(CH4)-C-14 Measurements in Greenland Ice: Investigating Last Glacial Termination CH4 Sources

V. V. Petrenko; A. M. Smith; E. J. Brook; D. Lowe; K. Riedel; G. Brailsford; Q. Hua; H. Schaefer; Niels Reeh; R. F. Weiss; D. Etheridge; J. P. Severinghaus

doi:10.1126/science.1168909

(CH4)-C-14 Measurements in Greenland Ice: Investigating Last Glacial Termination CH4 Sources

V. V. Petrenko, A. M. Smith, E. J. Brook, D. Lowe, K. Riedel, G. Brailsford, Q. Hua, H. Schaefer, Niels Reeh, R. F. Weiss, D. Etheridge, J. P. Severinghaus

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Abstract

The cause of a large increase of atmospheric methane concentration during the Younger Dryas-Preboreal abrupt climatic transition (similar to 11,600 years ago) has been the subject of much debate. The carbon-14 (C-14) content of methane ((CH4)-C-14) should distinguish between wetland and clathrate contributions to this increase. We present measurements of (CH4)-C-14 in glacial ice, targeting this transition, performed by using ice samples obtained from an ablation site in west Greenland. Measured (CH4)-C-14 values were higher than predicted under any scenario. Sample (CH4)-C-14 appears to be elevated by direct cosmogenic C-14 production in ice. C-14 of CO was measured to better understand this process and correct the sample (CH4)-C-14. Corrected results suggest that wetland sources were likely responsible for the majority of the Younger Dryas-Preboreal CH4 rise.

Original language	English
Journal	Science
Volume	324
Issue number	5926
Pages (from-to)	506-508
ISSN	0036-8075
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1168909
Publication status	Published - 2009

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@article{c77e1c57813c4072846533bb53fd9834,

title = "(CH4)-C-14 Measurements in Greenland Ice: Investigating Last Glacial Termination CH4 Sources",

abstract = "The cause of a large increase of atmospheric methane concentration during the Younger Dryas-Preboreal abrupt climatic transition (similar to 11,600 years ago) has been the subject of much debate. The carbon-14 (C-14) content of methane ((CH4)-C-14) should distinguish between wetland and clathrate contributions to this increase. We present measurements of (CH4)-C-14 in glacial ice, targeting this transition, performed by using ice samples obtained from an ablation site in west Greenland. Measured (CH4)-C-14 values were higher than predicted under any scenario. Sample (CH4)-C-14 appears to be elevated by direct cosmogenic C-14 production in ice. C-14 of CO was measured to better understand this process and correct the sample (CH4)-C-14. Corrected results suggest that wetland sources were likely responsible for the majority of the Younger Dryas-Preboreal CH4 rise.",

author = "Petrenko, {V. V.} and Smith, {A. M.} and Brook, {E. J.} and D. Lowe and K. Riedel and G. Brailsford and Q. Hua and H. Schaefer and Niels Reeh and Weiss, {R. F.} and D. Etheridge and Severinghaus, {J. P.}",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1126/science.1168909",

language = "English",

volume = "324",

pages = "506--508",

journal = "Science",

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publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - (CH4)-C-14 Measurements in Greenland Ice: Investigating Last Glacial Termination CH4 Sources

AU - Petrenko, V. V.

AU - Smith, A. M.

AU - Brook, E. J.

AU - Lowe, D.

AU - Riedel, K.

AU - Brailsford, G.

AU - Hua, Q.

AU - Schaefer, H.

AU - Reeh, Niels

AU - Weiss, R. F.

AU - Etheridge, D.

AU - Severinghaus, J. P.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The cause of a large increase of atmospheric methane concentration during the Younger Dryas-Preboreal abrupt climatic transition (similar to 11,600 years ago) has been the subject of much debate. The carbon-14 (C-14) content of methane ((CH4)-C-14) should distinguish between wetland and clathrate contributions to this increase. We present measurements of (CH4)-C-14 in glacial ice, targeting this transition, performed by using ice samples obtained from an ablation site in west Greenland. Measured (CH4)-C-14 values were higher than predicted under any scenario. Sample (CH4)-C-14 appears to be elevated by direct cosmogenic C-14 production in ice. C-14 of CO was measured to better understand this process and correct the sample (CH4)-C-14. Corrected results suggest that wetland sources were likely responsible for the majority of the Younger Dryas-Preboreal CH4 rise.

AB - The cause of a large increase of atmospheric methane concentration during the Younger Dryas-Preboreal abrupt climatic transition (similar to 11,600 years ago) has been the subject of much debate. The carbon-14 (C-14) content of methane ((CH4)-C-14) should distinguish between wetland and clathrate contributions to this increase. We present measurements of (CH4)-C-14 in glacial ice, targeting this transition, performed by using ice samples obtained from an ablation site in west Greenland. Measured (CH4)-C-14 values were higher than predicted under any scenario. Sample (CH4)-C-14 appears to be elevated by direct cosmogenic C-14 production in ice. C-14 of CO was measured to better understand this process and correct the sample (CH4)-C-14. Corrected results suggest that wetland sources were likely responsible for the majority of the Younger Dryas-Preboreal CH4 rise.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1168909

DO - 10.1126/science.1168909

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 324

SP - 506

EP - 508

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5926

ER -

(CH4)-C-14 Measurements in Greenland Ice: Investigating Last Glacial Termination CH4 Sources

Abstract

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