Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940
The atmospheric nitrous oxide mixing ratio has increased by 20% since 1750. Given that nitrous oxide is both a long-lived greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone-depleting substance, this increase is of global concern. However, the magnitude and geographic distribution of nitrous oxide sources, and...
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:79564 2023-05-15T14:02:30+02:00 Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 Park, S Croteau, P Boering, KA Etheridge, DM Ferretti, D Fraser, PJ Kim, K-R Krummel, PB Langenfelds, RL van Ommen, TD Steele, LP Trudinger, CM 2012 https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/79564 en eng Nature Publishing Group http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 Park, S and Croteau, P and Boering, KA and Etheridge, DM and Ferretti, D and Fraser, PJ and Kim, K-R and Krummel, PB and Langenfelds, RL and van Ommen, TD and Steele, LP and Trudinger, CM, Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940, Nature Geoscience, 5, (4) pp. 261-265. ISSN 1752-0894 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/79564 Earth Sciences Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Glaciology Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2012 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 2019-12-13T21:45:02Z The atmospheric nitrous oxide mixing ratio has increased by 20% since 1750. Given that nitrous oxide is both a long-lived greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone-depleting substance, this increase is of global concern. However, the magnitude and geographic distribution of nitrous oxide sources, and how they have changed over time, is uncertain. A key unknown is the influence of the stratospheric circulation, which brings air depleted in nitrous oxide to the surface. Here, we report the oxygen and intramolecular nitrogen isotopic compositions of nitrous oxide in firn air samples from Antarctica and archived air samples from Cape Grim, Tasmania, spanning 1940-2005. We detect seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide at Cape Grim. The phases and amplitudes of these seasonal cycles allow us to distinguish between the influence of the stratospheric sink and the oceanic source at this site, demonstrating that isotope measurements can help in the attribution and quantification of surface sources in general. Large interannual variations and long-term decreasing trends in isotope composition are also apparent. These long-term trends allow us to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of nitrous oxide, and confirm that the rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide levels is largely the result of an increased reliance on nitrogen-based fertilizers. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Grim ENVELOPE(-64.486,-64.486,-65.379,-65.379) Nature Geoscience 5 4 261 265 |
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eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth Sciences Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Glaciology |
spellingShingle |
Earth Sciences Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Glaciology Park, S Croteau, P Boering, KA Etheridge, DM Ferretti, D Fraser, PJ Kim, K-R Krummel, PB Langenfelds, RL van Ommen, TD Steele, LP Trudinger, CM Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
topic_facet |
Earth Sciences Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Glaciology |
description |
The atmospheric nitrous oxide mixing ratio has increased by 20% since 1750. Given that nitrous oxide is both a long-lived greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone-depleting substance, this increase is of global concern. However, the magnitude and geographic distribution of nitrous oxide sources, and how they have changed over time, is uncertain. A key unknown is the influence of the stratospheric circulation, which brings air depleted in nitrous oxide to the surface. Here, we report the oxygen and intramolecular nitrogen isotopic compositions of nitrous oxide in firn air samples from Antarctica and archived air samples from Cape Grim, Tasmania, spanning 1940-2005. We detect seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide at Cape Grim. The phases and amplitudes of these seasonal cycles allow us to distinguish between the influence of the stratospheric sink and the oceanic source at this site, demonstrating that isotope measurements can help in the attribution and quantification of surface sources in general. Large interannual variations and long-term decreasing trends in isotope composition are also apparent. These long-term trends allow us to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of nitrous oxide, and confirm that the rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide levels is largely the result of an increased reliance on nitrogen-based fertilizers. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Park, S Croteau, P Boering, KA Etheridge, DM Ferretti, D Fraser, PJ Kim, K-R Krummel, PB Langenfelds, RL van Ommen, TD Steele, LP Trudinger, CM |
author_facet |
Park, S Croteau, P Boering, KA Etheridge, DM Ferretti, D Fraser, PJ Kim, K-R Krummel, PB Langenfelds, RL van Ommen, TD Steele, LP Trudinger, CM |
author_sort |
Park, S |
title |
Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
title_short |
Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
title_full |
Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
title_fullStr |
Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
title_sort |
trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940 |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/79564 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-64.486,-64.486,-65.379,-65.379) |
geographic |
Grim |
geographic_facet |
Grim |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 Park, S and Croteau, P and Boering, KA and Etheridge, DM and Ferretti, D and Fraser, PJ and Kim, K-R and Krummel, PB and Langenfelds, RL and van Ommen, TD and Steele, LP and Trudinger, CM, Trends and seasonal cycles in the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide since 1940, Nature Geoscience, 5, (4) pp. 261-265. ISSN 1752-0894 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/79564 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1421 |
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Nature Geoscience |
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5 |
container_issue |
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261 |
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