continuous melter system. We present a new ultra-high resolution record of atmospheric methane variability over the last 1800 yr obtained from continuous analysis of a shallow ice core from the North Greenland Eemian project (NEEM-2011-S1) during a 4-week laboratory-based measurement campaign. Our record faithfully replicates the form and amplitudes of multi-decadal oscillations previously observed in other ice cores and demonstrates the detailed depth resolution (5.3 cm), rapid acquisition time (30 m day-1) and good long-term reproducibility (2.6%, 2σ) of the continuous measurement technique. In addition, we report the detection of high frequency ice core methane signals of non-atmospheric origin. Firstly, measurements of air from the firn-ice transition region and an interval of ice core dating from 1546-1560 AD (gas age) resolve apparently quasi-annual scale methane oscillations. Traditional gas chromatography measurements on discrete ice samples confirm these signals and indicate peak-to-peak amplitudes of ca. 22 parts per billion (ppb). We hypothesise that these oscillations result from staggered bubble close-off between seasonal layers of contrasting density during time periods of sustained multi-year atmospheric methane change. Secondly, we report the detection of abrupt (20-100 cm depth interval), high amplitude (35-80 ppb excess) methane spikes in the NEEM ice that are reproduced by discrete measurements. We show for the first time that methane spikes present in thin and infrequent layers in polar, glacial ice are accompanied by elevated concentrations of carbon- and nitrogen-based chemical impurities, and suggest that biological in-situ production may be responsible. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Greenland ice core ice core North Greenland Université de Nantes: HAL-UNIV-NANTES Greenland Earth and Planetary Science Letters 368 9 19 |