Summary

New measurements of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations in ice from Law Dome, Antarctica reproduce published Law Dome CO2 and CH4 records, extend them back to 2000 years BP, and include N2O. They have very high air age resolution, data density and measurement precision. Firn air measurements span the past 65 years and overlap with the ice core and direct atmospheric observations. Major increases in CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations during the past 200 years followed a period of relative stability beforehand. Decadal variations during the industrial period include the stabilization of CO2 and slowing of CH4 and N2O growth in the 1940s and 1950s. Variations of up to 10 ppm CO2, 40 ppb CH4 and 10 ppb N2O occurred throughout the preindustrial period. Methane concentrations grew by 100 ppb from AD 0 to 1800, possibly due to early anthropogenic emissions.

Authors:MacFarling Meure C. Etheridge D. Trudinger C. Steele P. Langenfelds R. van Ommen T. Smith A. Elkins J. Published in: 2006 Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature Program area: Glaciology
Read publication at dx.doi.org
MacFarling Meure C., Etheridge D., Trudinger C., Steele P., Langenfelds R., van Ommen T., Smith A., Elkins J. (2006) Law Dome CO2, CH4 and N2O ice core records extended to 2000 years BP, Geophysical Research Letters 33. L14810; doi:10.1029/2006GL026152;

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