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Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
Published on: October 21, 2016
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last glacial termination
E Monnin1, A Indermühle, A Dällenbach
1Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 6, 2001
Summary
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels rose by 76 ppm over 6000 years during the last deglaciation. Both Southern Ocean and Northern Hemisphere/tropical processes influenced this significant CO2 increase.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Ice Core Science
- Climate Change Research
Background:
- Understanding past climate transitions is crucial for predicting future climate change.
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are key greenhouse gases influencing global climate.
- Ice cores provide invaluable long-term records of atmospheric composition and temperature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct atmospheric CO2 concentrations during the Last Glacial Maximum to Holocene transition.
- To investigate the relationship between CO2 changes, Antarctic temperature, and methane variations.
- To identify the key regions and processes driving CO2 increases during deglaciation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of an ice core from Dome Concordia, Antarctica.
- Measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations from the ice core record.
- Comparison of CO2 trends with Antarctic temperature data and atmospheric methane concentrations.
Main Results:
- A significant increase of 76 parts per million by volume (ppmv) in atmospheric CO2 was recorded over 6000 years.
- The CO2 rise occurred in four distinct intervals, closely correlating with Antarctic temperature changes.
- Similarities between CO2 and methane concentration changes suggest contributions from tropical and Northern Hemisphere sources.
Conclusions:
- The Southern Ocean played a significant role in the CO2 increase during deglaciation.
- Processes in the tropics and Northern Hemisphere, major methane sources, also substantially impacted atmospheric CO2.
- Deglaciation involved complex interactions between different Earth systems influencing greenhouse gas levels.
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