Northern hemisphere concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide since 1800: Results from the Mt. Logan and 20D ice cores

Authors

Jack E. Dibb, University of New HampshireFollow
R A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and Technology
Paul A. Mayewski, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
G Holdsworth, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus

Abstract

Concentrations of CH₄ and N₂O have been determined in bubbles extracted from the Mt. Logan (Yukon) and 20D (south Greenland) ice cores. The enclosure dates of the trapped gas samples range from 1802 to 1960; thus these data help to document the anthropogenic increases of these two greenhouse gases in the Northern Hemisphere atmosphere. In general, the new data are in accord with previous ice core studies showing accelerating increases in concentration of both gases since 1900. The Mt. Logan records appear to be the first for any trace gases from alpine glacial ice. The present data set is too sparse to be conclusive, but suggests generally higher CH₄concentrations over south Greenland than Mt. Logan, particularly for the 1850 - 1900 period.

Department

Earth Sciences, Earth Systems Research Center

Publication Date

12-1993

Journal Title

Chemosphere

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/0045-6535(93)90263-5

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

J.E. Dibb, R.A. Rasmussen, P.A. Mayewski, G. Holdsworth, Northern hemisphere concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide since 1800: Results from the Mt. Logan and 20D ice cores, Chemosphere, Volume 27, Issue 12, 1993, Pages 2413-2423, ISSN 0045-6535, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(93)90263-5.

Rights

Copyright © 1993 Published by Elsevier Ltd.